Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (30 January-27 April 2009)
Progress report
| Doc. 11865 Part I
| 25 April 2009
- Author(s):
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Joachim HÖRSTER,
Germany, EPP/CD
- Origin
- [Instantiation] 2009 - Second part-session
1 Introduction
1. The Bureau met on 30 January in Strasbourg and on
12 March in Paris. The Standing Committee met on 13 March in Paris.
2 Functioning of the Assembly
2.1 Progress Report of the Bureau of the Assembly
and of the Standing Committee (30 January-27 April 2009)
2. On 30 January, the Bureau appointed Mr Hörster (Germany,
EPP/CD) as rapporteur.
2.2 Follow-up to the 2009 First ordinary part-Session
of the Assembly (Strasbourg, 26-30 January 2009)
i. Follow-up of adopted texts
3. On 30 January, the Bureau:
a.Resolution 1647 (2009) “Implementation
of Resolution 1633 (2008) on
the consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia”:
- in accordance with paragraph
15, decided to constitute an ad hoc committee of the Bureau comprising the
President of the Assembly; the Chairpersons of the Political Groups;
the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee for Georgia and for
Russia; the Chairpersons (or their representatives) of the Committee
on Migration, Refugees and Population, of the Political Affairs
Committee and of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
and representatives of the Georgian and Russian parliamentary delegations
and which would be chaired by the President of the Assembly;
- in accordance with paragraph 19, decided to include on
the draft agenda for the April 2009 part-session, an item on the
follow-up given by Georgia and Russia to Resolution 1647 (2009);
b.Resolution 1648 (2009) on “the humanitarian
consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia”: decided to
submit the matter to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population
and to invite the committee to produce a report for the April 2009
part-session;
c.Resolution 1643 (2009) “The implementation
by Armenia of Assembly Resolutions
1609 (2008) and 1620 (2008)”: in accordance with paragraph
11, asked the Monitoring Committee to follow this matter;
d.Resolution 1651 (2009) “The consequences
of the global financial crisis”: in accordance with paragraph 8,
asked the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee to analyse
the social impact and human dimension of the financial and economic
crisis in the member states of the Council of Europe.
ii. Follow-up of the current affairs debate on “the situation
in Gaza”:
4. On 30 January the Bureau decided to refer this matter
to the Political Affairs Committee so that it could be taken into
account in the report on the “Situation in the Middle East”.
2.3 Standing Committee (Paris, 13 March 2009)
i. Draft agenda
5. On 30 January the Bureau took note of the draft agenda.
6. On 12 March the Bureau took note of the updated draft agenda.
ii. Meeting of the Standing Committee
7. On 13 March, the Standing Committee:
a ratified the credentials of new
members of the Assembly submitted by the delegations of Belgium,
Latvia, the Netherlands, Serbia and Spain;
b ratified the changes in the composition of Assembly committees
in respect of the delegations of Belgium, Latvia, the Netherlands,
Serbia, Spain and Switzerland;
c held an exchange of views on the celebration of the 60th anniversary
of the Council of Europe, with the participation of the Deputy Secretary
General of the Council of Europe;
d held an exchange of views on the Parliamentary Assembly’s
co-operation with its institutional partners in election observation;
e at the request of the Social, Health and Family Affairs
Committee, decided to withdraw the report “Women in Prison” (
Doc. 11619 rev)
from the agenda, for debate at the Assembly’s April 2009 Part-Session.
2.4 Adopted texts
8. On 13 March, the Standing Committee unanimously adopted,
on behalf of the Assembly, the following texts:
2.5 2009 Second ordinary part-Session of the Assembly
(27-30 April 2009)
9. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the preliminary
draft agenda.
10. On 12 March, the Bureau updated the draft agenda for the part-session.
2.6 Proposals for June and September 2009 part-sessions
by the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs
11. On 12 March, the Bureau agreed to take account of
the following proposals when drawing up the draft agendas:
a June 2009 part-session: holding
of a joint debate on the “Environment and renewable energies” and “Nuclear
energy and sustainable development”;
b September-October part-session 2009: to devote half a
day to the holding of an extended debate on “The challenges posed
by climate change”.
