The first ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has begun today in Strasbourg.

During the five-day session, the MPs will discuss the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine, the protection of children affected by armed conflicts, the protection of regional and minority languages, and the activities carried out the previous year within the monitoring procedure. The agenda of the session included the discussions on the role of the Council of Europe in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, establishing a framework for modern sports governance and good football governance, the honouring of the Council of Europe membership obligations by Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the need for adopting the Convention on the profession of lawyer.

On day one of the session, Head of Italian Delegation Mr Michele Nicoletti was elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly for a term of one year with the possibility of re-election. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also elected 18 vice presidents from among its members. The seats for vice presidents in respect of the Russian Federation and Italy remain vacant.

In the afternoon part of today’s session, the MPs were addressed by Council of Europe Secretary General Mr Thorbjørn Jagland. The Parliamentary Assembly’s guests at this session will also be President of Armenia Mr Serzh Sargsyan, President of Austria Mr Alexander Van der Bellen, Prime Minister of Denmark Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen and the Crown Princess of Denmark.  

The Montenegrin Delegation at the PACE Winter Session consists of Head of Delegation Mr Predrag Sekulić and members Ms Marija Ćatović, Ms Sanja Pavićević, and Mr Ervin Ibrahimović.