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Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (26 January 2015)

Progress report | Doc. 13668 Addendum I | 26 January 2015

Author(s):
Bureau of the Assembly
Rapporteur :
Mr Christopher CHOPE, United Kingdom, EC

1 Decisions of the Bureau of 26 January 2015 requiring ratification by the Assembly

1.1 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2015

The Bureau took note of the list of candidates for Vice-Presidents of the Assembly (Appendix 1).

1.2 References and transmissions to committees

The Bureau considered and approved the following references:

  • Doc. 13646, motion for a recommendation, Closing the protection gap of unaccompanied children in Europe, reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons for report;
  • Doc. 13675, motion for a recommendation, The allocation of seats in the Parliamentary Assembly with respect to Turkey, reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report;
  • Doc. 13676, motion for a resolution, Call on the Russian authorities for the immediate release of Nadia Savchenko and other illegally detained prisoners of war, reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on “The humanitarian situation of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons” (Ref. 4055);
  • Doc. 13466, motion for a resolution, Creation of a European Institute to counter prejudices about Roma, Sinti and Kales by promoting research about their culture and history, and Doc. 13576, motion for a resolution, Promoting Roma inclusion at the local level, reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for one report entitled “Promoting Roma inclusion”.

1.3 Composition of the Monitoring Committee, the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs and the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights

On the basis of proposals from the political groups, the Bureau nominated members of these committees and decided to submit them to the Assembly for ratification (Commissions (2015) 01 Addendum 1).

1.4 Resolution 1376 (2004) relating to Cyprus

The Bureau took note of the letters from the two Turkish Cypriot political parties informing the President of the Assembly of the names of the “elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community” entitled to sit in the Assembly, namely Mr Tahsin Ertuğruoğlu (National Unity Party) and Mr Mehmet Çaglar (Republican Turkish Party).

The Assembly is invited to ratify the above proposals made by the Bureau.

2 Other decisions of the Bureau

2.1 First part-session of 2015 (26 to 30 January)

2.1.1 Draft agenda

The Bureau updated the draft agenda.

2.1.2 Request for debate under urgent procedure

The Bureau decided to propose to the Assembly to hold a debate under urgent procedure on “Terrorist attacks in Paris: together for a democratic response” on Wednesday 28 January 2015 and to refer this matter to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report.

The Bureau decided to propose to the Assembly not to hold a debate under urgent procedure on “Renewed hostilities in eastern Ukraine: end of the ceasefire”.

2.1.3 Request for a current affairs debate

The Bureau decided to propose to the Assembly not to hold a current affairs debate on the “Implications of the opinion of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the proposed accession of the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights”.

2.1.4 Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Bulgaria and Serbia

The Bureau took note of the report drawn up by the Sub-Committee on the election of judges to the European Court of Human Right following interviews with candidates for the posts of judges to the Court in respect of Bulgaria and Serbia. This report had been already declassified by the sub-committee and submitted to the attention of all members of the Assembly (Doc. 13668 Addendum II).

2.2 Election observation

2.2.1 Tunisia: presidential election (23 November and 21 December 2014)

The Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee.

2.2.2 Republic of Moldova: parliamentary elections (30 November 2014)

The Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee.

2.2.3 Meeting of the Chairpersons of Ad Hoc Committees for the observation of elections (27 January 2015)

The Bureau took note of the agenda of the meeting.

2.3 References and transmissions to committees

2.3.1 Extension of references

  • Doc. 12844, motion for a resolution, Abuse of pre-trial detention in States Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights (Ref. 3839 of 3 March 2012 – validity: 31 March 2015 – extended on 23 June 2014): extension until 30 September 2015;
  • Bureau decision, Implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (Ref. 3847 of 9 March 2012 – validity: 31 May 2015 – extended on 29 September 2014): extension until 30 June 2015;
  • Bureau decision, Strengthening the protection and role of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member States, follow-up to Resolution 1891 (2012) (Ref. 3885 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 31 March 2015 – extended on 22 May 2014): extension until 31 December 2015;
  • Bureau decision, European institutions and human rights in Europe, follow-up to current affairs debate (Ref. 3886 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 31 January 2015 – extended on 22 May 2014), extension until 30 June 2015;
  • Doc. 12998, motion for a resolution, Administrative detention (Ref. 3900 of 1 October 2012 – validity: 31 March 2015 – extended on 23 June 2014): extension until 31 October 2015.

2.3.2 Reply after consultation

  • Doc. 13498, motion for a resolution, Gay to straight conversion therapy and regulation of psychotherapists, no further action.

2.3.3 References for consultation

  • Doc. 13400, motion for a resolution, The employment rights of female workers from Eastern Europe, consultation of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development on a possible follow-up.

2.4 Request for an opinion

The Bureau decided to ask the opinion of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs on the status of Ms Savchenko with regard to Council of Europe immunity.

2.5 Communications

The Bureau took note of communications by the President of the Assembly and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Appendix – Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2015

Candidatures

GROUPS / GROUPES

COUNTRY / PAYS

CANDIDATES / CANDIDATS

GROUP I /

GROUPE I

France

Mr René ROUQUET

Germany / Allemagne

Mr Axel E. FISCHER

Italy / Italie

Mr Michele NICOLETTI

Russian Federation / Fédération de Russie

Mr Alexey PUSHKOV

United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni

Mr Robert WALTER

GROUP II /

GROUPE II

Poland / Pologne

Mr Piotr WACH

Turkey / Turquie

Mr Reha DENEMEÇ

Ukraine

Mr Volodymyr ARIEV

GROUP III /

GROUPE III

Bosnia and Herzegovina/Bosnie-Herzégovine

 

Bulgaria / Bulgarie

Ms Dzhema GROZDANOVA

Croatia / Croatie

Mr Gvozden Srećko FLEGO

Czech Republic / République tchèque

Ms Dana VÁHALOVÁ

Denmark / Danemark

Mr Jacob LUND

Finland / Finlande

Ms Maria GUZENINA

Georgia / Géorgie

Mr Tedo JAPARIDZE

Greece / Grèce

Ms Dora BAKOYANNIS

GROUP IV /

GROUPE IV

San Marino / Saint-Marin

Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI

Slovenia / Slovénie

Ms Ksenija KORENJAK KRAMAR

«The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia» / «L’ex-République yougoslave de Macédoine»

Mr Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI

Albania / Albanie

Ms Valentina LESKAJ