The News (Site updated Monday, September 6, 2010 | 15:00)
International Conference: Culture and the policies of change
[06/09/2010 11:00:00] The conference, which is organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the European Commission and other organisations involved in European cultural affairs, is to take place in Brussels on 6-7 September. The conference will take stock of the direct impact of the financial crisis on the cultural sector, that is, the significant cuts to cultural budgets and institutions in 2011 and beyond, as well as to question the state’s role as a substantial provider of culture. The key-note speaker, Jeremy Rifkin, Founder and President Economic Trends Foundation, will give a presentation on 6 September.
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Human Rights Commissioner
Need to halt transfers of asylum seekers to Greece
[01/09/2010 12:00:00] “Asylum seekers, including persons transferred under the ‘Dublin Regulation’, face extremely harsh conditions in Greece” said the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in a hearing before the Strasbourg Court on 1 September concerning the case of an Afghan asylum seeker returned from Belgium to Greece.
(more ...) European Court of Human Rights More information on Greece and the Council of Europe
Forced divorce and sterilisation: reality for transgender persons
[30/08/2010 18:00:00] ''The rights of transgender persons are still ignored or violated. Stronger actions are needed to eradicate discrimination against them,'' said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in his latest human rights comment, published on 31 August. He stressed that some Council of Europe member states still have no provision at all for official recognition, leaving transgender people in a legal limbo.
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Reactions to Roma expulsions
ECRI deeply concerned by situation of Roma in France
[24/08/2010 14:30:00] European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) expressed disappointment about what it called ''the most negative development'' regarding the situation of Roma in France. The Commission declared that the Government has taken action stigmatising Roma migrants. The latter were held collectively responsible for criminal offences and singled out for abusing EU legislation on freedom of movement.
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Roma expulsions likely to lead to increase in racist feelings in Europe
[20/08/2010 15:00:00] ''Recent developments in several European countries, most recently evictions of Roma camps in France and expulsions of Roma from France and Germany, are certainly not the right measures to improve the situation of this vulnerable minority. On the contrary, they are likely to lead to an increase in racist and xenophobic feelings in Europe'', Mevlüt Çavusoglu, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, declared on 20 August.
(more ...) File ''Roma and Travellers''
Multiculturalism in Europe: Roma serve as model(more ...)
Parliamentary Assembly
Low turnout in Moldova's constitutional referendum
[06/09/2010 11:30:00] An Assembly delegation has observed the constitutional referendum in Moldova on 5 September. It was the only European parliamentary organisation to observe this referendum. The delegation considered that the voting day was calm and orderly. The citizens who participated in the referendum could in general make their choice freely. However, this delegation regrets the low turnout.
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Belgrade: meeting on peace-building in former Yugoslavia
[02/09/2010 14:30:00] A hearing on “Peace-building in the countries of the former Yugoslavia” will be the highlight of a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Assembly in Belgrade on 6-7 September. Topics at the hearing include the possibility of a trans-national truth commission, justice for war crimes and EU integration as a catalyst for dialogue.
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2010 Internet Governance Forum
[06/09/2010 11:00:00] The Council of Europe will be engaging in an open dialogue with governments, business and civil society representatives on how to safeguard freedom on the Internet - as well as security, openness and privacy - while also protecting users from its risks at the upcoming 5th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on 14-17 September in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Congress and EU Committee of Regions co-operation takes step further
[31/08/2010 10:30:00] Rapporteurs of the Congress and of the EU Committee of the Regions met on 3 September in Brussels, taking co-operation between the two institutions a step further. This is a new form of collaboration following annual meetings of the two Presidents and regular meetings of the Contact Group as well as joint action between the two institutions in the field of election observation.
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Fight against corruption: report on ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''
[30/08/2010 14:30:00] The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) published on 30 August its Third Round Evaluation Report on ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''. It focuses on two distinct themes: criminalisation of corruption and transparency of party funding.
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Eurimages: 4 films at the Venice Film Festival(more ...)
Aline Royer: The Council of Europe (2010) 
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Need to halt transfers of asylum seekers to Greece
2010 Internet Governance Forum
Fight against corruption: report on ''the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''
