Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (20 April 2026)
Progress report
| Doc. 16377 Add. 2
| 20 April 2026
- Author(s):
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Pablo HISPÁN,
Spain, EPP/CD
1 Decisions of
the Bureau of 20 April 2026 requiring ratification by the Assembly
1.1 References and
transmissions to committees
The Bureau considered and approved the following references:
- Fulfilling
and respecting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, Doc. 16340, motion for a resolution: transmission to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy to
be taken into account in the preparation of the report on “Situation
in the Middle East”;
- Protecting lakes as natural
and cultural heritage and as a strategic resource for people in
the face of the triple planetary crisis, Doc. 16342, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report and to the Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media for
opinion;
- Towards a Euro-Atlantic strategy
for the Arctic in support of the rules-based international order, Doc. 16348, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy for report;
- A more democratic review of
the process for electing the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe, Doc. 16350, motion for a resolution: transmission to the Committee
on Rules, Ethics and Immunities for information;
- Measures to combat the rise
in sexual and domestic violence against children and women in Europe, Doc. 16351, motion for a resolution: transmission to the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination for
information;
- Attacks on the rights of LGBTI
persons in Europe: a threat to democracy¸ Doc. 16354, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination for
report;
- Remittances by migrant workers
and diasporas and their benefits for countries of origin and host countries, Doc. 16355, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation for report;
- Unaccompanied foreign minors
in the context of migration: the need for common standards in full
respect of children’s rights, Doc. 16356, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation for report;
- Peace and security in the emerging
global order, Doc. 16357, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy for
report;
- The security of critical infrastructure
as a pillar of democratic stability in Europe, Doc. 16358, motion for a resolution: transmission to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy for
report;
- Strengthening safeguards against
the misuse of dual-use goods by authoritarian regimes, Doc. 16359, request for an opinion from the Committee on Legal
Affairs and Human Rights for report;
- Addressing culture as a foundation
for the democratisation of Belarus: Doc. 16364, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media for
report;
- Food challenges and responses:
the experience of Morocco, Doc. 16365, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report;
- A strong response to the Epstein
files: ensuring full transparency and accountability, Doc. 16381, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy for
report.
1.2 Composition of
the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of
Human Rights
On the basis of a proposal by the EPP/CD Group, the Bureau
nominated Ms Regina BASTOS (Portugal) as a member.
1.3 Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo* and the role of the Council
of Europe
The Bureau took note of the letter by the President of the
Assembly of Kosovo* informing the President of the Assembly of the
names of the members of the delegation of the Assembly of Kosovo*
for the 2025 ordinary session and approved the list of the delegation:
Members:
- Mr Ardian Gola, Self-Determination
Movement, Head of Delegation
- Ms Vlora Çitaku, Democratic Party of Kosovo
- Ms Emilija Redžepi, Parliamentary Group “Multiethnic”
Substitutes:
- Ms Jehona Lushaku, Democratic
League of Kosovo
- Mr Besnik Tahiri, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
The Assembly is invited to ratify
these Bureau decisions.
2 Other decisions
by the Bureau
2.1 Second part-session
of 2026 (Strasbourg, 20-24 April)
2.1.1 Requests for
debates under urgent procedure
The Bureau took note:
- of
the request to hold a debate on Request
for opinion on the draft additional protocol to the Council of Europe
Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the
Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism:
decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to
refer the matter to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
for report;
- of the request to hold a debate on Suspension
of Israel’s observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe in light of systemic violations of international
law: decided to recommend to the Assembly not to hold
this debate;
- of the request to hold a debate on Addressing
Israel’s death penalty law in Occupied Palestinian territories in
the context of Council of Europe standards: decided to
recommend to the Assembly not to hold this debate.
2.1.2 Request for current
affairs debate
The Bureau took note:
- of
the request of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Group to hold a current affairs debate on Accountability
and justice: a call to step up efforts for the establishment of
the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine:
decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate and appointed
Mr Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC) as first speaker;
- of the request of the leaders of the five political groups
to hold a current affairs debate on The
need for the respect of international law, peace and stability in
broader Middle East: decided to recommend to the Assembly
to hold this debate and appointed Mr Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC)
as first speaker
2.1.3 Draft agenda
The Bureau updated the draft agenda of the part-session.
2.1.4 Joint Committee
(Strasbourg, 20 April 2026)
The Bureau prepared the meeting of the Joint Committee.
2.1.5 Progress report
of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (30
January 2026– 19 April 2026)
The Bureau approved the Progress report (Doc. 16377).
2.2 Election observation
2.2.1 Assembly of KosovoNote:
early elections (28 December 2025)
The Bureau approved the report of the observation mission
(Doc. 16380).
