At its Spring 2025 plenary session in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on “Putting an end to collective expulsions of aliens”, warning against growing gaps between member states’ practices and their international human rights obligations. Based on a report by Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), the resolution calls for the individual examination of each migrant’s situation, as required by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Assembly expressed concern over the legal fiction of “non-entry” and called for national action plans in line with international refugee and human rights standards.

Notably, PACE welcomed the recent creation of the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees, intended to enhance the Organisation’s response to migration and asylum-related challenges.

In a current affairs debate titled “An urgent call for an immediate end to the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and the reinstatement of the ceasefire”, parliamentarians expressed grave concern over the lack of humanitarian access to Gaza, noting that no aid has entered since 2 March. Paul Galles (Luxembourg, EPP/CD) condemned the attacks and restrictions on humanitarian actors, stressing the immediate danger facing two million people. He urged all parties to resume ceasefire negotiations and called on Israel to ensure humanitarian access, recalling the unshakable right to humanitarian aid. A minute of silence was observed for the victims of the 7 October 2023 attacks and subsequent violence.