2.7 Dates of Assembly Part-Sessions (2011 – 2013)
12. On 12 March, the Bureau approved the following dates:
a 2011: 24-28 January; 11-15 April;
20-24 June; 3-7 October;
b 2012: 23-27 January; 23-27 April; 25-29 June; 1-5 October;
c 2013: 21-25 January;
22-26 April; 24-28 June; 30 September – 4 October.
2.8 Follow-up to Resolution 1583 (2007) “Improving
the participation of members in Assembly plenary sessions and committee
meetings”
13. On 12 March the Bureau:
a considered a letter on this subject from the President
of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs;
b invited the President to forward statistics on participation
to the Chairpersons of National Parliamentary Delegations and, in
particular, to draw the attention of those having low rates of participation
to this situation.
2.9 Parliamentary Assembly Human Rights Prize
14. On 12 March, in accordance with the regulations for
the Prize, the Bureau approved the recommendation submitted by the
Selection Panel proposing “British Irish Rights Watch” as the winner;
subject to ratification by the Assembly in the framework of the
activity report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee.
2.10 References and transmissions to committees
15. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the following
references and modifications of references which were ratified the
same day by the Assembly:
i. references to committees
Protecting the human rights of long-term displaced persons
in Europe
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Jonker and others,
to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for report
ii. requests to extend references
The environment and renewable energies
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Scheer and others
Ref. No. 3312 of 16 March 2007 – validity: 16 March 2009,
extension until 30 September 2009
Nuclear energy and sustainable development
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Lengagne and others
Ref. no. 3333 of 16 April 2007 – validity: 16 April 2009,
extension until 30 October 2009
16. On 13 March, the Standing Committee approved the
following references and modifications to references:
i. modification of a reference
a. Bureau decision
The state of human rights in Europe: the need to eradicate
impunity, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report and to Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men for opinion
ii. extension of references
The situation of Roma in Europe and relevant activities of
the Council of Europe
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Cilevičs and others
Reference no. 3340 of 20 April 2007 – validity: 20 April 2009,
extension until 31 January 2010
b. Bureau decision
An internationally recognized status of election observers
Reference no. 3322 of 16 March 2007 – validity: 16 March 2009,
extension until 31 December 2009
c. Bureau decision
Request by the Parliament of Kazakhstan for observer status
with the Parliamentary Assembly
Reference no. 3318 of 16 March 2007 – validity: 16 March 2009,
extension until 31 January 2010
European code of conduct on lobbying including guidelines
for politicians, lobbyists and corporations
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Gacek and others
Reference no. 3335 of 16 April 2007 – validity: 16 April 2009,
extension until 31 October 2009;
2.11 Ad hoc Committees of the Bureau
i. Ad Hoc Committee on the implementation of Resolution 1416 (2005) on
the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region dealt with by the
OSCE Minsk Conference
17. On 30 January, the Bureau renewed this ad hoc committee
and approved its composition.
ii. Ad hoc Committee on the Forum for the Future of Democracy
18. On 30 January, the Bureau renewed this ad hoc committee
and appointed Mr Popescu (Ukraine, SOC) as Chairperson, in his capacity
as Chairperson of the parliamentary delegation of the host country
of the Forum to take place in Kiev in October 2009.
iii. Ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on promoting dialogue
between the Georgian and Russian Assembly Delegations
19. On 12 March, the Ad hoc Committee:
a devoted its constitutive meeting
to the definition of its objectives and work programme;
b agreed to hold its next meeting in Valencia (Spain) in
the margins of the meeting of the Committee on the Honouring of
Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe
to be held in Valencia on 30 and 31 March 2009.
