Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (25 January-14 April 2008)

Part 2

Addendum to the report | Doc. 11565 | 14 April 2008

Author(s):: Bureau of the Assembly
Rapporteur :: Mr John GREENWAY, United Kingdom

1 Introduction

1. The Bureau met on 14 April in Strasbourg.

2 Functioning of the Assembly

2.1 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (25 January-14 April 2008)

2. On 14 April, the Bureau approved the progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee.

2.2 Second part of the 2008 Ordinary Session (Strasbourg, 14-18 April 2008)

2.2.1 Request for debate under urgent procedure

3. On 14 April, the Bureau:

a “The functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia” (submitted by the five chairpersons of the Assembly’s Political Groups, on behalf of their groups): decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate under urgent procedure and proposed to refer this matter to the Monitoring Committee, for report.

2.2.2 Requests for current affairs debate

4. On 14 April, the Bureau:

a considered the following requests:

“Situation in the Middle East” (submitted by Mr Lindblad and others);
“Situation in Tibet” (submitted by Mrs Danuta Jazłowiecka, Chairperson of the Polish delegation, on behalf of her delegation);
“Consequences of the Declaration of Independence by the Kosovo Assembly” (submitted by Mr von Sydow, Vice-President of the Swedish delegation, on behalf of his delegation);
“The independence of Kosovo” (submitted by Mr Reimann, President of the Swiss delegation, on behalf of his delegation);

b decided, in conformity with the Rule 52.3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, to recommend to the Assembly to hold a current affairs debate on the “Consequences of the Declaration of Independence by the Kosovo Assembly” and appointed Mr von Sydow (Sweden, SOC) as the opening speaker.

2.2.3 Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights

5. On 14 April, the Bureau took note of the report of the sub-committee on the elections of judges including the recommendations contained on it and decided to forward it to the Assembly members.

2.2.4 Updating of the draft agenda

6. On 14 April, the Bureau approved the updated draft agenda.

2.2.5 Meeting with chairpersons of parliamentary national delegations (Tuesday, 16 April 2008, from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

7. On 14 April, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda of this meeting.

3 Elections

3.1 Presidential election in Armenia (19 February 2008)

8. On 14 April, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee (rapporteur: Mr Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC).

3.2 Presidential election in Montenegro (6 April 2008)

9. On 14 April, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee (rapporteur: Mr Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG).

3.3 Parliamentary elections in Serbia (11 May 2008)

10. On 14 April, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc committee and confirmed the appointment of Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) as chairperson.

4 Other matters

4.1 Joint conference of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (St Petersburg, 4 April 2008)

11. On 14 April, the Bureau took note of the final declaration adopted at the end of the conference.

4.2 Communications

12. On 14 April, the Bureau took note of the communications by the President; the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; and the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly.

Appendix – References and transmissions to committees

On 14 April, the Bureau approved the following references and modifications of references, subject to ratification by the Assembly:

1. References to committees

a. Doc. 11398

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Frunda and others

Secret detention centres: clarifying the allegations, consultation of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, on a possible follow-up

b. Doc. 11510

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Hovannisian and others

The state of cultural heritage in Turkey, no further action

c. Doc. 11511

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Hovannisian and others

The present state of Armenian cultural treasures in Turkey, to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for information

d. Doc. 11512

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Wohlwend and others

The need for international condemnation of Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-1933, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report, and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for opinion

e. Doc. 11514

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Korobeynikov and others

Setting up a European centre for balanced development of pupils, to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for information

f. Doc. 11515

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Berényi and others

Fight against extremism: achievements, deficiencies and failures, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report, and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for opinion

g. Doc. 11516

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Rigoni and others

Improving the physical and mental health of children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster: developing and strengthening solidarity in Europe, to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, for information

h. Doc. 11517

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Hurskainen and others

Strengthening measures to protect and revive highly endangered languages, to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for report

i. Doc. 11518

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Chelemendik and others

Drawing up a report on allegations made about the death of Zurab Zhvania, to the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee), for information

j. Doc. 11519

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Cilevičs and others

Readmission agreements: a mechanism for returning irregular migrants, to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, for report

k. Doc. 11520

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Bilozir and others European expatriates: relations to their countries of origin, consultation of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, on a possible follow-up

l. Doc. 11521

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and others

The need to avoid duplication of the work of the Council of Europe by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report

m. Doc. 11522

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Austin and others

The protection of witnesses as cornerstone for justice and reconciliation in the Balkans, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report

2. Modification of a reference

a. Doc. 11404

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Bemelmans-Videc and others

Allegations of politically-motivated abuses of the criminal justice system in Council of Europe member states Reference No. 3385 of 23 November 2007, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report, and to the Political Affairs Committee and to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, for opinion.

b. Doc. 11409

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr de Puig

The eradication of discrimination based on the principle of “collective guilt” in Europe

Reference No. 3386 of 21 January 2008, consultation of the Political Affairs Committee on the proposal by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

c. Doc. 11505

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr McIntosh and others

Respect for media freedom, to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for a separate report.

d. Doc. 11507

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Badré and others

Euro-Mediterranean: call for a Council of Europe strategy, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report, and to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development and to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for opinion.

3. Reply after consultation

a. Doc. 11481

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Gross and others

Threshold levels in parliamentary elections, and their impact on representativity of parliaments in Council of Europe member states, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report.

4. Extension of references

a. Doc. 10674

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Gardetto and others

The fight against harm to the environment in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

Reference No. 3219 of 29 May 2006 – Validity: 29 May 2008, extension until 29 November 2008.

b. Doc. 10898

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Huss and others

Environment and health: towards better prevention of environment-related health hazards

Reference No. 3234 of 26 June 2006 – Validity: 26 June 2008, extension until 26 December 2008.