Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (11 April – 22 June 2014)
Progress report
| Doc. 13538
| 19 June 2014
- Author(s):
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Jordi XUCLÀ,
Spain, ALDE
1 Introduction
At its meeting on 11 April 2014 in Strasbourg, the Bureau
appointed me as rapporteur for this report. In line with my predecessors,
this progress report covers the period outside of Assembly part-sessions,
leaving aside the decisions which have already been ratified by
the Assembly. Therefore, this report presents the Bureau’s activities
from the end of the second part-session of 2014 (7-11 April) until
the third part-session of 2014 (23-27 June). It also covers the
meeting of the Standing Committee held on 23 May 2014 in Baku.
The Bureau will hold its next meetings in Strasbourg on Monday
23 June at 8 a.m. and Friday 27 June 2014 at 8.30 a.m. (during the
third part-session), then on Tuesday 2 September 2014 in Paris.
2 Activities
of the Bureau since the last part-session
2.1 Follow-up to the
Assembly’s Resolutions
2.1.1 Follow-up to the
second part-session of 2014 (Strasbourg, 7-11 April)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau approved the following proposals
made by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly:
- Resolution 1984 (2014) on the “Request for Partner for Democracy status with
the Parliamentary Assembly submitted by the Parliament of the Kyrgyz
Republic”
The Bureau decided to open the evaluation process of the partnership
with the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic and to refer this issue
for the preparation of a report on “Evaluation of the partnership
for democracy in respect of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic”
to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, and to the
Committees on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Equality and
Non-Discrimination for opinion.
- Resolution 1990 (2014) on “Reconsideration on substantive grounds of the previously
ratified credentials of the Russian delegation”
The Bureau decided to invite the Committee on the Rules of
Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to elaborate a list
of rights of participation or representation of members that may
be deprived or suspended in the context of a challenge or reconsideration
of credentials under Rules 7, 8 and 9 of the Rules of Procedure of
the Assembly and to clarify the extent to which paragraph 15.2 of
the above resolution is compatible with the Rules of Procedure of
the Assembly with regard to the representation of political groups.
- List of speakers and order
of speakers during Assembly debates
The Bureau decided to ask the Secretary General of the Assembly
to report back to the Bureau on the modalities of possibly improving
the geographical balance of speakers in plenary debates (see chapter
4.1. of this report).
2.2 Third part-session
of 2014 (Strasbourg, 23-27 June)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft
agenda, which it revised at its meeting of 22 May 2014.
2.3 Standing Committee
(Baku, 23 May 2014)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda
and of the revised draft agenda on 22 May.
2.4 The case of René
Rouquet (France, SOC), prevented from participating in the meetings
of the Parliamentary Assembly in Baku (22-23 May 2014)
Following the decision of the Azerbaijani authorities to cancel
the entry visa of Mr René Rouquet, Vice-President of the Assembly,
Chairperson of the French delegation, thus preventing his participation
in the meetings of the Assembly in Baku on 22 and 23 May 2014, the
Bureau decided at its meeting on 22 May 2014 that the Assembly committees
(excluding ad hoc committees to observe elections) should not hold
any meetings in Azerbaijan for a period of two years starting as
from 1 June 2014, and that this measure may be lifted earlier by
the Bureau if the Azerbaijani authorities guarantee freedom of movement
of Assembly members in Azerbaijan when on Assembly business. It
furthermore decided to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities
and Institutional Affairs, to examine the implementation by Member
States of the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of
the Council of Europe.
2.5 Election observation
2.5.1 Serbia: early parliamentary
elections (16 March 2014)
On 22 May 2014, The Bureau approved the final report of the
ad hoc committee.
2.5.2 “The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia”: presidential election (13 and 27 April 2014)
and early parliamentary elections (27 April 2014)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau approved the final composition
of the ad hoc committee (Appendix 1).
On 22 may 2014, the Bureau approved the final report of the
ad hoc committee for the presidential and for the early parliamentary
elections and authorised the chairperson of the ad hoc committee,
the rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee on a post-monitoring
dialogue with “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and the
chairperson of the Socialist Group to carry out a post-electoral
mission to the country.
2.5.3 Ukraine: early
presidential election (25 May 2014)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau approved
the final composition of the ad hoc committee (Appendix 2). On 22 May 2014,
it took note of the press release of the pre-electoral mission.
2.5.4 Turkey: presidential
election (10 August 2014)
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau decided to observe this election
(subject to the receipt of an invitation) and to constitute an ad
hoc committee for this purpose composed of 31 members: SOC: 10;
EPP/CD: 10; ALDE: 4; EDG: 4; UEL: 2, and the Rapporteur of the Monitoring
Committee. It also authorised a pre-electoral mission.
