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REPORT
Four members of the Canada–Europe Parliamentary Association (CAEU) participated in the fourth part of the 2021 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which took place from 27 to 30 September 2021. This fourth part was held in a hybrid format. Delegations were on site in Strasbourg, France, and others participated virtually. As a result of the Joint Interparliamentary Council’s moratorium on international travel, the Canadian delegation participated by videoconference. The Canadian delegation was composed of the Honourable Lucie Moncion, Senator; the Honourable Gwen Boniface, Senator; Mr. Stéphane Bergeron, Member of Parliament (MP); and Mr. Luc Berthold, Member of Parliament (MP). The delegation was supported by the association secretary, Matthieu Boulianne, and its analysts, Madalina Chesoi and Billy Joe Siekierski.
PARTICIPATION IN THE FOURTH PART OF THE 2021 ORDINARY SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Consistent with Canada’s official observer status with the PACE, the delegation participated in the fourth part of the ordinary session from 27 to 30 September 2021.
A. Overview of the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
During the fourth part, the Assembly, its committees and political groups held debates on various topics. The Assembly debated the following:
| • | progress report by the Bureau and the Standing Committee; |
| • | observation of the early parliamentary elections in Armenia (20 June 2021); |
| • | observation of the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria (11 July 2021); |
| • | observation of the early parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova (11 July 2021); |
| • | humanitarian consequences of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; |
| • | guidelines on the scope of the parliamentary immunities enjoyed by members of the Parliamentary Assembly; |
| • | socio-economic inequalities in Europe: time to restore social trust by strengthening social rights; |
| • | gender representation in the Parliamentary Assembly; |
| • | strengthening the fight against so-called “honour” crimes; |
| • | anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe; |
| • | more participatory democracy to tackle climate change; |
| • | addressing issues of criminal and civil liability in the context of climate change; |
| • | the climate crisis and the rule of law; |
| • | combating inequalities in the right to a safe, healthy and clean environment; |
| • | climate and migration; |
| • | research policies and environmental protection; |
| • | environment and human rights: right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment; |
| • | debate under urgent procedure – the situation in Afghanistan: consequences for Europe and the region; |
| • | current affairs debate – the Western Balkans between democratic challenges and European aspirations: what role for the Council of Europe?; |
| • | debate under urgent procedure – increased migration pressure on the borders of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland with Belarus; and |
| • | debate under urgent procedure – draft Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence. |
The Assembly also heard from the following speakers:
| • | Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety; |
| • | Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe; |
| • | Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe; and |
| • | Nikola Dimitrov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia. |
B. Canadian activities during the session
The members of the delegation actively participated in the plenary session proceedings of PACE.
1. Canadian interventions in Assembly debates
Senator Lucie Moncion, Senator Gwen Boniface and MP Stéphane Bergeron participated in the Assembly’s debates. They made two interventions during the debates and tabled four speeches addressing a range of topics. The links to the delegates’ speeches are on the PACE website.[1]
Monday, September 27, 2021
MP Stéphane Bergeron was unable to speak during debates entitled “Humanitarian consequences of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan” and “Guidelines on the scope of the parliamentary immunities enjoyed by members of the Parliamentary Assembly.” MP Stéphane Bergeron tabled his speech.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Senator Gwen Boniface and Senator Lucie Moncion were unable to speak during the debates entitled “Gender representation in the Parliamentary Assembly” and “Strengthening the fight against so-called ‘honour’ crimes,” but tabled their speeches.
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Senator Lucie Moncion spoke during the debate entitled “Anchoring the right to a healthy environment: need for enhanced action by the Council of Europe.”
Thursday, September 30, 2021
MP Stéphane Bergeron spoke during the debate under urgent procedure entitled “The situation in Afghanistan: consequences for Europe and the region.”
Respectfully submitted,
Hon. Percy E. Downe, Senator Vice-President Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association | Mr. James Maloney, M.P. Vice-President Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association |