Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (30 April-22 June 2009)
Progress report
| Doc. 11954 Part I
| 19 June 2009
1 Introduction
1. The Bureau met on 11 May in Madrid and on 28 May
in Ljubljana. The Standing Committee met on 29 May in Ljubljana.
2 Functioning of the Assembly
2.1 Progress Report of the Bureau of the Assembly
and of the Standing Committee (30 April-22 June 2009)
2. On 11 May, the Bureau appointed Mr Harutyunyan (Armenia,
EDG) as rapporteur.
2.2 Follow-up to be given to texts adopted at the
Standing Committee meeting (Paris, 13 March 2009)
3. On 11 May, in accordance with paragraph 16.6 of the
Resolution 1656 (2009) “Mobilising
parliaments for Africa’s development”, the Bureau asked the Secretary
General of the Assembly to take steps to implement the Assembly’s
co-operation agreement with the Pan-African Parliament and to ensure
that the Assembly’s committees make use of the co-operation agreement
with the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.
2.3 Follow-up to be given to texts adopted during
the 2009 2nd ordinary part-Session of the Assembly (Strasbourg,
27-30 April 2009)
4. On 11 May, the Bureau:
a Resolution
1660 (2009) “The situation of human rights defenders
in Council of Europe member states”: entrusted the Committee on
Legal Affairs and Human Rights with the follow-up to be given to
paragraph 16 of this resolution;
b Resolution
1664 (2009) on “The humanitarian consequences of the
war between Georgia and Russia: follow-up given to
Resolution 1648 (2009)”:
in accordance with paragraph 23, decided that the Monitoring Committee
and the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population would continue
to follow this issue;
c Resolution
1665 (2009) on “The election process for the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe”: in accordance with paragraph
9, decided to entrust the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities
and Institutional Affairs to submit proposals to the Bureau concerning
changes to the Rules with regard to the appointment of the three
senior officers of the Council of Europe;
d Resolution
1666 (2009) “The functioning of democratic institutions
in Moldova”
: in accordance
with paragraph 11, decided to instruct the Monitoring Committee
to continue to follow this matter.
2.4 Standing Committee (Ljubljana, 29 May 2009)
2.4.1 Draft agenda
5. On 11 May, the Bureau took note of the updated draft
agenda.
6. On 28 May, the Bureau took note of the updated agenda.
2.4.2 Request for a current affairs debate
7. On 28 May, the Bureau took note of the request submitted
by the Chairpersons of the Political Groups on behalf of their groups
to hold a current affairs debate on the “election process of the
Secretary General”; decided to recommend to the Standing Committee
to hold this current affairs debate and appointed Mr Gross (Switzerland,
SOC) to open it.
2.4.3 Meeting of the Standing Committee
8. On 29 May, the Standing Committee:
a heard a welcome address by Mr Pavel
Gantar, President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia;
b held an exchange of views with Mr Samuel Žbogar, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Chairperson of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and Mr Aleš Zalar, Minister
of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia;
c ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly
submitted by the delegations of Hungary and Iceland;
d ratified the changes in the composition of Assembly committees
in respect of the delegations of Hungary and Iceland, and in the
composition of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and
Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring
Committee) with regard to the EPP/CD and UEL political groups, as
well as of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs with regard to the EPP/CD political group;
e held a current affairs debate on “the election process
for the Secretary General of the Council of Europe” following a
request from the Assembly political groups, presented by Mr Gross
(Switzerland, Socialist Group) and adopted a statement (see Appendix
hereafter).
2.5 Adopted texts
9. On 29 May, the Standing Committee unanimously adopted,
on behalf of the Assembly, the following texts:
Opinion 272 (2009):
Budgets of the Council of Europe for the financial year 2010
Opinion 273 (2009):
Expenditure of the Parliamentary Assembly for the financial year
2010
Recommendation
1870 (2009): Protecting financial aid granted by Council
of Europe member states to poor countries against financial funds
known as “vulture funds”
Recommendation
1871 (2009): Ban on cluster munitions
Recommendation
1872 (2009): The rights of today’s girls: the rights
of tomorrow’s women
Recommendation
1873 (2009): Sexual violence against women in armed conflict
Resolution 1668
(2009): Ban on cluster munitions
Resolution 1669
(2009): The rights of today’s girls: the rights of tomorrow’s
women
Resolution 1670
(2009): Sexual violence against women in armed conflict
2.6 2009 Third ordinary part-Session of the Assembly
(22-26 June 2009)
2.6.1 Draft agenda
10. On 11 May, the Bureau adopted the preliminary draft
agenda and decided to invite Mr Kälin, Special Representative of
the United Nations Secretary General on the Human Rights of Internally
Displaced Persons, to address the Assembly in the framework of the
debate on the report “Protecting the human rights of long-term displaced
persons in Europe”.