2.5.5 Bosnia and Herzegovina:
general elections (12 October 2014)
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau decided to observe these elections
(subject to the receipt of an invitation and confirmation of date)
and to constitute an ad hoc committee for this purpose composed
of 32 members: SOC: 10; EPP/CD: 10; ALDE: 4; EDG: 4; UEL: 2, and
the two co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee. It also authorised
a pre-electoral mission.
2.6 Issues raised by
committees
2.6.1 Committee on Political
Affairs and Democracy
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau authorised Mr Jean-Marie Bockel
(France, EPP/CD), Rapporteur on the “Political transition in Tunisia”,
to carry out a fact-finding visit in the country in the framework
of the preparation of his report (dates of the visit to be confirmed).
2.6.2 Committee on Equality
and Non-Discrimination
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau took note of the letter of the
committee concerning the designation of the General Rapporteur on
combating racism and intolerance. It also approved the request of
the committee to set up a No Hate Parliamentary Alliance along the
lines set out in the memorandum of the committee on the “Follow-up
to Assembly Resolution
1967 (2014) - A strategy to prevent racism and intolerance in Europe”.
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau authorised Ms Fatiha Saïdi (Belgium,
SOC), Rapporteur on “The situation of women in emerging democracies
following the Arab revolutions” to conduct a fact-finding visit
to Morocco in June 2014 in the framework of the preparation of her
report.
2.7 References and
transmissions to committees
2.7.1 References approved
by the Bureau
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau approved the following references,
which were ratified on the same day by the Assembly:
- Doc. 13442, motion for a resolution, The Mediterranean Sea: a front
door to irregular migration, reference to the Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Displaced persons for a
possible follow-up;
- Doc. 13443, motion for a resolution, Equality and shared parental
responsibility: the rights of fathers, reference to the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination for
report and to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health
and Sustainable Development, for opinion;
- Doc. 13444, motion for a resolution, Violence against migrants,
reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced
persons for report;
- Doc. 13447, motion for a resolution, Parliamentary co-operation
with Kazakhstan, transmission to the Committee on Political Affairs
and Democracy for information;
- Doc. 13448, motion for a resolution, Intellectual property rights
in the digital era, reference to the Committee on Culture, Science,
Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 13466, motion for a resolution, Creation of a European Institute
to counter prejudices about Roma, Sinti and Kales by promoting research
about their culture and history, consultation of
the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for a possible follow-up;
- Doc. 13468, motion for a resolution, The inhabitants of frontier
regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water, reference to the Committee on Social Affairs,
Health and Sustainable Development for
report;
- Doc. 13487, motion for a resolution, The status of immediate past
presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly in the Committee on Political
Affairs and Democracy, reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure,
Immunities and Institutional Affairs to
be taken into account in the preparation of the report on the “Evaluation
of the implementation of the reform of the Parliamentary Assembly”.
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau approved the following references,
which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee the next
day:
- Doc. 13480, motion for a resolution, Phage therapy, a public health
issue, transmission to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and
Sustainable Development for information;
- Doc. 13486, motion for a resolution, Organised crime and migrants, reference to the Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Displaced persons for report;
- Doc. 13497, motion for a resolution, Council of Europe Development
Bank strategy, transmission to the Committee on Social Affairs,
Health and Sustainable Development for
information.
2.7.2 Request for modification
of a reference
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau modified the following reference,
which was subsequently ratified by the Assembly:
- Doc. 13288, Motion for a resolution, Massive eavesdropping in Europe
(Ref. 4003 of 30 September 2013), reference to the Committee on
Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report and
to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for opinion.
2.7.3 Requests for extension
of references
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau approved the requests of extension
of the following references:
- Doc. 12603, motion for a resolution, Parliamentary contribution
to solving the Western Sahara conflict Ref. 3783 of 20 June 2011
– validity: 30 April 2014, extension until 30 June 2014;
- Bureau decision, The Memorandum of Understanding between
the Council of Europe and the European Union - evaluation 5 years
after (Ref. 3887 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 29 June 2014), extension
until 30 September 2014;
- Bureau decision, Political transition in Tunisia (Ref.
3889 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 29 June 2014), extension until
29 June 2015.
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau approved the requests of extension
of the following references:
- Bureau
decision, Strengthening the protection and role of human rights
defenders in Council of Europe member States (Ref. 3885 of 29 June
2012 – validity: 29 June 2014): extension until 31 March 2015;
- Bureau decision, European institutions and human rights
in Europe (Ref. 3886 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 29 June 2014):
extension until 31 January 2015;
- Doc. 12599, motion for a recommendation, The impact of increasing
social exclusion on democratic institutions and participation: need
for strong action (Ref. 3780 of 20 June 2011 – validity: 20 June
2014): extension until 31 December 2014.