2.12 Composition of the Monitoring Committee and the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
i. Monitoring Committee
20. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the new members
as proposed by the political groups, for ratification by the Assembly.
ii. Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs
21. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the new members
as proposed by the political groups, for ratification by the Assembly.
2.13 Institutional representation of the Parliamentary
Assembly in 2009
22. On 30 January, the Bureau made the following appointments:
a European Commission for Democracy
through Law – Venice Commission: Mr van der Linden (PPE/CD) appointed
by the President, Mr Pourgourides (EPP/CD Committee on Legal Affairs
and Human Rights); and as substitute Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
(ALDE, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights);
b Council for Democratic Elections (of the Venice Commission):
Mr Gross (SOC, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights), Mr Van
den Brande (EPP/CD, Monitoring Committee) and Mrs Durrieu (SOC,
Political Affairs Committee), and as substitutes: Mr Cilevics (SOC,
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights), Mr Wilshire (EDG,
Monitoring Committee) and Mr Hancock (ALDE, Political Affairs);
c European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity
– North-South Centre: Mr Wodarg (SOC, Committee on Culture, Science
and Education) and Mr Sasi (EPP/CD, Committee on Economic Affairs and
Development) and as substitutes: Mrs de Melo (SOC, Committee on
Culture, Science and Education), Mrs Papadopoulos (ALDE, Committee
on Economic Affairs and Development);
d European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance – ECRI:
Mr Cilevics (SOC, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights) and
Mr Vitali (EPP/CD, Committee on Political Affairs) and as substitutes: Mr Berenyi
(EPP/CD, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights) and Mr Szabo
(SOC, Political Affairs Committee); a representative of the Committee
on Culture, Science and Education will be designated at a later
stage;
e Advisory Board for the Future of Democracy: Chairperson
of the Political Affairs Committee or a member of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee
on the Forum for the Future of Democracy (according to availability);
f High-level group entrusted with examining the follow-up
to the Juncker report: Mr Van der Linden (EPP/DC) appointed by the
President;
g Group of States against Corruption – GRECO: Mr Marty (ALDE,
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights) and as substitute Mr Sasi
(EPP/CD, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights);
h European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice – CEPEJ:
Mr Hunault (EDG, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights);
i Council of Europe Committee for Works of Art: Mr Nachbar
(EPP/CD, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on the Cultural Heritage
of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education) and Mr O’Hara
(SOC, General rapporteur on the Cultural Heritage and rapporteur
on the European Museum Awards);
j Pan-European Federation for Heritage – Europa Nostra:
Mr Nachbar (EPP/CD, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on the Cultural
Heritage of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education).
2.14 Appointments of Assembly Representatives for official
activities
23. On 30 January, in reply to formal invitations, the
Bureau took the following decisions:
a Mrs Err
(Luxembourg, SOC): Side event to the Commission on the Status of
Women session of the United Nations, New York (United States of
America), 3-4 March 2009;
b Mr Çavuşoğlu (Turkey, EDG), 70th Rose-Roth Seminar, Sarajevo
(Bosnia and Herzegovina), 19-21 March 2009;
c Mrs John-Calame (Switzerland, SOC), Seminar on “Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”
and “the role of female parliamentarians in conflict resolution”,
Kinshasa, Congo, 30-31 March 2009, no
cost for the Assembly;
d Mr Olsson (Sweden, EPP/CD), 60th international
session of the European Youth Parliament, Stockholm (Sweden), 17-26
April 2009, no cost for the Assembly;
e Mr MacShane (United Kingdom, SOC), Nato Parliamentary
Assembly Spring Session, Oslo (Norway), 22-26 May 2009, no cost for the Assembly;
24. On 12 March, in reply to formal invitations, the Bureau took
the following decisions:
a Mr Austin
(United Kingdom, SOC): 120ème Assembly of the Interparliamentary
Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 5-10 April 2009;
b Mr Sasi (Finland, EPP/CD): Global parliamentary conference
on the economic and financial crisis, Geneva (Switzerland), 7-8
May 2009.
