“No country can erect a wall against terrorism or the economic crisis. No country can build a barrier to keep out the instability caused by frozen or active conflicts, which have brought about the occupation and annexation of territories belonging to member states. The only way to protect ourselves and to move forward is to be aware of our inter-dependence and to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us, privileging dialogue over confrontation,” stressed the PACE President, Pedro Agramunt, in his opening speech
Calling on national Parliaments to counteract rising populism across European societies, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, said “It is worrying to see the mainstream in politics increasingly imitating the margins. What was perhaps extreme five years ago is now considered acceptable”. He urged “The voice of reason must come from Parliaments. When debates become hysterical, national parliaments should be a source of reasoned debate, based on facts”.
The Presidents and Speakers of parliament from the 47 Council of Europe member states are meeting in Strasbourg on 15 and 16 September to discuss the migration and refugee crisis, the role of national parliaments in promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and the mobilisation against hate for inclusive and non-racist societies. (more...)