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Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (25 April-21 June 2026)

Progress report | Doc. 16430 | 19 June 2026

Author(s):
Bureau of the Assembly
Rapporteur :
Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL

1 Introduction

At its meeting on 24 April 2026, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period between 25 April and the pre-session Bureau meeting of the third part-session of 2026 (Monday 22 June).

The present report includes the decisions taken at the Bureau meeting held on 21 May 2026 in Monaco. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions which do not require ratification. Chapter 3 presents a list of decisions taken by the Bureau on 21 May that require ratification at the opening of the third part-session 2026 of the Assembly.

An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 22 June, which will also include decisions to be ratified by the Assembly at the opening of the 2026 third part-session. Another addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 26 June. It will only include the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the same day, notably the references and transmissions to committees which will have been approved by the Bureau.

The Bureau will hold its next meetings on Thursday 3 September 2026 in Paris, during the October part-session in Strasbourg, and on 26 November 2026 in Montenegro. It will also meet in Vienna on 7 December 2026. The Standing Committee will meet in Montenegro on Friday 27 November 2026.

2 Activities of the Bureau since the last part-session and decisions not requiring ratification by the Assembly

2.1 Election of the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

On 21 May, the Bureau interviewed (in alphabetical order) Ms Tanja Gonggrijp and Ms Marja Ruotanen-Bourdages, candidates for the post of Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe (in camera);

2.2 Meeting of the Standing Committee in Monaco (22 May 2026)

2.2.1 Draft agenda

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda.

2.3 Third part-session of 2026 (Strasbourg, 22-26 June)

2.3.1 Draft agenda

On 21 May, the Bureau drew up the draft agenda for the third part-session of 2026.

2.3.2 Request for a debate under urgent procedure

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the request by the Committee on Equality and No-Discrimination to hold a debate on Women’s access to justice.

2.3.3 Requests for a current affairs debate

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the request by the Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation to hold a current affairs debate on “Follow-up to the Chişinău Declaration – Council of Europe action in the field of migration”.

2.4 Composition of the Committee on Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)

On 21 May, on the basis of a proposal by the EPP/CD Group, the Bureau nominated Ms Nađa Laković (Montenegro) as member.

2.5 Communications

On 21 May, it took note of the communication by the President of the Assembly and held an exchange of views with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

2.6 Election observation

2.6.1 Joint debate co-organised by the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional authorities and the Venice Commission on “Towards Trusted and Inclusive Electoral Processes: The Role of Observers” (Paris, 28-29 April 2026), as a contribution to the New Democratic Pact

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the Paris Call to Action;

2.6.2 Armenia: parliamentary elections (7 June 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the statement of the pre-electoral mission.

2.6.3 Assembly of Kosovo*Note: early elections (7 June 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections and appointed Mr Iulian Bulai (Romania, ALDE) as chairperson (Appendix 1).

On 28 May, by written consultation, the Bureau appointed Ms Maria Syrengela (Greece, EPP/CD) as vice-chairperson of the ad hoc committee of the Bureau to observe these elections.

2.6.4 Kazakhstan: early parliamentary elections (August 2026, date tbc)

On 21 May, the Bureau, subject to receiving an invitation, approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections, and appointed Ms Sevilay Çelenk (Türkiye, UEL) as chairperson and Ms Boriana Åberg (Sweden, EPP/CD) as vice-chairperson (Appendix 2);

2.6.5 Bosnia and Herzegovina: general elections (4 October 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections, and appointed Mr Jone Blikra (Norway, SOC) as chairperson and Ms Yevheniia Kravchuk (Ukraine, ALDE) as vice-chairperson (Appendix 3).

2.6.6 Proposal for testing the feasibility of observing out-of-country voting in the context of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 October 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, decided to test a methodology for out-of-country voting observation in the context of these elections, and on the basis of the results of this test, to consider whether the methodology can be applied to future OCV observations.

2.7 Follow-up to the Resolution 2553 (2024) “Strengthening the youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly”

On 21 May, the Bureau:

  • took note of the updated list of the Assembly Youth Rapporteurs (Appendix 4);
  • held an exchange of views with the participation of:
    • Ms Liliya Elenkova, Chairperson of the European Steering Committee for Youth and Chair of the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ);
    • Ms Emma Wedner, Chairperson of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and Vice-Chair of the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ);
  • agreed on holding its annual thematic debate on Youth and the environment.

