The participation of members of the Parliamentary Assembly in its work is both a right and a responsibility. It is also the responsibility of national parliaments to facilitate the participation of members of the Assembly in its activities.
Under the provisions of Article 13 of the General Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe (ETS No. 2) “no administrative or other restriction shall be imposed on the free movement to and from the place of meeting of Representatives to the Consultative Assembly and their substitutes”. Article 3 of its additional protocol (ETS No. 10) stipulates that “the provisions of Article 15 of the Agreement shall apply to Representatives to the Assembly, and their Substitutes, at any time when they are attending or travelling to and from, meetings of committees and sub-committees of the Consultative Assembly, whether or not the Assembly is itself in session at such time.”
The Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs has been informed of various situations in which restrictions or bans, administrative or otherwise, are imposed on the freedom of movement of representatives to the Assembly, or their substitutes, to and from the place of meeting. The committee therefore intends to further examine these cases with a view to ensuring that the members of the Assembly are able to exercise their rights, but also to assume their responsibilities, by participating in the work of the Assembly.