PACE President Petra Bayr Calls for Principled European Leadership Amid Global Crises

PACE President Petra Bayr Calls for Principled European Leadership Amid Global Crises

The President emphasized that human rights must not be treated as “optional” and questioned whether Europe would continue to be a place where rights are not only defended but actively advanced.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | April 21, 2026

STRASBOURG — Petra Bayr, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), opened the assembly’s spring plenary session this week with a forceful call for European leaders to defend universal human rights and the rule of law. Addressing parliamentarians in Strasbourg, Bayr warned of a recurring international pattern where international law is broken and democratic norms are “openly” and “shamelessly” challenged.

The President emphasized that human rights must not be treated as “optional” and questioned whether Europe would continue to be a place where rights are not only defended but actively advanced. Describing politicians as the “authors” of history, she urged her colleagues to meet the current moment with leadership that is “clear in principle” and “firm in action”.

Solidarity with Ukraine and Global Principles: Bayr reaffirmed the Assembly’s “total solidarity” with Ukraine, calling for faster progress in establishing a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the war of aggression. She also advocated for the creation of a fund to compensate Ukrainians for the damage caused by the conflict.

Beyond Ukraine, the President insisted that the Assembly must not compromise its principles regarding the war in Iran or the Israeli Knesset’s recent decision to expand the use of the death penalty in a discriminatory manner.

Accountability for the Epstein Network: In a significant statement on internal integrity, Bayr addressed the criminal Epstein network, specifically noting possible links to a former Council of Europe Secretary General. She declared that the Assembly would not remain silent on the “corruption and exploitation” associated with the network, demanding full accountability and “full justice for every victim” of trafficking, rape, and toxic misogyny.

A Packed Legislative Agenda: The spring session features a busy schedule, including addresses by Denis Bećirović, Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister. Key discussions will focus on:

• Tracking the proceeds of crime, as highlighted by Sergei Magnitsky.
• Countering social dumping and labour exploitation.
• The effective enforcement of copyright.
• The procedure for electing judges to the European Court of Human Rights.

President Bayr, an Austrian representative from the Socialists, Democrats and Greens group, has led the Assembly since January 2026, when she was elected with an absolute majority of 164 votes.