Parliamentary Assembly integrity and powers of the investigators

Reply to Written question | Doc. 14386 | 07 July 2017

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1291st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (5 July 2017). 2017 - Fourth part-session

Reply to Written question

: Written question no. 721 (Doc. 14346)

As regards the first question raised by the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Committee of Ministers considers that this is a matter which concerns the Assembly.

As far as the two other questions are concerned, the Committee of Ministers wishes to inform the Honourable Parliamentarian that at their 1290th meeting (21 June 2017), the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the following decisions, which answer these questions:

“The Deputies

1. concerned by the allegations of corruption within the Assembly which have the potential to affect the reputation of the Assembly and that of the Council of Europe, and referring to the same concern expressed by the Secretary General;

2. expressed their desire to see a full and fair investigation into allegations of corruption within the Assembly;

3. welcomed the Assembly’s decision to establish an independent external investigation body to look into allegations of corruption within the Assembly;

4. condemned corruption in all its forms and underlined the obligation of all member States to take action in line with Council of Europe standards, should suspicion of corruption occur;

5. urged member States’ full co-operation, in accordance with applicable national law, with the independent external investigation body established by the Parliamentary Assembly;

6. authorised the Secretary General to transfer €120 000 from the “Parliamentary Assembly” programme line in the 2017 Ordinary Budget to a special account for the functioning of the independent external investigation body.”