The only item on the agenda is a debate on a statement to the Committee of Ministers about “Consequences of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”. The Storting’s head of delegation, Ingjerd Schou (Conservative Party), has been elected as the rapporteur on the matter.

“The Council of Europe has condemned Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. We as elected representatives will now discuss the different options at our disposal, and will adopt an Opinion which we will address to the Committee of Ministers. This may consist of further reactions, including a request to the Russian Federation to withdraw from the Council of Europe, as provided for in Article 8 of the statutes. We are in a critical time for the organization. I am therefore very pleased that this extraordinary session looks like being so well attended by the member states, and that dialogue between the parliamentary assembly and the Committee of Ministers is so close and good. This is crucial,” said Ms Schou.

The Russian Federation’s suspension means that it will no longer be able to participate in the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, PACE or the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The decision to suspend Russia was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 25^th February after consultation with PACE.

The extraordinary plenary session will be held in hybrid mode. Head of delegation Ingjerd Schou and substitute member Linda Hofstad Helleland (both Conservative Party) are representing the Storting’s PACE delegation in Strasbourg. Lise Christoffersen (Labour Party), Lise Selnes (Labour Party) and Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik (Liberal Party) will be taking part digitally.

The Council of Europe and its parliamentary assembly

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949, and currently comprises 47 member states. The principal aim of the Council of Europe is to work towards strengthening human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law in its member states.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) consists of 324 MPs (and the same number of substitutes) from the member states’ national assemblies.

PACE is an advisory body which plays an important role in the Council of Europe. It adopts resolutions and recommendations to the member states’ parliaments and governments in a wide range of fields, and monitors the extent to which its member states comply with their obligations as a member.

The Storting's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe