Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle highlights Palestinian Authority work at Council of Europe

Pringle highlights Palestinian Authority work at Council of Europe

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, credited the Palestinian Authority for continuing to work to implement the Council of Europe partnership for democracy under extreme conditions.

Addressing the council on Tuesday, Deputy Pringle said: “The partnership for democracy is an interesting and useful tool of the Council of Europe, as I see it. I note the report’s intention to increase the benefits for members of the partnership, and there is no doubt that for the member states that embrace the conditions and make them work there should be a benefit.”

Deputy Pringle addressed the council’s spring plenary session in Strasbourg yesterday, during a debate on Assessing the functioning of the partnership for democracy. The deputy is a member of the Unified European Left group.

The deputy said: “It is interesting to note the report on the Palestinian Authority and their participation. I have to say that under what must be the most extreme conditions they continue to try to implement the partnership, and that is telling.

“Clearly the Israeli authorities have no interest in Palestinians having a successful partnership and they do not wish the authority to even survive, I would surmise.

“The rapporteur points out that ‘it had become increasingly difficult, or even impossible, to meet some of them given the circumstances on the ground related to the Israeli occupation’.

“Despite this situation the authority continues to participate in regional interparliamentary activities and looks to make the partnership work.

“That situation should also be recognised, and the contrast shown to other national assemblies that might drag their heels on the process as well,” he said.

Deputy Pringle also said there should be some form of sanction for a state that is not working to meet necessary conditions for the partnership.

The deputy said: “A state could use the name of the Council of Europe to give them credibility while not implementing the rules of the partnership as well. I think that would undermine the process for the states that are participating fully.”