2.7.4 Reply after consultation
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau decided not to give any further
action to Doc. 13365, motion for a resolution, Europe must be based on economically
viable regions - Effective local self-government for member States.
2.8 Institutional representation
of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2014
On 11 April 2014,the
Bureau approved the appointment of two representatives to the European
Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI): Mr Snorre Serigstad
Valen (Norway, UEL) on behalf of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
and Mr Khalid Chaouki (Italy, SOC) on behalf of the Committee on
Culture, Science, Education and Media.
2.9 European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (CPT)
On 11 April 2014, the Bureau drew up the list of candidates
for the CPT in respect of Armenia and Denmark, which was subsequently
forwarded to the Committee of Ministers.
2.10 World Forum for
Democracy (Strasbourg, 3-4 November 2014)
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau decided to constitute an ad hoc committee
to participate in the Forum, composed of members proposed by all
of the Assembly’s committees in time before the Bureau meeting on
27 June 2014.
2.11 Election of the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau interviewed the candidates Mr Thorbjørn
Jagland and Ms Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (in camera).
2.12 Debate on the activities
of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau approved
the proposals on the modalities of the OECD debates within the enlarged
Assembly contained in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General
of the Assembly, subject to the receipt of a formal agreement from
the Secretary General of the OECD.
2.13 Reimbursement of
travel and subsistence expenses of the members of the Parliamentary Assembly
at the charge of Council of Europe budgets
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau adopted the revised “aide-mémoire”
(Appendix 3).
2.14 Analysis of the
use made by the Assembly’s political groups of their allocations
for 2013
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau took note of the opinion of the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
on this matter.
2.15 Meetings elsewhere
than in Strasbourg and Paris
During the reference period, the Bureau authorised the following
meetings:
- Sub-Committee on
Media and Information Society (Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media), on 12-13 May 2014, in Istanbul, Turkey;
- Ad hoc Sub-Committee to participate in the 3rd International
Conference of the North-South Process for the Empowerment of Women
(Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination) on 17-18 June 2014
in Rabat;
- Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to meet on
30-31 October 2014 in Madrid.
2.16 Appointment of
Assembly representatives for official activities
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau appointed Ms Doris Barnett (Germany,
SOC) to participate in the 33rd annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly in Baku from 28 June to 2 July 2014.
3 Activities of the
Standing Committee (Baku, 23 May 2014)
The Standing Committee heard a welcome address by Mr Ogtay
Asadov, Speaker of the Milli Məclis, and held an exchange of views
with Mr Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe.
Following debates, the Standing Committee adopted the following
texts on behalf of the Assembly:
The Standing Committee ratified the references
as listed in chapter 2.8.1. of this report.
It ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly
submitted by the delegations of Armenia, France, Germany and Serbia,
and approved the changes in the composition of Assembly committees.
The Standing Committee took note of the draft agenda of the
third part-session of the Assembly (23-27 June 2014) as well as
of the report of the ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on “Observation
of the early parliamentary elections in Serbia (16 March 2014)”.
4 Decisions of the
Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly
4.1 List of speakers
and order of speakers during Assembly debates
On 22 May 2014, the Bureau approved
the proposals contained in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General
of the Assembly, subject to ratification by the Assembly within
the progress report, notably with regard to the introduction of
an electronic registration system of speakers and the inclusion
in the complementary text on Additional Provisions relating to Assembly
debates on the order of speakers (after paragraph 5) the following
paragraph: “subject to the provisions
of paragraph 13, the first half of a list of speakers shall not include
more than 50% of the members of a national delegation”
(see pp. 94 and 96 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure, January 2014
edition).
4.2 Special Rules on
Honorary Association with the Parliamentary Assembly
With reference to Resolution
1903 (2012)on the “Code of conduct of members of the Parliamentary
Assembly: good practice or a core duty?”, on 22 April 2014, the
Bureau approved the proposals to bring the special rules on honorary
association with the Parliamentary Assembly and the special rules
on the title and prerogatives of honorary President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe into line with the already existing Code
of conduct for members of the Parliamentary Assembly by adding the
following provisions, subject to ratification by the Assembly within
the progress report:
- in the special rules
on honorary association with the Parliamentary Assembly, after paragraph
2 (p. 282 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure):
“Former members of the Parliamentary
Assembly involved in representing and fostering another person’s
or entity’s interests in the Parliamentary Assembly shall not, throughout
the period of such activity, benefit from the prerogatives of the
honorary associates as far as the distribution of documents and
access to the buildings, the Chamber and meeting rooms are concerned.”