2.15 Visits by rapporteurs
25. On 30 January, the Bureau authorised:
a Mr Fassino (Italy, SOC), new rapporteur
of the Political Affairs Committee for the Middle East to visit Israel
and the occupied territories (early March) and then Egypt in the
context of the preparation of his report;
b Mr Blum (France, EPP/CD), rapporteur for the Social, Health
and Family Affairs committee on “Co-operation between the Council
of Europe and Maghreb countries in fighting social exclusion”, to
visit Algeria in the context of the preparation of his report.
2.16 Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris
26. On 30 January, the Bureau authorised the following
meetings:
a Sub-Committee on the
European Social Charter and Employment (of the Social, Health and
Family Affairs Committee): Moscow (Russia), 26-27 February 2009;
b Sub-Committee on Youth and Sport (of the Committee on
Culture, Science and Education): Mollina (Spain), 24-25 March 2009;
c Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population: The Hague
(Netherlands), 26-27 March 2009;
d Sub-Committee on Tourism Development (of the Economic
Affairs and Development Committee): Limassol (Cyprus), 27-28 March
2009;
e Sub-Committee on equal participation of women and men
in decision-making (of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men): Lisbon (Portugal), 2-3 April 2009;
f Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development (of the Committee
on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs):
St. Petersburg (Russia), 14-15 May 2009;
g Committee on Economic Affairs and Development: Helsinki
(Finland), 18-19 May 2009;
h Political Affairs Committee: Astana (Kazakhstan), 25-26
May 2009;
i Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights: Bucharest
(Romania), end of May 2009;
27. On 12 March, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
a Committee on the Honouring of Obligations
and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring
Committee): Valencia (Spain), 30-31 March 2009;
b Ad hoc Sub-committee (of the Committee on Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men): Athens (Greece), 5-6 May 2009;
c Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men): Istanbul
(Turkey), 14-15 May 2009;
d Sub-committee on external relations (of the Political
Affairs Committee): Saint Petersburg (Russian Federation), 14-15
May 2009;
e Committee on Culture, Science and Education: Copenhagen
(Denmark), 8-9 September 2009.
3 Relations with other bodies of the Council of
Europe
3.1 Committee of Ministers
i. Joint Committee (Wednesday, 29 April 2009 at 6.30
pm)
28. On 12 March 2009, the Bureau agreed to propose to
the Committee of Ministers to include the following items on the
agenda:
a Consultation between the
Assembly and the Committee of Ministers on the candidatures for
the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe;
b Council of Europe 2010 budget.
3.2 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
29. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the following
lists of candidates for the CPT with regard to Georgia and Sweden
on the basis of the order of preference recommended by the Sub-Committee
on Human Rights and endorsed by the Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights:
i. With regard to Sweden
- Mr Stefan WEINBERG-KRAKOWSKI
- Ms Gunilla EDELSTAM
- Ms Anna WALDENSTRÖM
ii. With regard to Georgia
- Mr George TUGUSHI
- Ms Tea TUTBERIDZE
- Mr Otar KVACHADZE
4 Relations with other international organisations
4.1 Co-operation with ODIHR
30. On 12 March, the Bureau held an exchange of views
with Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE.
5 Relations with non-member states
5.1 Belarus
31. On 12 March, the Bureau:
a took note of the press release issued at the end of the
visit to Belarus by the ad hoc sub-committee of the Political Affairs
Committee which took place from 16 to 19 February;
b noted that two members of the parliament of Belarus and
two members of the opposition had been invited to the next meeting
of the Political Affairs Committee (Paris, 17 March 2009);
c in the absence of the Chairperson of the Political Affairs
Committee, decided to postpone discussion on the situation in Belarus
to one of its future meetings.