2.2.2 Hungary: parliamentary
elections (12 April 2026)
The Bureau took note of the statement of the delegation.
2.2.3 Armenia: parliamentary
elections (7 June 2026)
The Bureau approved the revised list of members (Appendix
1).
2.3 References and
transmissions to committees
- A
strong response to the Epstein files: ensuring full transparency
and accountability, Doc. 16381, motion for a resolution: decided to refer it to the
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for
report, and to invite the Committee on Legal Affairs
and Human Rights, the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
and the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
to contribute to its preparation.
2.4 Extensions of
references
The Bureau approved the following extensions of references:
- Violent
pornography, Doc. 15972, motion for a resolution, reference 4809 of 19 April
2024 – validity: 19 April 2026: extension until 30 June 2026;
- Artificial intelligence and
gender equality: risks and challenges, motion for a resolution,
reference 4816 of 24 June 2024 - validity: 24 June 2026: extension
until 24 December 2026.
2.5 Meeting of the
Standing Committee and the Bureau in 2026
The Bureau approved the proposals contained in the document.
2.6 Issued raised
by committees
2.6.1 Committee on
Culture, Science, Education and Media
The Bureau took note of the Committee’s decision to discontinue
the mandate of the General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in
Sport.
2.6.2 Committee on
Political Affairs and Democracy
The Bureau accepted to extend the additional rights granted
to the Partner for Democracy delegation of Morocco for the 2025
session of the Assembly, as provided in sub-paragraphs 65.7.a to
65.7.e. of the Rules of Procedure, to the 2026 session of the Assembly.
2.7 Institutional
representation of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2026
The Bureau approved the proposals contained in the document.
2.8 Meetings elsewhere
than Strasbourg and Paris
The Bureau approved the proposals contained in the document.
2.9 Communications
The Bureau took note of the communication by the President
of the Assembly and the oral communication by the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe.
Appendix – Revised list of members of
the ad hoc Committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections
in Armenia (7 June 2026)
Chairperson /
Président: Mr / M. Damien COTTIER, Switzerland / Suisse
Vice-Chairperson / Président:
Lord David BLENCATHRA, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group
/ Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
- Mr / M. Christophe CHAILLOU,
France
- Mr / M. Cerni ESCALE CABLE, Andorra / Andorre
- Ms / Mme Edite ESTRELA, Portugal
- Mr / M. Dimitrios MANTZOS, Greece / Grèce
- Ms / Mme Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO,
Spain / Espagne
- Ms / Mme Wanda NOWICKA, Poland
/ Pologne
- Mr / M. Roberto SPERANZA, Italy / Italie*
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA,
Norway / Norvège
- Mr / M. Nuno FAZENDA, Portugal
- Ms / Mme Aurora FLORIDIA, Italy
/ Italie
- Mr / M. Julien JOSWIG, Germany / Allemagne
- Ms / Mme Marietta KARAMANLI,
France
- Ms / Mme Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA,
North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord
- Ms / Mme Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands
/ Pays-Bas
- Ms / Mme Annick LAMBRECHT,
Belgium / Belgique
- Mr / M. Didier MARIE, France
- Mr / M. Yvan RACAN, Croatia / Croatie
- Mr / M. Namik TAN, Türkiye
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
/ Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
- Mr / M. Ricardo CARVALHO,
Portugal
- Ms / Mme Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER,
Austria / Autriche
- Mr / M. Tekke PANMAN, Netherlands / Pays-Bas
- Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS, Greece / Grèce*
- ZZ
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Mr / M. Joseph O’REILLY,
Ireland / Irlande
- Ms / Mme Albana VOKSHI, Albania
/ Albanie
European Conservatives, Patriots &
Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)
- Lord David BLENCATHRA,
United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
- Mr / M. Malte KAUFMANN, Germany / Allemagne*
- Mr / M. Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary / Hongrie
- Ms / Mme Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden
/ Suède
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Ms / Mme Alicia
KEARNS, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
- Mr / M. José María SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA, Spain / Espagne
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe
(ADLE)
- Mr / M. Olivier BITZ,
France
- Mr / M. Damien COTTIER, Switzerland / Suisse*
- Ms / Mme Lesia ZABURANNA, Ukraine
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Ms / Mme Valentina
GRIPPO, Italy / Italie
- Mr / M. Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania / Lituanie
- Ms / Mme Liliana TANGUY, France
- Ms / Mme Tamila TASHEVA, Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Ryan VOGELS, Netherlands,
Pays-Bas
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
/ Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Ms / Mme Laura CASTEL, Spain /
Espagne*
Co-rapporteur·es AS/MON (ex officio)
Accompanying person
- Lady Tara BLENCATHRA,
accompanying Lord David BLENCATHRA
* Pre-electoral mission / mission préélectorale