11. On 28 May, the Bureau updated the draft agenda and following
a request from the Political Affairs Committee, decided to invite
a representative of the parliament of Belarus and a representative
of the extra-parliamentary opposition of Belarus to participate
in the Assembly’s debate on the “Situation in Belarus”.
2.6.2 Joint Committee
12. On 28 May, the Bureau left it to the President to
convene any possible meeting and to determine, if necessary, the
subjects to be discussed.
2.7 2009 Fourth ordinary part-Session of the Assembly
(28 September – 2 October 2009)
13. On 28 May, the Bureau indicated its agreement with
the proposal by the Political Affairs Committee to hold a general
policy debate on the future of the Council of Europe in the light
of its 60 years of experience during the autumn 2009 part-session,
on the basis of a report presented by this committee.
2.8 References and transmissions to committees
14. On 29 May, the Standing Committee ratified the following
references and modifications to references:
2.8.1 references to committees
– Piracy and hostage-taking on the high seas
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Keleş and others, Doc. 11803
Piracy – a crime and a challenge for democracies
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Wodarg and others, Doc. 11837, to the
Political Affairs Committee for one report on
"Piracy – a crime and a challenge for democracies"
– Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): a solution for
the future?
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Cousin and others, Doc. 11816, to the
Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs for report
– Tourism for elderly people
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Cortajarena and others, Doc. 11817, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report
– Reconciliation and political dialogue between the countries
of the former Yugoslavia
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Marcenaro and others, Doc. 11818, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– Framing a proactive policy for public authorities in
Europe aimed at preventing overweight and achieving regulation
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Karamanli and
others, Doc. 11825,
to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee to be taken into
account in the preparation of the report on the "Prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes and
promotion of healthy nutritional habits among children and the young" (ref.
3517 of 26 January 2009)
– Transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by river and
river-sea going vessels as an efficient facility solving the present
gas crisis
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Melčák and others, Doc. 11827, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report and to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture
and Local and Regional Affairs for opinion
– The impact of the European Union Eastern Partnership
on economic growth in Eastern Europe
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Rigoni and others, Doc. 11828, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report
– The Council of Europe and the Eastern Partnership of
the European Union
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Lindblad and others, Doc. 11843, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– International Convention for the Protection of all
persons from enforced disappearances
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Gardetto and others, Doc. 11830, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
report
– Lack of appropriate follow-up, by the Committee of
Ministers, to the work of the Parliamentary Assembly
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Marty and others, Doc. 11831, to the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report
– Impact of the financial crisis upon pensioners
Motion for a recommendation presented by Baroness O'Cathain
and others, Doc. 11834,
to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee to be taken into
account in the preparation of the report on "The
social impact and the human dimension of the financial and economic
crisis in the Council of Europe's member states" (ref. 3527
of 30 January 2009)
– Gender budgeting as a tool for safeguarding women's
health
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Circene and others, Doc. 11836, to the
Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for report at the Standing Committee and
to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for opinion
– Re-engaging in the parliamentary dialogue with the
United States
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Lindblad and others, Doc. 11851, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– The European civil aviation industry confronted with
the global financial and economic crisis
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Braun and others, Doc. 11852, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report
– Sixty years of European co-operation
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Wodarg and others, Doc. 11853, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– The need to combat economic crime in times of economic
crisis
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Huseynov and others, Doc. 11856, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report
– Monitoring of commitments concerning social rights
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Marquet and others, Doc. 11875, to the
Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for
report and to the Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men for opinion
– The protection of journalists' sources of information
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Ukkola and others, Doc. 11881, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
report
– The ethics of science
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs de Melo and others, Doc. 11886, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
report
– Education against violence at school
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Flego and others, Doc. 11889, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
report
– The impact of the economic and financial crisis on
women
Motion for a recommendation presented by Ms Wurm and others, Doc. 11891, to the
Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for report
– The need for independent and credible environmental
assessments
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Preda and others, Doc. 11892, to the
Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs for report
– The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and
their effect on the environment
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Huss and others, Doc. 11894, to the
Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs for report
– Expansion of democracy by lowering the voting age to
16
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Jensen and others, Doc. 11895, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– Economic importance of raw materials contained in "end-of-life
