Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (29 January-17 April 2016)
Progress report
| Doc. 14016
| 14 April 2016
1 Introduction
At its meeting on 29 January, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur
for this report, which covers its activities over the period from
the last Bureau meeting of the first part-session of 2016 (Friday
29 January) to the first Bureau meeting of the second part-session
of 2016 (Monday 18 April).
The following chapters include the decisions taken at the
Bureau meetings of 29 January in Strasbourg and 3 March in Paris.
Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions, which have either already
been ratified by the Standing Committee on 4 March or which do not
require ratification.
An addendum to this report will be issued immediately after
the Bureau meeting on 18 April, which will also include, in part,
decisions to be ratified on the same day. A second addendum will
be issued immediately after the Bureau meeting of 22 April. It will
include only the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the
same day, notably the references and transmissions which will have
been approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau will hold its next meetings in Strasbourg on Friday
22 April at 8.30 am, then on Thursday 26 May in Tallinn. The next
meeting of the Standing Committee will also be held in Tallinn,
on 27 May.
2 Activities of
the Bureau since the last part-session and decisions not requiring
ratification by the Assembly
2.1 Follow-up to
Assembly’s Resolutions
2.1.1 Follow-up to
the first part-session of 2016 (Strasbourg, 25-29 January)
On 29 January, the Bureau approved the following proposals
made by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly:
- Resolution 2085 (2016) on inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are
deliberately deprived of water (rapporteur of the Committee on Social
Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development: Ms Milica Marković,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC)
8. The Assembly firmly condemns the lack of co-operation
of the Armenian parliamentary delegation and the Armenian authorities
during the preparation of the report on this issue. The Assembly
regards such behaviour as incompatible with the obligations and
commitments of a country which is a full member of the Council of
Europe. The Assembly will consider what measures to take in this
case and in any similar cases which may arise during the terms of
office of its parliamentarians.
Follow-up: to ask
the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs to consider the matter in the context of the opinion on
“Challenges to the co-operation of member States with the Assembly
as regards the free movement of Assembly members”, by enlarging
its scope.
- Resolution 2086 (2016) on the request for partner for democracy status with
the Parliamentary Assembly submitted by the Parliament of Jordan (rapporteur
of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy: Ms Josette
Durrieu, France, SOC)
12. In addition, the Assembly resolves to review, no later
than two years from the adoption of this resolution, the state of
progress achieved in implementing the political commitments entered
into by the Jordanian Parliament, as well as the reforms in the
areas mentioned in paragraph 9 above.
Follow-up:
to refer the matter to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
for the preparation of a report on “Evaluation of the partnership
for democracy in respect of the Parliament of Jordan”.
- Resolution 2090 (2016) on combating international terrorism while protecting
Council of Europe standards and values (rapporteur of the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy: Mr Tiny Kox, Netherlands, UEL)
21. Finally, with a view to providing
law-makers in particular with a sound constitutional basis, the Assembly
asks the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice
Commission) for an opinion on the compatibility of the proposed
draft revision of the French Constitution, aimed at incorporating
rules governing a state of emergency and on the deprivation of nationality
into the constitution, with the European Convention on Human Rights
and with Council of Europe standards.
Follow-up:
to invite the President of the Assembly to transmit the request
to the Venice Commission.
- Resolution 2092 (2016) on the challenge on procedural grounds of the still
unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of the Republic
of Moldova (rapporteur of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities
and Institutional Affairs: Mr Egidijus Vareikis, Lithuania, EPP/CD)
4. It invites the Committee on
the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of
the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) and the co-rapporteurs
concerned to ensure, within the framework of dialogue with the Moldovan
authorities, that the Moldovan Parliament is properly informed of
the requirements laid down in the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure
and that it will take due account of them in subsequent changes
to the composition of its parliament delegation, particularly when
filling the three remaining vacant seats on the delegation.
Follow-up:
to invite the Monitoring Committee to ensure the implementation
of this recommendation in the context of its work.
