The Mission of the ALDE-PACE group is to promote core values of the Council of Europe: democracy, human rights and the rule of law through enhanced political actions inside and outside the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. ALDE adopted a new mission statement 22 January 2018 outlining the values and objectives of the group. ALDE members realize these objectives by actively participating in the Parliamentary Assembly sessions, working in its Committees, drafting reports, initiating debates and ensuring the follow-up of this work in their home countries. Outside the Assembly the group members are committed to promoting the principles of the Council of Europe and giving support to liberal and democratic values throughout Europe.
Composition
Bureau
According to the Rules of Procedure of the ALDE-PACE, the Bureau of the Group consists of the Chairperson, 11 Vice-Chairpersons and the Treasurer of the Group. Chairpersons of committees and former Chairpersons of the Group are ex officio members of the Bureau.
Members
Secretariat
The permanent secretariat of the Group is located in the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. The secretariat is chaired by Dr Maria Bigday.
History
It was not until after the celebration of the Council of Europe's 25th anniversary in 1964 that the Rules of Procedure of the Consultative Assembly discreetly mentioned that members had the possibility of forming political groups. The history of the liberal group in the PACE dates back to the early 1970s. At the time it was called the Liberal Group and consisted of 30 members headed by Frederik Portheine. In the mid-80s the group changed its name to the "Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group" in order to make the Group's political ideals universally and unequivocally recognisable. The name "Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe" was adopted on 20 June 2005 in order to enhance cooperation with other European liberal and democratic bodies, in particular the ALDE of the European Parliament.
The permanent secretariat of the Group operates since 1978, when Mr Peter Kallenberger was appointed Secretary of the Group. After he retired in 2010, Ms Maria Bigday took up the position of the Secretary.
Activities
Recent reports prepared by the ALDE members
Anne Brasseur
* Good Football governance
*Internet and politics: the impact of new information technology on democracy
Rik Daems
*Extra-institutional actors in the democratic system
Kerstin Lundgren
*The Impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the Council of Europe
Dick Marty
*Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo
*Alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states
*Migration as an opportunity for European development
*Management of mixed migration and asylum challenges beyond the European Union’s eastern border
Jordi Xuclà
*Strengthening the institution of Ombudsman in Europe
Conferences and side-events
The ALDE-PACE Group regularly holds conferences, hearings, seminars and round tables in the framework of the Council of Europe scope of interest. It also co-organises joint events with other European and international liberal and democratic institutions. Information relating to these side events is found on the ALDE-PACE Pace website and in the published after each session.
Partner organisations
The ALDE-PACE holds stable partnership with major European and world liberal and democratic organisations.