products" including their energy potential
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Melčák and others, Doc. 11896, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
report and to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture
and Local and Regional Affairs for opinion
– The interception and rescue at sea of asylum seekers,
refugees and irregular migrants
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Díaz Tejera and
others, Doc. 11880
Dismantling fortress Europe – actively protecting the
lives of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Keskin and others, Doc. 11905, to the
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for one report
– 20th anniversary of the
European Committee against Torture: time to take stock
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Gardetto and others, Doc. 11906
– The need to establish effective, independent national
mechanisms for monitoring places of detention
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Hunault and others, Doc. 11874, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
one report
– Abuse of state secrecy and national security: obstacles
to parliamentary and judicial scrutiny of human rights violations
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Marty and others, Doc. 11907, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
report
– Iran's nuclear program: the need for an effective international
response
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Lindblad and others, Doc. 11908, to the
Political Affairs Committee for report
– Ukraine disregarding basic obligations under the European
Convention on Human Rights: annulment of the Ukrainian Parliamentary
Assembly delegation's credentials
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Marty and others, Doc. 11921, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report on Reconsideration
on substantial grounds of previously ratified credentials of the Ukrainian
delegation (Rule 9 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure) and to
the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs for opinion Note
– The humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia
and Russia: implementation of Resolution 1648
(2009) and Resolution
1664 (2009), to the Committee on Migration, Refugees
and Population for report
– The consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia:
implementation of Resolution
1633 (2008) and Resolution
1647 (2009), to the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations
and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring
Committee) for report
– Draft Additional Protocol to the European Charter of
Local Self-Government on the Right to Participate in the Affairs
of a Local Authority
Committee of Ministers’ request for an opinion, to the Committee
on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs for report
– Draft Protocol No. 3 to the European Outline Convention
on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or
Authorities concerning Euroregional co-operation groupings (ECGs)
Committee of Ministers’ request for an opinion, to the Committee
on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs for report
– The future of the Council of Europe in the light of
its 60 years of experience
Bureau decision, to the Political Affairs Committee for report,
for a debate on general policy during the Assembly 4th part-session
2009 (28 September – 2 October 2009)
2.8.2 transmission for information
– Preserve the Monastery of Mor Gabriel in Turkey
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Omtzigt and others, Doc. 11820, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
information
– New human rights: regulatory frameworks on ethically
sensitive issues and implementation thereof
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Farina and others, Doc. 11832, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
information
– The evaluation of the Molotov-Ribbentropp Pact approaching
its 70th anniversary
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Zingeris and others, Doc. 11833, to the
Political Affairs Committee for information
– Learning lessons from "colour revolutions"
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Lindblad and others, Doc. 11850, to the
Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member
States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) and to the
Political Affairs Committee for information
– Democracy and the limitation of mandates
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Mota Amaral and others, Doc. 11863, to the
Political Affairs Committee for information
– Non-recognition by Romania of the Moldovans’ right
to national identity
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Petrenco and others, Doc. 11603, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
information
– The 20th anniversary of
collapse of totalitarian regimes in Europe
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Lipinski and others, Doc. 11882, to the
Political Affairs Committee for information
– Supporting the initiative of the creation of a transnational
Eurasian information superhighway
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Seyidov and others, Doc. 11885, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
information
– Improving the exchange of tax information among Council
of Europe member states
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Omtzigt and others, Doc. 11887, to the
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development for
information
– A European policy for European citizens resident outside
their country of origin
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Ducarme and others, Doc. 11890, to the
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for information
– The bilateral relations between Moldova and Romania
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Petrenco and others, Doc. 11899, to the
Political Affairs Committee for information
– Conferment of the Council of Europe Cultural Route
Label on the Cistercian sites route across Greater Europe
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Durrieu and others, Doc. 11900, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
information
– Co-ordination of the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes
programme with the European Union's "European Heritage" label and
encouragement of their application in Eastern Europe
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Durrieu and others, Doc. 11901, to the
Committee on Culture, Science and Education for
information
2.8.3 modification of a reference
– The compliance of the International Court of Justice
decision in the Avena case
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Van den Brande and
others, Doc. 11606,
Ref. 3461 of 23 June 2008
– The death penalty in Council of Europe member and observer
countries – an unacceptable violation of human rights
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Wohlwend and others, Doc. 11675, Ref.
