Andorra Delegation Tackles Media Freedom, Climate, Rights at PACE Session

Andorra's parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) autumn session in Strasbourg intervened on media freedom, climate action, human rights, and Europe's demographic challenges.

The group, headed by Berna Coma and including Meritxell Alcobé, Cerni Escalé, and Susanna Vela, took part in debates during the September 28 to October 2 gathering. Discussions focused on environmental and climate issues, human rights, democratic strength, and the rule of law.

Coma addressed media freedom and pluralism, stressing the importance of independent outlets for robust democracies. She noted Andorra's specific hurdles—a limited market affecting economic sustainability and information variety—and the ongoing push to match European audiovisual norms. She also cited local efforts to enhance media transparency, pluralism, and autonomy.

Alcobé contributed to three debates. In the one on climate emergency and youth engagement, she described Andorra's advances in sustainable growth, energy shifts, and environmental education, covering recycling, resource handling, natural area safeguards, and youth climate initiatives. Speaking for the ALDE group in the urgent debate on LGBT repression in Turkey, she called for protecting human rights, countering discrimination, and upholding member states' duties to defend civil society and freedoms.

Demographic issues featured in the "Towards a Family-Friendly Europe: Demographic Renewal" debate. Escalé outlined Andorra's context of rising population amid low birth rates, advocating a long-term plan encompassing housing, family support, migration, spatial planning, and public services. Alcobé highlighted responses like gradually extending maternity leave, growing public housing supply, and aid for young first-time buyers.