2.8 Resolution 2621 (2025) “Russian Democratic Forces”

On 21 May, the Bureau:

  • heard a statement by the President of the Assembly;
  • took note of her intention to hold, at the next meeting of the Platform, a discussion on the conduct required from the Platform's members and to request that all members sign a declaration explicitly acknowledging their commitment to the principles and values of the Council of Europe, including respect for diversity and equality;
  • on that basis, decided not to modify the current composition of the Platform, at this stage;
  • authorised the simultaneous interpretation in/from the Russian language during the meetings of the Platform.

2.9 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty (Paris, 30 June-2 July 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the list of members of the ad hoc committee to participate in this event.

On 11 June 2026, by written consultation, the Bureau approved the revised list of members of the ad hoc committee to participate in this event (Appendix 5);

2.10 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment:

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the list of the three candidates short-listed.

3 Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly

3.1 Election observation

3.1.1 Assembly of Kosovo*: early elections (7 June 2026)

On 5 May, by written consultation, the Bureau decided to set up an ad hoc committee of 11 members to observe these elections, and that this Committee would be composed of 11 members, as follows: SOC-3; EPP/CD-3; ECPA-2; ALDE-2; UEL-1.

3.1.2 Morocco: parliamentary elections (23 September 2026)

On 21 May, the Bureau decided that the ad hoc committee to observe these elections should be composed of 20 members (SOC-7; EPP/CD-5; ECPA-4; ALDE-3; UEL-1).

3.2 2026 World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 2-3 November)

On 21 May, the Bureau took note of the concept note and decided to set up an ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the Forum.

3.3 Dates of Assembly part-sessions (2029 – 2031)

On 21 May, the Bureau approved the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress report (Appendix 6).

The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.

Appendix 1 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the early elections to the Assembly of Kosovo (7 June 2026)

Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Iulian BULAI (Romania / Roumanie, ALDE / ADLE)

Vice-Chairperson / Vice-Président: Ms / Mme Maria SYRENGELA (Greece / Grèce, EPP/CD / PPE / DC)

Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)

  • Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA, Norway / Norvège
  • Ms / Mme Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord
  • Mr / M. António MENDONÇA MENDES, Portugal

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)

  • Ms / Mme Maria SYRENGELA, Greece / Grèce
  • ZZ
  • ZZ

European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)

  • ZZ
  • ZZ

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)

  • Mr / M. Iulian BULAI, Romania / Roumanie
  • Mr / M. Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania / Lituanie

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Mr / M. Erich HESS, Switzerland / Suisse
  • Ms / Mme Tamila TASHEVA, Ukraine

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)

  • ZZ

Appendix 2 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the early parliamentary elections of Kazakhstan (August 2026, date tbc)

Chairperson / Présidente: Ms / Mme Sevilay ÇELENK (Türkiye, UEL / GUE)

Vice-Chairperson / Vice-présidente: Ms / Mme Boriana ÅBERG (Sweden / Suède, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)

Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)

  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Ms / Mme Aysu BANKOGLU,Türkiye
  • Mr / M. Yunus EMRE, Türkiye
  • Ms / Mme Edite ESTRELA, Portugal
  • Ms / Mme Camilla FABRICIUS, Denmark / Danemark
  • Ms / Mme Aurora FLORIDIA, Italy / Italie
  • Mr / M. Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino / Saint-Marin
  • Ms / Mme Annick LAMBRECHT, Belgium / Belgique
  • Ms / Mme Iris LUARASI, Albania / Albanie
  • Ms / Mme Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain / Espagne
  • Mr / M. Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland / Suisse
  • Ms / Mme Wanda NOWICKA, Poland / Pologne
  • Mr / M. Ivan RACAN, Croatia / Croatie
  • Mr / M. Roberto SPERANZA, Italy / Italie

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)

  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Ms / Mme Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden / Suède
  • Mr / M. Garret AHEARN, Ireland / Irlande
  • Ms / Mme Nađa LAKOVIĆ, Montenegro
  • Mr / M. Cristian-Augustin NICULESCU-ȚÂGÂRLAȘ, Romania / Roumanie
  • Mr / M. Joseph O'REILLY, Ireland / Irlande
  • Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS, Greece / Grèce

European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)

  • Lord David BLENCATHRA, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
  • Mr / M. Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary / Hongrie

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Mr / M. Axel KASSEGGER, Austria / Autriche
  • Mr / M. Malte KAUFMANN, Germany / Allemagne
  • Mr / M. José María SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA, Spain / Espagne
  • Ms / Mme Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden / Suède

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)

  • Mr / M. Mehmet AKALIN, Türkiye
  • Mr / M. Claude KERN, France

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Mr / M. Damien COTTIER, Switzerland / Suisse
  • Mr / M. Manu DIERICX, Belgium / Belgique
  • Ms / Mme Valentina GRIPPO, Italy / Italie
  • Mr / M. Andries GRYFFROY, Belgium / Belgique
  • Mr / M. Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania / Lituanie
  • Ms / Mme Tamila TASHEVA, Ukraine

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)

  • Ms / Mme Sevilay ÇELENK, Türkiye

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Ms / Mme Semra ÇAĞLAR GÖKALP, Türkiye
  • Mr / M. Arnaldo LOMUTI, Italy / Italie

Accompanying person / Personne accompagnatrice

Lady Tara BLENCATHRA, accompanying Lord David BLENCATHRA

Appendix 3 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 October 2026)

Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA (Norway / Norvège, SOC)

Vice-Chairperson / Vice-présidente: Ms / Mme Yevheniia KRAVCHUK (Ukraine, ALDE / ADLE)

Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)

  • Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA, Norway / Norvège *
  • Mr / M. Piero FASSINO, Italy / Italie
  • Mr / M. Nuno FAZENDA, Portugal
  • Mr / M. Mike READER, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Ms / Mme Aysu BANKOGLU, Türkiye
  • Ms / Mme Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord
  • Mr / M. Julian JOSWIG, Germany / Allemagne
  • Ms / Mme Annick LAMBRECHT, Belgium / Belgique
  • Ms / Mme Wanda NOWICKA, Poland / Pologne
  • Ms / Mme Aleksandra VUKOVIĆ KUČ, Montenegro / Monténégro

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)

  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ
  • ZZ

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Mr / M. Garret AHEARN, Ireland / Irlande
  • Mr / M. Ricardo CARVALHO, Portugal
  • Ms / Mme Marie-Christine DALLOZ, France
  • Ms / Mme Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER, Austria / Autriche
  • Ms / Mme Nađa LAKOVIĆ, Montenegro / Monténégro
  • Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS, Greece / Grèce

European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)

  • Ms / Mme Elisabetta GARDINI, Italy / Italie *
  • Mr / M. Fabio PIETRELLA, Italy / Italie
  • Mr / M. José María SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA, Spain / Espagne
  • Ms / Mme Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden / Suède

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)

  • Mr / M. Nikolla CAMAJ, Montenegro / Monténégro
  • Ms / Mme Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine
  • Ms / Mme Lucia PLAVÁKOVÁ, Slovak Republic / République slovaque *

Substitutes / Suppléant·es

  • Mr / M. Mehmet AKALIN, Türkiye
  • Ms / Mme Valentina GRIPPO, Italy / Italie
  • Mr / M. Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania / Lituanie
  • Ms / Mme Yuliia OVCHYNNYKOVA, Ukraine
  • Ms / Mme Tamila TASHEVA, Ukraine

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)

  • ZZ

Co-rapporteurs / Co-rapporteur·es AS/MON (ex officio)

  • Mr / M. Pablo HISPÁN, Spain, EPP/CD / Espagne, PPE/DC
  • Ms / Mme Oana MURARIU, Romania, ALDE / Roumanie, ADLE

*Pre-electoral mission / Mission préélectorale

Appendix 4 – List of the Assembly Youth Rapporteurs

Committees/ Commissions

Rapporteurs/ Rapporteur·es

Country/ Pays

Political Group/ Groupe politique

Appointed on/ désigné·e le:

PACE Secretariat member

Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy / Commission des questions politiques et de la démocratie

Max LUCKS

Germany / Allemagne

SOC

11.12.2024

Eugen Schoenfeld

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights / Commission des questions juridiques et des droits de l'homme

Zeynep YILDIZ

Türkiye

NR / NI

16.03.2026

Guillem Cano-Palomares

Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development / Commission des questions sociales, de la santé et du développement durable

Aurora FLORIDIA

Italy / Italie

SOC

06.12.2024

Catherine du Bernard-Rochy

Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation / Commission des migrations, de la protection internationale et de la coopération économique

Arusyak JULHAKYAN

Armenia / Arménie

EPP/CD / PPE/DC

11.03.2025

Angela Garabagiu //Olivera Simic

Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media / Commission de la culture, de la science, de l'éducation et des médias

Yevheniia KRAVCHUK

Ukraine

ALDE /

ADLE

28.01.2026

Silvia Arzilli

Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination / Commission sur l'égalité et la non-discrimination

Aysu BANKOĞLU

Türkiye

SOC

05.12.2024

Louise Morlon

Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) / Commission pour le respect des obligations et engagements des Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe (commission de suivi)

Naomi CACHIA

Malta / Malte

SOC

29.01.2025

Damien Cesselin

Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities / Commission du Règlement, de l’éthique et des immunités

Sona GHAZARYAN

Armenia /

Arménie

ALDE /

ADLE

12.12.2024

Roberta Damore

Appendix 5 – List of members of the Ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, Paris, 30 June to 2 July 2026

Chairperson / Président·e: ZZ…

Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy / Commission des questions politiques et de la démocratie

  • Mr / M. Pablo HISPÁN (Spain / Espagne, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
  • Ms / Mme Belén HOYO (Spain / Espagne, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights / Commission des questions juridiques et des droits de l'homme

  • Mr / M. Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES (Spain / Espagne, SOC)
  • Ms / Mme Zeynep YILDIZ (Türkiye, NR/NI)
  • Mr / M. Emanuelis ZINGERIS (Lithuania / Lithuanie, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)

Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development / Commission des questions sociales, de la santé, et du développement durable

  • Mr / M. Joe O’REILLY (Ireland / Irlande, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
  • Mr / M. Berdan ÖZTÜRK (Türkiye, UEL / GUE)
  • Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS (Greece / Grèce, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)

Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation / Commission des migrations, de la protection internationale et de la coopération économique

  • Ms / Mme Sena Nur ÇELIK KANAT (Türkiye, NR / NI)

Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media / Commission de la culture, de la science, de l’éducation et des médias

  • Ms / Mme Seda GÖREN (Türkiye, NR / NI)
  • Ms / Mme Marietta KARAMANLI (France, SOC)

Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination / Commission sur l'égalité et la non-discrimination

  • Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS (Greece / Grèce, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
  • Mr / M. Francesco VERDUCCI (Italy / Italie, SOC)

Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) / Commission pour le respect des obligations et engagements des Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe (commission de suivi)

  • Ms / Mme Valentina GRIPPO (Italy / Italie, ALDE / ADLE)
  • Mr / M. Yunus EMRE (Türkiye, SOC)
  • Ms / Mme Liliana TANGUY (France, ALDE / ADLE)

Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities / Commission du Règlement, de l’éthique et des immunités

  • Baroness Shami CHAKRABARTI (United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni, SOC)
  • Ms / Mme Sevilay ÇELENK (Türkiye, UEL / GUE)

Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights / Commission sur l'élection des juges à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme

  • ZZ

Ex officio members (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure) / Membre de droit (Article 19.6 du Règlement)

  • Ms / Mme Gala VELDHOEN (Netherlands / Pays-Bas, SOC)

Appendix 6 – Dates of Assembly part-sessions (2029-2031)

2029

2030

2031

22 – 26 January

21 – 25 January

27 – 31 January

16 – 20 April

8 – 12 April

21 – 25 April

25 – 29 June

24 – 28 June

23 – 27 June

1st October – 5 October

30 September – 4 October

29 September – 3 October