5.2 Co-operation agreement with the Parliament of
the Republic of Kazakhstan
32. On 12 March, the Bureau held an exchange of views
with a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan,
led by Mr Alexander Sudin, Vice-President of the Senate of Kazakhstan,
on progress made in the promotion of principles established in the
co-operation agreement;
6 Elections
6.1 Constitutional referendum in Azerbaijan (18 March
2009)
33. On 30 January, the Bureau decided to organise a delegation
(2 EPP/CD, 2 SOC, 1 ALDE, 1 EDG, and 1 UEL) to be present during
this referendum and authorised the President of the Assembly to
appoint the Chairperson.
34. On 12 March, the Bureau took note of the composition of the
delegation to be present during the referendum as submitted to the
President by the political groups and of the appointment by the
President of Mr Wille (Belgium, ALDE) as Chairperson of the delegation.
6.2 Presidential election in “the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia” (22 March and 5 April 2009)
35. On 30 January, the Bureau took note of the invitation
letter sent by the country’s authorities; approved the composition
of the ad hoc committee and authorised the President of the Assembly
to appoint the Chairperson.
36. On 12 March, the Bureau took note
:
a of the press release issued at
the end of the pre-electoral mission which took place from 25 to
28 February 2009;
b of the fact that Mrs Pourbaix-Lundin (Sweden, EPP/CD)
had been appointed by the President as Chairperson of the ad hoc
committee to observe these elections.
6.3 Parliamentary elections in Montenegro (29 March
2009)
37. On 30 January, the Bureau:
a subject to receipt of an invitation, decided to observe
these elections;
b set up an ad hoc committee to observe these elections,
composed of 20 members in accordance with the “D’Hondt” system (7
EPP/CD, 6 SOC, 3 EDG, 3 ALDE and 1 UEL) and authorised the President
of the Assembly to appoint the Chairperson;
c authorised a pre-electoral mission composed of five members
– one from each political group who were also members of the ad
hoc Committee – on the understanding that it should take place approximately one
month ahead of the elections.
38. On 12 March, the Bureau took note:
a of the invitation letter regarding the observation of
these elections from the Montenegrin authorities;
b of the press release issued at the end of the pre-electoral
mission which took place from 24 to 27 February 2009;
c of the composition of the ad hoc committee to observe
these elections as submitted to the President by the political groups
and of the appointment by the President of Mr Gross (Switzerland,
SOC) as Chairperson.
6.4 Parliamentary elections in Moldova (5 April 2009)
39. On 30 January, the Bureau authorised the President
of the Assembly to approve the composition of the ad hoc committee
to observe these elections and to appoint its Chairperson.
40. On 12 March, the Bureau took note:
a of the press release issued at the end of the pre-electoral
mission which took place on 5 and 6 March 2009;
b of the composition of the ad hoc committee to observe
these elections as submitted to the President by the political groups
and of the appointment by the President of Mr Wilshire (United Kingdom,
EDG) as Chairperson.
6.5 Meeting of Chairpersons and members of ad hoc
committees for the observation of elections during the period 2006-2008
41. On 30 January, the Bureau agreed to organise an exchange
of views with the new Director of ODIHR, Ambassador Lenarcic, during
the next meeting of the Standing Committee in Paris on 13 March;
42. On 12 March, the Bureau took note of the conclusions of the
meeting and authorised their distribution to the participants at
the Standing Committee the following day.
7 Budgetary matters
7.1 Budgetary prospects for the Council of Europe
for 2010
43. On 12 March, the Bureau held an exchange of views
with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Mr Wille
(Belgium, ALDE), in his capacity as rapporteur on this subject for
the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development.
8 Other business
8.1 Conferences
i. Conference on early warning systems and conflict prevention
44. On 30 January, the Bureau approved the proposals
concerning the organisation of this conference as prepared by the
ad hoc sub-committee on early warning systems and conflict prevention
and endorsed by the Political Affairs Committee.
ii. European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments
(Cyprus, 10-12 June 2010)
45. On 12 March, the Bureau took note of the dates of
the conference.
8.2 Communications
46. On 12 March, the Bureau took note of the communications
of the President, the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, as well as the Secretary General
of the Parliamentary Assembly.
