On day one of the Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which is being held in Strasbourg, in the period 7-10 April 2014, Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Mr Predrag Sekulić was elected Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

At the opening of the Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE President Ms Anne Brasseur stressed that Council of Europe and Europe as a whole were facing a serious crisis at the moment, which represented a huge challenge to the values and principles that CE defended, and also to peace and international co-operation. The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation is unacceptable and constitutes a serious violation of international law which should be strongly condemned, PACE President added. She says that CE has an obligation to react to activities like that since the respect for territorial integrity is one of CE’s most fundamental rules, and one of the commitments which all member states are required to make. Therefore, it was decided on 10 April 2014, the discussion to be held on the request for reconsidering previously ratified accreditations of Russia Delegation to the PACE.

The President emphasized that the Session will be focused on recent developments in Ukraine, stating that the Council of Europe must give political impetus to future activities in Ukraine. The priorities are well known; they include reform in the constitutional sphere, electoral reform, devolution, reform of the justice system and the fight against corruption.

At today’s plenary meeting, the Report on activities of the Bureau and Standing Committee in the period between January and April Session in 2014 was presented.

During the afternoon session, MPs were addressed by Sebastian Kurz, Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, who answered parliamentary questions, a number of which relating to recent events in Ukraine and Russia.

Members of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe participated in the meeting of the Socialist Group.

Additionally, they participated in meetings of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy and Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

The following will be discussed at the plenum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: prostitution, trafficking and modern slavery in Europe, request for Partnership for democracy between the Parliament of the Council of Europe and Parliament of Kirgizstan, state and rights of traditional national minorities in Europe. Mr Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, will present his 2013 Annual activity report for 2013.

Montenegrin Delegation at the Spring Session consists of the following: Mr Predrag Sekulić, Head of Delegation, and members Ms Draginja Vuksanović, Mr Mladen  Bojanić  and Ms Snežana Jonica.