- Resolution 2093 (2016) “Recent attacks on women: the need for honest reporting
and a comprehensive response” (rapporteur of the Committee on Equality
and Non-Discrimination: Mr Jonas Gunnarsson, Sweden, SOC)
Follow-up:
to ask the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination to prepare
a report on “Women in public space: putting an end to sexual violence
and street harassment”, and to seize the Committee on Culture, Science,
Education and Media for opinion.
- Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo*Note and the role of the Council
of Europe (rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs and
Democracy: Mr Agustín Conde, Spain, EPP/CD)
13. The Assembly resolves to step
up dialogue with the Assembly of Kosovo and recommends that its Bureau
modify the current format for co-operation with the political forces
elected to the Assembly of Kosovo, with a view to inviting the Assembly
of Kosovo to designate a delegation which would ensure the representation
also of minority communities, in addition to the majority and the
opposition.
Follow-up: to ask the Secretary General
of the Parliamentary Assembly to draft, in consultation with the Chairperson
of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, a memorandum
on the “Implementation of paragraph 13 of
Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo and the role of the Council
of Europe”, to be discussed by the Bureau at one of its forthcoming
meetings.
2.2 Standing Committee
(Paris, 4 March 2016)
On 29 January and 3 March, the Bureau took note of the draft
agenda.
2.3 Second part-session
of 2016 (18-22 April)
2.3.1 Draft agenda
On 29 January and 3 March, the Bureau drew up the draft agenda.
2.4 Election observation
2.4.1 Meeting of the
Chairpersons of ad hoc committees for the observation of elections
(27 January 2016)
On 3 March, the Bureau took note of the conclusions of the
meeting.
2.4.2 Kazakhstan: early
parliamentary elections (20 March 2016)
On 29 January, the Bureau approved the composition of the
ad hoc committee and appointed Mr Jordi Xuclà (Spain, ALDE) as its
Chairperson. On 3 March, it approved the final list of members of
the ad hoc committee (Appendix 1).
2.4.3 Serbia: early
parliamentary elections (24 April 2016)
On 3 March, the Bureau approved the list of members of the
ad hoc committee to observe these elections and appointed Mr Volodymyr
Ariev (Ukraine, EPP/CD) as its Chairperson (Appendix 2).
2.4.4 “The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia”: early parliamentary elections (5 June 2016, subject
to receiving an invitation)
On 29 January, the Bureau approved the revised list of members
of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections (Appendix 3).
2.5 References and
transmissions to committees
2.5.1 References and
transmissions to committees
On 3 March, the Bureau considered and approved the following
references and transmissions to committees, which were subsequently
ratified by the Standing Committee on the following day:
- Doc. 13956, motion for a resolution, Private and family life: achieving
equality regardless of sexual orientation: consultation of the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination on
possible follow-up;
- Doc. 13963, motion for a resolution, The legitimacy crisis in international
sports governance: reference to
the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 13964, motion for a resolution, The protection of editorial
integrity: reference to the
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 13965, motion for a resolution, Compatibility of Sharia law
with the European Convention on Human Rights: can States Parties
to the Convention be signatories of the “Cairo Declaration”?: reference
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report.
2.5.2 Extension of
references
During the reference period, the Bureau considered and approved
the following extensions of references:
- Bureau decision, The situation in Belarus (Ref. 3841 of
9 March 2012 – validity: 30 April 2016): extension until
31 January 2017;
- Bureau decision, Political transition in Tunisia (Ref.
3889 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 29 June 2016): extension
until 31 January 2017;
- Bureau decision, Evaluation of the Partnership for democracy
in respect of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ref. 4045 of
11 April 2014 – validity: 11 April 2016): extension until 31 January
2017;
- Doc. 13424, motion for a resolution, The need for a citizenship
income (Ref. 4034 of 7 April 2014 – validity: 7 April 2016): extension until 7 April 2017.
2.6 Václav Havel
Human Rights Prize
On 29 January, the Bureau took note of the launch of the 2016
edition of the Prize.
2.7 Issues raised
by committees
2.7.1 Committee on
Political Affairs and Democracy
On 29 January, the Bureau authorised:
- Mr George Loukaides (Cyprus, UEL), rapporteur on The political transition in Tunisia,
to carry out a fact-finding visit to Tunisia during the first semester
of 2016, in the framework of the preparation of his report;
- Mr Alain Destexhe (Belgium, ALDE), rapporteur on the Evaluation of the partnership for democracy
in respect of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic,
to carry out a fact-finding visit to Kyrgyzstan during the first
semester of 2016, in the framework of the preparation of his report;
- Mr Tobias Zech (Germany, EPP/CD), rapporteur on the Situation in Lebanon and challenges for regional stability
and European security, to carry out a fact-finding visit
to Lebanon during the first semester of 2016, in the framework of
the preparation of his report;
- Mr Atilla Korodi (Romania, EPP/CD), rapporteur on Libya’s future between the threats of terrorism
and a democratic prospect, to carry out a fact-finding
visit to Tunisia, during the first semester of 2016, in the framework
of the preparation of his report.
On 3 March, the Bureau authorised Mr Andrea Rigoni (Italy,
ALDE), in his capacity as rapporteur on the situation in Belarus,
to attend an international conference on “Death penalty: transcending
the divide”, organised by the United Nations Development Programme
in Belarus, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Belarus and with support from the British Embassy
in Minsk (Minsk, 10 March 2016).
2.7.2 Committee on
Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
On 29 January, the Bureau authorised Ms Annette Groth (Germany,
UEL), rapporteur on A stronger European response
to the Syrian refugees crisis to conduct a fact-finding
visit to Lebanon and Jordan, to take place in February 2016, in
the framework of the preparation of her report.
2.7.3 Committee on
Equality and Non-Discrimination
On 29 January, the Bureau authorised Ms Sahiba Gafarova (Azerbaijan,
EC), General Rapporteur on violence against women, to participate
in the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status
of Women, to be held in New York (United States) on 15 and 16 March 2016.
2.8 European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (CPT)
On 29 January, the Bureau drew up the lists of candidates
for the CPT in respect of Malta and Romania, which it forwarded
to the Committee of Ministers. The Bureau also approved the recommendation
of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to invite the
delegation of Azerbaijan to submit a new list of candidates.
2.9 Meetings elsewhere
than Strasbourg and Paris
On 29 January, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
- the Sub-Committee on Media and
Information Society (Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media)
to meet in London on 11 April 2016;
- the Sub-Committee on Gender Equality (Committee on Equality
and Non-Discrimination) and the Parliamentary Network Women Free
from Violence to meet in Berlin on 12 May 2016;
- the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination and the
No Hate Parliamentary Alliance to meet in Stockholm on 17 and 18
May 2016.
2.10 Institutional
representation of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2016
On 29 January, the Bureau approved the appointments as set
out in Appendix 4.
2.11 Participation
of members in Parliamentary Assembly plenary sessions and committee meetings
On 3 March, the Bureau took note of the information memorandum
prepared by the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and
Institutional Affairs, and asked the President of the Assembly to
transmit it to the chairpersons of national delegations.
2.12 General Rapporteurs
On 29 January, the Bureau took note of the appointment by
the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of Ms Meritxell
Mateu (Andorra, ALDE) as General Rapporteur on abolition of death
penalty.
3 Activities of
the Standing Committee (Paris, 4 March 2016)
The Standing Committee ratified the credentials of new members
of the Assembly submitted by the delegations of Bulgaria, Croatia,
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It approved changes in the
composition of Assembly committees and took note of the draft agenda
of the second part-session of the Assembly (18‑22 April).
It also ratified the references proposed by the Bureau which
are contained in chapter 2.5.
The Standing Committee held an exchange of views with Mr Gianni
Buquicchio, President of the European Commission for Democracy through
Law (Venice Commission);
Finally, it adopted the following texts on behalf of the Assembly:
Appendix 1 – Kazakhstan: early parliamentary
elections (20 March 2016)
Final list of members of the ad hoc committee
Chairperson: Jordi
XUCLÁ (Spain, ALDE)
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
- Marie-Christine DALLOZ,
France
- Karin STRENZ, Germany
Substitutes
- Ben-Oni ARDELEAN, Romania
- Deborah BERGAMINI, Italy
- Elena CENTEMERO, Italy
- Şaban DİŞLİ, Turkey
- Yves POZZO DI BORGO, France
- Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania
- Attila TILKI, Hungary
Socialist Group (SOC)
- Denis BAYKAL, Turkey
- Paolo CORSINI, Italy
- Marianne MIKKO, Estonia
Substitutes
- Sabir HAJIYEV, Azerbaijan
- Florin IORDACHE, Romania
- Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE)
- Jordi XUCLÁ, Spain
- Karl GARÐARSSON, Iceland
Substitutes
- Gedeminas JAKAVONIS,
Lithuania
- Anne KALMARI, Finland
- Adele GAMBARO, Italy
European Conservatives Group (EC)
- Ingebjørg GODSKESEN,
Norway
- Erkan KANDEMIR, Turkey
Substitutes
- Lord Richard BALFE,
United Kingdom
- Burhanettin UYSAL, Turkey
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
Substitute(s)
Rapporteur of the Committee on Political
Affairs and Democracy on the relations of the Council of Europe
with Kazakhstan
Secretariat
- Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN,
Head of Secretariat, Election observation and Interparliamentary
co-operation Division
- Franck DAESCHLER, Principal Administrative Assistant,
Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
- Danièle GASTL, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary
co-operation Division
Appendix 2 – Serbia: early parliamentary
elections (24 April 2016)
List of members of the ad hoc committee
Chairperson: Volodymyr
ARIEV (Ukraine, EPP/CD)
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
- Nicole DURANTON, France
- Samvel FARMANYAN, Armenia
- Yves POZZO di BORGO, France
- Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine
- Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI, “The former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia“
- Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary
- Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania
Substitute(s)
Socialist Group (SOC)
- Paolo CORSINI, Italy
- Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria
- René ROUQUET, France*
- Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland
- Josette DURRIEU, France
- Snežana JONICA, Montenegro
- Marit MAIJ, Netherlands
Substitutes
- Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro
- George FOULKES, United Kingdom
- Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jan ŠKOBERNE, Slovenia
- Idália SERRÃO, Portugal
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE)
- Carles JORDANA, Andorra
- Andrea RIGONI, Italy*
Substitutes
- Alfred HEER, Switzerland
- Vusal HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan
European Conservatives Group (EC)
- Hermine NAGHDALYAN,
Armenia*
- Nigel EVANS, United Kingdom
Substitutes
- Tom PACKALÉN, Finland
- Jaroslaw OBREMSKI, Poland
- Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
Substitute
Co-rapporteur on the honouring of obligations
and commitments by Serbia
Secretariat
- Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN,
Head of Secretariat, Election observation and Interparliamentary
co-operation Division
- Franck DAESCHLER, Principal Administrative Assistant,
Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
- Danièle GASTL, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary
co-operation Division
* members of the pre-election delegation
Appendix 3 – “The former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia”: early parliamentary elections (5 June 2016)
Revised list of members of the ad hoc
committee
Chairperson: Stefan
SCHENNACH (Austria, SOC)
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
- David BAKRADZE, Georgia
- Samvel FARMANYAN, Armenia
- Frank J. JENSSEN, Norway*
- Giorgi KANDELAKI, Georgia
- Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE, Latvia
- Joe O’REILLY, Ireland
- Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania
- Elisabeth SCHNEIDER-SCHNEITER, Switzerland
Substitutes
- Viorel Riceard BADEA,
Romania
- Elena CENTEMERO, Italy
- Şaban DIŞLI, Turkey
- Nicole DURANTON, France
- Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine
- Denis JACQUAT, France
- Yves POZZO di BORGO, France
- Attila TILKI, Hungary
- Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania
Socialist Group (SOC)
- Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria*
- Marit MAJ, Netherlands
- Josette DURRIEU, France
- Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro
- Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
- Mogens JENSEN, Denmark
- Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Substitute(s)
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE)
- Doris FIALA, Switzerland*
- Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia
Substitutes
- Carles JORDANA, Andorra
- Hendrik DAEMS, Belgium
- Andrea RIGONI, Italy
European Conservatives Group (EC)
- Tom PACKALÉN, Finland*
- Dominik TARCZYNSKI, Poland
Substitutes
- Mark PRITCHARD, United
Kingdom
- Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway
- Daniel MILEWSKI, Poland
- Iwona ARENT, Poland
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
Substitute
- Ioanneta KAVVADIA, Greece
Rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)
- Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN,
Norway*
- Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova*
Secretariat
- Bogdan TORCĂTORIU, Administrative
Officer, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation
Division
- Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary
co-operation Division
* members of the pre-election delegation
Appendix 4 – Institutional representation
of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2016
|
Body
|
who
represents the Assembly
|
reference
|
2016
nominations
|
|
I. Council of Europe bodies
|
|
European Commission for
Democracy through Law
Venice Commission
|
Representatives of the Assembly
appointed by the Bureau to attend the sessions of the Commission
|
Article 2.4 of the Venice Commission
Statute
(CM Res(2002)3)
|
Members:
Ms Brasseur,
ALDE
appointment by the President
Mr Mahoux
– SOC (AS/Jur)
Substitute:
Mr Fabritius
– EPP/CD (AS/Jur)
|
|
Council on Democratic Elections
of the Venice Commission
|
Representatives of AS/Pol, AS/Jur
and AS/Mon approved by the Bureau of the Assembly
|
Bureau decision of
10
March 2003
|
Members:
Ms Durrieu
– SOC (AS/Pol)
Lord Balfe – EC (AS/Jur)
Mr Xuclà
– ALDE (AS/Mon)
Substitutes:
Mr Frécon
– SOC (AS/Pol)
Ms Beselia – SOC (AS/Jur)
Mr Kox
– UEL (AS/Mon)
|
|
European Centre for Global
Interdependence and Solidarity
North-South Centre
|
Two members of the Executive
Council – appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly
|
Article 4.2 (b) of the North-South
Centre revised Statute
(CM/Res(2011)6)
|
Members:
Ms Günay
– EC (AS/Soc)
… (AS/Cult)
Substitutes:
Mr Schennach
– SOC (AS/Soc)
Mr Luís Leite Ramos – EPP/CD (AS/Cult)
|
|
European Commission Against
Racism and Intolerance
ECRI
|
Representatives of the Assembly
appointed by the Bureau (representatives of the following three committees:
AS/Pol, AS/Ega and AS/Cult)
|
Article 5 of the ECRI Statute
(CM Res(2002)8)
|
Members:
Mr Corlatean
– SOC (AS/Pol)
Mr Cilevičs – SOC (AS/Ega)
Mr Önal
– EC (AS/Cult)
Substitutes:
Mr Korodi
– EPP/CD (AS/Pol)
… (AS/Ega)
… (AS/Cult)
|
|
Group of States against Corruption
GRECO
|
A representative of the Assembly
appointed by the Bureau
|
CM decision of 717th meeting
in 2000 in accordance with Article 7.2 of the Statute of the GRECO
|
Member:
Mr Vlasenko
– EPP/CD (AS/Jur)
Substitute:
Mr Sharma
– SOC (AS/Jur)
|
|
Council of Europe Committee
for Works of Art
|
Two members appointed
by the Bureau of the Assembly (at present AS/Cult Committee member
and Museum Prize rapporteur)
|
CM decision of 482nd meeting
in 1992
|
Members:
Lady
Eccles – EC (AS/Cult)
Ms Marjanović – SOC (AS/Cult)
|
|
MONEYVAL
|
A representative of the Assembly
appointed by the Bureau
|
Article 4.1 of Resolution CM/Res(2010)12
|
Member:
Mr Omtzigt
– EPP/CD (AS/Jur)
Substitute:
Ms Mateu
– ALDE (AS/Jur)
|
|
II. Other
|
|
EUROPA NOSTRA
Pan-European Federation
for Heritage
|
One member (and substitute)
to be nominated by the Assembly – to attend the Federation Council meetings
as observer
|
Article 21.4 of the Statute
of Europa Nostra
|
Lady Eccles – EC (AS/Cult)
Vice-Chairperson
of the Sub-Committee on Culture, Diversity and Heritage
|
