The first session of 2025 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was held from January 27 to January 31. Six members of the Dutch Senate participated in the meeting in Strasbourg.
Summary
The assembly members reflected on the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau 80 years ago. Saskia Kluit (GroenLinks-PvdA) presented her report on the humanitarian crisis of women, children, and hostages in Gaza. Plenary debates covered the situation in Georgia, the necessity of a renewed rules-based international order, the role of migration in Europes demographic aging, the protection of the legal profession, the urgent need for free and fair elections in Belarus, and Europes commitment to a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
Luxembourgs Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, addressed the assembly. Theodorus Rousopoulos was re-elected as President of the parliamentary assembly and eighteen vice-presidents were elected. The delegation was received by the Deputy Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Loek ten Hagen.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
During the plenary debate on Tuesday, January 28, rapporteur Saskia Kluit explained her resolution on The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children, and hostages in Gaza. One of the principles of this report is humanitarian law, the most fundamental protection against unjust situations and insecurity, intended to protect innocent civilians in times of conflict, Kluit stated.
The resolution calls on Israel to lift the ban on the UN organization UNRWA. UNRWA plays a very important role in providing humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza and there is no good alternative. Moreover, accepting that UN bodies are banned in times of conflict means that people do not receive food and medical aid, Kluit said.
Situation in Georgia
Discussions on the situation in Georgia took place at several points. During the opening of the meeting, the credentials of the Georgian delegation were challenged on substantive grounds. In the afternoon, the parliamentary elections of October 26 were reviewed.
Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
The plenary session was opened with a minute of silence on Monday, January 27, to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. On Wednesday, January 29, members of the Dutch delegation attended the commemorative ceremony in the plenary hall.
The Role of Migration in Demographic Developments
During the debate on January 29 about the role of migration in Europes demographic aging, Kluit thanked the rapporteur for introducing a new direction. This fact-based report on our demographic challenges shows a realistic attitude towards migration and the solutions we can choose from, Kluit said.
Other
Saskia Kluit participated in the Joint Committee Meeting with ambassadors to the Council of Europe on January 30, where Georgia was discussed again. The Social Affairs, Health, and Sustainable Development Committee unanimously elected Kluit as its chair.