Nowadays, the whole world is divided into certain zones in which various bodies function, helping to establish relations between countries and providing them with their support. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) refers precisely to these. This is one of the main bodies, consisting of many Member States, as well as providing advisory services. It significantly affects the life of modern society and regulates international relations.
Foundation period
PACE was founded in 1949 and has since been successfully operating within Europe. This is one of the oldest bodies of inter-parliamentary cooperation. Unfortunately, not many people know why this organization was created, and often people are interested in information about PACE: what it is and what it does. In fact, it is a well-established body that has been operating for more than sixty years and elects its president. At the beginning of 2014, Ann Brasser, a member of the Luxembourg Parliament, became the head of the advisory body.
PACE structure
I would like to note that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) annually elects a new chairman. As for the work order, this post is transferred from one political faction to another every three years. In addition, participants are elected vice-chairmen. Basically, their number does not exceed twenty people.
Political groups function in the Assembly, in total there are five of them: socialist, European democrats, the alliance of liberals and democrats, the European People's Party, as well as the united European left.
PACE also has special commissions that are formed depending on the area of activity. All members of the organization are united in a single Bureau of the Assembly. It is the leading link that solves serious problems and monitors the activities of the statutory body of the Council of Europe.
PACE Activities
Answering the question “PACE - what is this?”, It can be noted that the organization primarily cares about the interests of political parties that exist directly in member states. Secondly, the body is worried about fruitful and positive relations between parliamentary structures of different countries that are members of the Council of Europe.
The parliaments of the member states are appointed PACE members. Two or more members of an advisory body may be allocated from one country. So, the five largest states are represented by eighteen members. Among them should be representatives of all political parties of the country. In addition, PACE, an organization with a huge influence, emphasizes the balanced number of men and women participating. In total, the advisory body has 318 members, each of which has an alternate.
It is impossible not to mention that the Assembly solves the problems of modern society by considering and discussing them at sessions. Also studied are the flaws and shortcomings in international politics that are relevant today.
Further full-fledged work of many ministries and bodies depends on the result of PACE activities. As a member of an organization, member states can influence their governments. This is mainly manifested in the form of recommendations that participants on behalf of PACE send to their country.
PACE members
PACE, the transcript of which, recall, is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, includes representatives from 47 countries. Among them, the most influential are Russia, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. But, besides this, here you can find Italy, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and other states.
There is an event that participants or their deputies cannot miss - the PACE session. At such a meeting, observers (representatives of the parliaments of countries outside the organization) are surely present. They usually come from Canada, Mexico or Israel. These people monitor the integrity of the session.
Authority of the organization
Asking the question “PACE - what is this?”, Of course, one should also find out what the organization is doing and what its powers are. Thus, deputies prepare special reports, on the basis of which the Assembly adopts various recommendations and resolutions. One of the most important powers of PACE is the choice of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, as well as his deputy. In addition, the organization accepts opinions on new candidatures of Member States. PACE took responsibility to elect performers for the European Court of Human Rights. It should be noted that the conclusions developed by the Council of Europe on draft conventions are also adopted by PACE.
In turn, the CoE Committee of Ministers submits to PACE a report on its activities and undertakes to implement the recommendations of the body or give answers to them.
"Initiation"
At one of the sessions, PACE participants are considering potential applicants for joining the organization. After a decision is made on joining the statutory body of a certain state, the government of the country is notified with an appropriate notice. After some time, the PACE President and all its participants check how the member state fulfills its obligations. For this purpose, the Monitoring Commission specifically functions, it monitors the situation as a whole and annually submits a full report on the work done to all members of the organization.
The PACE Assembly, in turn, reviews reports and makes decisions about the future of a member state. It can have only two options: the participating country remains in the organization or leaves it.
Organization work
PACE sessions are held exactly four times a year (the abbreviation stands for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe). The organization at this time works for a whole week. In addition to these important meetings, there are so-called mini-sessions, which also discuss serious or urgent problems, make decisions and make recommendations.
There are times when meetings are not scheduled, but a session needs to be convened. They can be held twice a year and they are called “Standing Commissions”. They can make decisions and act on behalf of the Assembly. Sessions of this kind are held in different countries, by invitation. Key meetings are organized at the headquarters of the Council of Europe - Strasbourg. Commissions may hold sessions several times a year. Mostly they take place in Paris.
You can prepare a resolution or adopt recommendations as follows: a member of the Assembly has the right to collect the necessary number of signatures and submit his developed proposal, which will be considered for a certain period of time. If the Bureau agrees that the report is necessary and this idea should be developed further, then the matter passes to the powers of the relevant Commission. Her responsibilities include appointing a person who will collect information regarding the report within a few months or years. After all the necessary steps, the deputy organizes a hearing at which the final version is presented. As a result of a positive decision by the Commission, the report is submitted to the Plenary. Various additions and developments can be attached to the information. After the presentation of the report to the commission members, a vote takes place, the outcome of which decides the further fate of the idea presented by the participant.
PACE meeting for a final decision requires more than two-thirds of the vote. Thus, each participant can organize an “urgent debate” at which his proposals will be presented in the form of a report.
PACE member statuses
Member States are considered full members of the Assembly. But besides this, PACE sessions can be attended by people with the status of “observer” and “special guest”. The first group has already been mentioned, these are the representatives of Canada, Israel and Mexico. The second is special guests whom the chairman of the organization or participants can invite. Unfortunately, in 1997, for unknown reasons for Belarus, this status was suspended. In 2010, the government tried to regain the right to be invited to a PACE meeting, but it remained undisclosed. Nevertheless, nothing has changed - Belarus has not renewed its status.
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Initiatives
PACE as an organization began to exist on May 5, 1949. Since then, the statutory body has tried to make its activities as efficient as possible. For example, since 1989, the Assembly has been directing many of its efforts in order to combat the global crisis and resolve various problems of European countries. In addition, all meetings are based on the development, research, travel and missions of the PACE participants.
It is worth noting that the Assembly made a great effort to strengthen the Council of Europe's political role. PACE pays a significant role to conferences, colloquiums, open parliamentary hearings related to the elimination of violence, drugs, immigration, intolerance. The organization is trying to improve the environment, improve and make the media honest.
Discussion of important issues
Asking himself: “PACE - what is this?”, Each person becomes more enlightened in matters related to European and international events. At each session of the organization, topical problems of modern society are considered. Also at the meeting, much attention is paid to upcoming European and international events. Representatives of various organizations and non-governmental bodies take part in discussions on this topic.
The Assembly is particularly active in areas related to the protection of human rights. On her account there are a variety of resolutions that relate to issues of crime, the organization of effective and fair justice, the fight against AIDS, the eradication of child trafficking and drug abuse, among others. The Assembly also approved provisions on lesbians and homosexuals, exploitation of people under the age of sixteen, sects and religious beliefs.
Pace today
More recently, one of the most powerful and large participants in the Assembly - Russia - refused some contracts that significantly influenced the activities of PACE. Thus, the Russian Federation has shown that to some extent it suspends and ceases cooperation with the organization, although it is not very beneficial to it. The President of the Assembly took the first step and contacted the state government, since, in her opinion, PACE could not do without such a powerful participant as Russia. If the Russian Federation refuses, the organization expects formatting and a transition to a new level of international cooperation.