Cat Eccles MP for Stourbridge has returned home from a week-long trip to Strasbourg.

Cat Eccles’ trip was to attend the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after being selected by colleagues to join the delegation.

The Council of Europe, an international organisation, was founded in 1949 by nine countries, including France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe.

The MP said: “It has been incredibly interesting to see the work of PACE and meeting delegates from across Europe.”

PACE meets four times a year, in addition to holding extra committee meetings.

The MP attended and voted on debates covering various topics, such as the situations in Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine, protection of the rule of law, Holocaust memorial education, humanitarian aid in Gaza, women in business, and social media content moderation.

The MP, who sits on the committee for Culture, Media and Science and the sub-committee for Youth Policy, also delivered a speech on social media content moderation.

ADVERTISING

Furthermore, the MP and colleagues met with Georgian opposition parties to discuss support for new free and fair elections following an allegedly rigged and Russian-influenced general election in October.

The Council of Europe is expected to decide in April if Georgia can continue as a member of PACE.

The MP said: “It’s been fascinating to see how the Council of Europe operates and how the work done impacts and influences across the continent.”

In addition to the team’s work, the MP enjoyed sampling Alsace cuisine, particularly the local specialty Flammekueche.

The MP concluded: “I’m looking forward to linking my local priorities of heritage, culture and art to my work in the committee.

“I arrived back late last night and will return to Strasbourg for the next plenary in April.”