Today in Strasbourg, the Summer Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has begun, and it will last until Friday 26 June.

While determining the agenda of the Session, the Parliamentary Assembly decided to extend the agenda to include a debate on the need for a joint European approach to resolving the issue of migration, while the address of Greek Prime Minister Mr Alexis Tsipras was postponed.

Today, members of PACE were addressed by President of Malta Ms Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who focused on the issue of migration and pointed out the significance of defining an effective and comprehensive migration policy based on principles of upholding human rights. Pointing out that migration was a global phenomenon that required global solutions, the Maltese President called for the setting up of an international anti-human smuggling coalition which would operate under the auspices of the United Nations.

The representatives were also addressed by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Igor Crnadak, as Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Minister Crnadak said that the Chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to work on implementation of the common priorities drawn up in co-ordination with the outgoing Chairmanships of Azerbaijan and Belgium. These priorities primarily relate to the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the Council of Europe policy towards neighbouring regions, the issues of culture, as well as religious dimension of intercultural dialogue.

Today, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe marked its 60^th anniversary of the Europe Prize with a series of activities.

During the day, the meetings of the following were held: Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy; Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination; Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, and Monitoring Committee, as well as meetings of political groups.

On day two of the Session, during the morning part, the members will be addressed by UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon, which will be followed by debates on improving the protection of whistle-blowers, partnership for democracy in respect of the Parliament of Morocco, and the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan.

Under the item of the agenda “Elections and appointments”, the PACE will consider list of candidates for the judges to the European Court of Human Rights submitted by Armenia, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Monaco, and will elect the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.