Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe summer session
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On 23–27 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held its summer session in Strasbourg. Eight members from the Riksdag delegation participated in the session.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday, and then answered questions from members. The address was delivered in connection with Zelensky’s signing of an agreement with the Council of Europe to create a tribunal in which those responsible for the aggression against Ukraine can be held to account. In his address, Zelensky thanked the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for having taken the initiative to establish the tribunal. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of political and legal cooperation to ensure that every Russian war criminal is brought to justice.
Report on saving migrants at sea
During the session, several reports were discussed, including one on saving migrants’ lives at sea and protecting their human rights. From the Swedish delegation, Denis Begic (Social Democratic Party), Victoria Tiblom (Sweden Democrats) and Boriana Åberg (Moderate Party) participated in the debate. The agenda also included a report on the legal aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and political negotiations to release prisoners-of-war. Markus Wiechel (Sweden Democrats) participated in this debate.
Other issues discussed included the protection of human rights in and through sport, an amendment to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and public and private actors in the handling of migrants. Moriana Åberg (Moderate Party) participated in a debate on election monitoring in Albania.
Urgent debate on the situation on Gaza and the Middle East
During the session, there were two urgent debates – one on stopping the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and addressing the broader conflict in the Middle East and another on challenges to progress in women's rights in Europe. Victoria Tiblom (Sweden Democrats) participated in the later debate. In addition to this, there was a topical debate on liberating political prisoners in Georgia and another on the European Court of Human Rights and the challenges facing the Court.
Riksdag Prize awarded
The 2025 Vigdis Prize for Women’s Empowerment was awarded to the Women of the Sun organisation from Palestine, which seeks to create opportunities for Palestinian women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men. The prize was awarded at a ceremony during the first day of the session.
The summer session’s speakers included the Croatian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister of Malta. The Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General also participated in question-and-answer sessions with members. At the session, judges for the European Court of Human Rights were elected from the United Kingdom
Members
The members of the Riksdag delegation who participated in the summer session were:
- Markus Wiechel (Sweden Democrats), Chair
- Mattias Jonsson (Social Democratic Party), Deputy Chair
- Boriana Åberg (Moderate Party)
- Annika Strandhäll (Social Democratic Party)
- Victoria Tiblom (Sweden Democrats)
- Denis Begic (Social Democratic Party)
- Sofia Amloh (Social Democratic Party)
- Kristoffer Lindberg (Social Democratic Party)
Further information
The Council of Europe works to create common European values based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Sweden was one of the founding members of the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly in 1949. The Council of Europe currently has 46 member states.
Contact person for the media
Petra Sjöström Senior International Adviser, International Department of the Riksdag, telephone: +46 76 716 59 25, email:petra.sjostrom@riksdagen.se.