3481 of 29 September 2008, both motions to the Committee on Legal
Affairs and Human Rights for one report
2.8.4 extension of a reference
– Improving the quality and consistency of asylum decisions
in the Council of Europe member states
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Vermot-Mangold
and others, Doc. 11103,
Ref. 3305 of 22 January 2007 – validity: 30 April 2009, extension until 31 October 2009
2.9 Procedure for referring motions to committees
15. On 11 May, the Bureau asked the Secretariat to present
proposals with a view to improving this procedure.
2.10 Composition of the Monitoring Committee and the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
16. On 11 May, the Bureau approved the changes to the
lists of members for both committees.
2.11 Appointments of Assembly Representatives for official
activities
17. On 11 May, in reply to a formal invitation, the Bureau
appointed Mr van der Linden (the Netherlands, EPP/CD) to participate
in the international “Karlspreis” ceremony
in Aachen on 21 May 2009 (without cost for the Assembly).
18. On 28 May, in reply to formal invitations, the Bureau took
the following decisions:
a Mr Wille
(Belgium, EPP/CD) to participate in the 33rd PABSEC
Plenary Session, Bucharest (Romania), 12-13 June 2009 (without cost
for the Assembly);
b Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) to participate in the 18th annual
session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Vilnius (Lithuania),
29 June – 3 July 2009 (without cost for the Assembly).
2.12 Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris
19. On 28 May, the Bureau authorised the following meeting:
Sub-committee on Crime Problems and the Fight against Terrorism
(of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights): Florence (Italy),
18-19 September 2009.
3 Conferences
3.1 Possibility of holding a Youth Assembly to mark
the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe
20. On 11 May, the Bureau pronounced itself to be in
favour of the holding of such an Assembly during the October part-session
and was informed by Mr Mignon, Chairperson of the French delegation,
of his contacts with the European Youth Parliament and of his intention
to submit, at the next Bureau meeting, a proposal as to the possible
involvement of this association in this event.
21. On 28 May, the Bureau owing to budgetary constraints, decided
to postpone the possible organisation of this event until 2010.
3.2 Nevsky International Ecological Congress (Saint
Petersburg, 15 May 2009)
22. On 11 May, the Bureau took note of the draft declaration
due to be adopted during the Nevsky International Ecological Congress.
3.3 Forum on early warning in conflict prevention
(Strasbourg, 24-25 September 2009)
23. On 11 May, the Bureau decided to set up an ad hoc
committee to participate in the Forum comprising members of the
Political Affairs Committee and members of other committees concerned.
3.4 Forum for the Future of Democracy (Kyiv, 21-23
October 2009)
24. On 11 May, the Bureau approved the list of members
of the ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the above-mentioned
Forum.
4 Relations with other bodies of the Council of
Europe
4.1 Committee of Ministers
25. On 28 May, the Bureau:
a took note of the speech made by the President to the Committee
of Ministers as well as the declaration which was adopted during
the 119th Ministerial Session (Madrid,
12 May 2009).
b examined the Resolution CM/Res(2009)4 on the appointment
of the Secretary General adopted by the Committee of Ministers at
the 119th Ministerial Session.
