On 22–23 May, Malta hosted meetings of the Bureau and Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The mini-session was held in Valetta as Malta assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the Committee of Ministers, with a focus on protecting the rights of youth and children and addressing violence and discrimination. The ALDE group was officially represented by Vice-Presidents Eerik Kross and Yevheniia Kravchuk. They attended the meetings alongside ALDE colleagues representing national delegations and committees.
Rian Vogels, Yevheniia Kravchuk and Stéphane Mazars intervened on behalf of the ALDE group in the plenary debates.
In an exchange of views with Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, Rian Vogels asked to elaborate on Malta’s efforts in promoting the implementation of ECHR judgements both in Malta and in other Council of Europe member states.
Another highlight of the Standing Committee meeting was a debate on “The Need to Ensure the Survival of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL),” followed by an exchange with RFE/RL President Stephan Capus. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum voiced unanimous support for ensuring sustainable financial backing to preserve the broadcaster’s mission. Speaking on behalf of the group, Yevheniia Kravchuk underscored RFE/RL’s essential role in combating authoritarian disinformation and hybrid warfare by providing reliable, high-quality journalism to audiences living under repressive regimes and in conflict zones. Kravchuk also paid tribute to the bravery of Ukrainian journalists working under Russian occupation, including those reporting for RFE/RL. She named Victoria Roshyna, whose abduction, torture and death in a Russian prison constitutes another war crime committed by Russia, as well as Crimean journalists Iryna Danylovych and Vladyslav Yesypenko, who remain unlawfully detained. Kravchuk called for their immediate release and reiterated the urgent need to defend press freedom across the region.
Speaking in the current affairs debate on “The role of parliamentarians in safeguarding investment in human rights and democracy amid rising military expenditure,” Stéphane Mazars, on behalf of the ALDE group, urged the Assembly not to present security and democracy as opposing goals. He emphasized that the war in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the necessity of security spending in Europe to safeguard democracy and human rights.
More about PACE meetings in Malta
