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PACE has proposed a “joint reaction procedure” involving both of the Council of Europe’s statutory bodies, and the Secretary General, in cases where a member State violates its statutory obligations or does not respect fundamental principles and values, the PACE website reports.

The document makes special reference to Russia, the delegation of which was stripped of its key rights, including the right to vote, due to the “annexation” of Ukraine in 2014 and suspended its participation in PACE’s activities. 

The resolution called for intensified dialogue with Russia to “avoid a situation in which the biggest member State would be asked to, or chooses to leave the Organisation”, with all the geopolitical implications this would have and consequences for Russian citizens.

PACE called on Russia to “appoint a delegation to the Assembly and to resume obligatory payment of its contribution to the Organisation’s budget” since failure to do could lead to its suspension in both statutory bodies, if applied by the Committee of Ministers.

More widely, the Assembly urged member States to ensure the Council of Europe’s financial sustainability, and pledged to streamline and focus its own activities in a number of ways. It also urged increased political dialogue with the EU – including as regards EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.