4.2 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
26. On 11 May, the Bureau approved the lists of candidates
with respect to Denmark and Hungary for transmission to the Committee
of Ministers on the basis of the order of preference recommended
by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and as endorsed by the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights:
4.2.1 with regard to Denmark:
a Mr Jørgen Worsaae RASMUSSEN
b Mr Leif HERMANN
c Ms Elisabeth ARNOLD
4.2.2 with regard to Hungary:
a Ms Anna MOLNÁR
b Mr András SZŰCS
c Mr Gergely FLIEGLAUF
4.3 Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations
(INGOs) of the Council of Europe
27. On 11 May, the Bureau:
a took note of the draft code for civil participation prepared
by the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations
(INGOs) of the Council of Europe;
b transmitted the draft to the Political Affairs Committee
for it to prepare comments which should reach the Bureau in time
for its next meeting in order for the Bureau to give its opinion
on this subject in the next progress report.
5 Relations with non-member states
5.1 Belarus
28. On 11 May, the Bureau set up an ad hoc committee
of the Bureau comprising Mr Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), rapporteur of
the Political Affairs Committee on the situation in Belarus; Mr Lindblad
(Sweden, EPP/CD), Chairperson of the Political Affairs Committee
and Mrs Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), Chairperson of the Sub-Committee
on Belarus, to attend the opening ceremony of the Infopoint of the
Council of Europe in Minsk on 8 and 9 June.
6 Elections
6.1 Parliamentary elections in Albania (28 June 2009)
29. On 11 May, the Bureau approved the list of members
of the ad hoc committee put forward by the political groups and
appointed Mrs Jonker (the Netherlands, EPP/DC) as Chairperson.
6.2 Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria (5 July 2009)
30. On 11 May, the Bureau invited the political groups
to make proposals as to the composition of the ad hoc committee
for the observation of these elections.
31. On 28 May, the Bureau, subject to receipt of an invitation,
approved the list of members for the ad hoc committee put forward
by the political groups and appointed Mr Iwinski (Poland, SOC) as
Chairperson.
7 Budgetary matters
7.1 Analysis of the use made by the Assembly’s political
groups of their allocations for 2008
32. On 28 May, the Bureau took note of the document prepared
by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development.
8 Other business
8.1 European Association of Former Members of Parliament
of the Member States of the Council of Europe
33. On 11 May, the Bureau indicated its agreement with
the draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the
Assembly and this association, to be included in the next progress
report.
8.2 Communications
34. On 11 May, the Bureau took note of communications
by 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.
35. On 28 May, the Bureau took note of communications by 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.
Appendix – Statement by the Standing Committee
1. At its meeting
on 12 May 2009, the Committee of Ministers decided to transmit to
the Parliamentary Assembly a list of two candidates for the election
of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, despite the request
by the Assembly contained in a resolution adopted during the April
2009 part-session, to be able to choose among the four existing
candidates.
2. The Assembly will discharge its statutory responsibility to
elect the next Secretary General as soon as realistically possible.
3. However, for the following procedural reasons, the Standing
Committee disagrees with the decision by the Committee of Ministers:
i the change in the procedure by
the Ministers’ Deputies during the period of submission of candidatures;
ii the adoption by the Ministers’ Deputies on 23 April of
a draft resolution restricting the number of candidates which effectively
pre-empted the possibility of genuine consultation of the Assembly
through the Joint Committee on 29 April 2009;
iii the use of the so-called “Juncker criteria”, to eliminate
two candidates from the short-list;
iv the failure of the Committee of Ministers to give reasons
for its choice.
4. Moreover such a short-list deprives the Assembly of a political
choice since both remaining candidates are of a similar political
orientation.
5. In these circumstances, the Standing Committee is not in favour
of accepting, in its current form, the proposal of the Committee
of Ministers as it limits the possibility to proceed with the election
of the Secretary General at the June part session. The Standing
Committee therefore believes that the Committee of Ministers and
the Assembly must urgently engage in a dialogue in order to avoid
an institutional crisis.
6. The Standing Committee is of the opinion that there has been
no real consultation between the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers,
in the process for electing the Secretary General, as foreseen in
the Rules.
7. The Standing Committee considers that the new Secretary General
should enjoy the support of both organs of the Council of Europe.
8. There is a consensus within the Assembly on the need for both
organs of the Council of Europe to progress together to resolve
such issues in a spirit of co-operation and dialogue.
9. The Standing Committee therefore believes that a period of
reflection and joint discussion is necessary before the election
takes place and therefore confirms the willingness of its Presidential
Committee to engage in a dialogue with the Committee of Ministers,
preferably before the June 2009 part session.
