The key discussion was devoted to the strengthening the decision-making process of the Parliamentary Assembly concerning the reconsideration of the credentials of national delegations and the voting rights of its members, when the proposals on amendments of the PACE’s Rules were considered. After the completion of a discussion marked by different views of MPs, the Assembly decided, upon the proposal of rapporteur Ms Petra de Sutter, to refer the text back to the responsible Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs.

The agenda of the autumn session included the discussion on the role of national parliaments in process of successful decentralisation, when President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Ms Gudrun Mosler-Törnström addressed the Assembly, the nuclear safety and security in Europe, the access to member States by Council of Europe and United Nations human rights monitoring bodies, including so-called grey zones, plea agreements in criminal proceedings, the treatment of Palestinian minors in the Israeli justice system, achieving equality in private and family life regardless of sexual orientation as well as accident of the Polish official aircraft in 2010 near Smolensk.

The Assembly also discussed topical issues in relation to the future of the Council of Europe, as well as on the family reunification in member states, empowering women as key actors for integration, and the radicalisation of migrants and diaspora communities in Europe and regulating foreign funding of Islam in Europe in order to prevent radicalisation and islamophobia.

On day two, the Assembly was addressed by Mr Khemaies Jhinaoui, Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, while on the following day Ms Marija Pejčinović-Burić, Croatian Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, presented the activities of the Committee, answering to parliamentary questions. Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, also answered parliamentary questions.

At a special ceremony held on day one, PACE President Liliane Maury-Pasquier awarded Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize for 2018 to Head of the Chechnya office of the Russian human rights group Memorial Mr Oyub Titiyev, who is in jail as of January of this year, so the President of the Managerial Board of  the Centre took over the award.

At this last regular PACE session in this year, the Assembly elected Mr Arnfinn Bårdsen as judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Norway and Mr Darian Pavli in respect of Norway.