- in the special rules
on the title and prerogatives of honorary President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, after paragraph 2 (p. 284 of
the Assembly Rules of Procedure):
“Former Presidents of the Parliamentary
Assembly involved in representing and fostering another person’s
or entity’s interests in the Parliamentary Assembly shall not, throughout
the period of such activity, benefit from the prerogatives of the
Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly as far as the distribution
of documents and access to the buildings, the Chamber and meeting
rooms are concerned.”
The
Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.
Appendix 1 – Ad hoc Committee
for the observation of the presidential and early parliamentary elections
in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (13 and 27 April
2014) - List of members
Stefan
SCHENNACH* (Austria, SOC), Head of the delegation
Socialist
Group (SOC)
- Deniza KARADJOVA, Bulgaria
- Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
- Melita MULIĆ, Croatia
- Deniz BAYKAL, Turkey
- Ingrid ANTIČEVIĆ MARINOVIĆ, Croatia
Group of
the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
- Werner AMON, Austria
- Tinatin BOKUCHAVA, Georgia
- Şaban DİŞLİ*, Turkey
- Bernd FABRITIUS, Germany
- Denis JACQUAT, France
- Yves POZZO di BORGO, France
Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
- André BUGNON, Switzerland
- Margus HANSON*, Estonia
- Chiora TAKTAKISHVILI, Georgia
European
Democrat Group (EDG)
- Morten WOLD, Norway
- Reha DENEMEÇ, Turkey
- Sir Roger GALE, United Kingdom
Substitutes
- Tülin ERKAL KARA, Turkey
- Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan
Group of
the Unified European Left (UEL)
Rapporteur
AS/MON (ex-officio)
- Robert WALTER*, United
Kingdom
Venice
Commission
- Owen MASTERS, expert
of the Venice Commission
Secretariat
- Bogdan TORCĂTORIU, Administrative
Officer, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation
unit
- Ivi-Triin ODRATS, Administrative Officer
- Gaël MARTIN-MICALLEF, Secretariat Venice Commission
* members of the pre-election delegation (11-12 March 2014)
Appendix 2 – Ad hoc committee
for the observation of the early presidential election in Ukraine
(25 May 2014) - List of members, updated on 24 May 2014
Andreas
GROSS (Switzerland, SOC), Head of the delegation
Socialist
Group (SOC)
- Joe BENTON, United Kingdom
- Robert BIEDROŃ, Poland
- Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
- Bernadette BOURZAI, France
- Ute FINCKH-KRÄMER, Germany
- Andreas GROSS *, Switzerland
- Sabir HAJIYEV, Azerbaijan
- Stella JANTUAN, Republic of Moldova
- Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland
- René ROUQUET, France
- John TOMLINSON, United Kingdom
Group of
the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
- Lolita ČIGĀNE, Latvia
- Bernd FABRITIUS, Germany
- Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco
- Frank JENSSEN *, Norway
- Jacques LEGENDRE, France
- François ROCHEBLOINE, France
- Rovshan RZAYEV, Azerbaijan
- Kimmo SASI, Finland
- Tobias ZECH, Germany
European
Democrat Group (EDG)
- Brian BINLEY, United
Kingdom
- Reha DENEMEÇ, Turkey
- Roger GALE, United Kingdom
- Ingebjørg GODSKESEN *, Norway
- Morten WOLD, Norway
Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
- Marieluise BECK, Germany
- Doris FIALA, Switzerland
- Karl GARÐARSSON, Iceland
- Alfred HEER, Switzerland
- Tinatin KHIDASHELI *, Georgia
- Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden
- Andrea RIGONI, Italy
- Kristýna ZELIENKOVÁ, Czech Republic
Group of
the Unified European Left (UEL)
- Andrej HUNKO, Germany
- Grigore PETRENCO, Republic of Moldova
- Nikolaj VILLUMSEN *, Denmark
Co-rapporteur
AS/MON (ex-officio)
- Marietta de POURBAIX-LUNDIN
*, Sweden
Venice
Commission
- Srdjan DARMANOVIC, Montenegro
- Amaya ÚBEDA, Administrative Officer
Secretariat
- Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN,
Deputy to the Head of Secretariat of the Interparliamentary co-operation
unit and election observation
- Yann de BUYER, Head of the Central Division
- Nathalie BARGELLINI, Principal Administrative Assistant,
Communication Division
- Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Interparliamentary cooperation
unit and election observation
- Catherine LAKBAR, Assistant, Parliamentary Assembly
* members of the pre-election delegation
Appendix 3 – Aide-mémoire
concerning the reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses
of the members of the Parliamentary Assembly at the charge of Council
of Europe budgets
I. GENERAL
PROVISIONS
1. Members of the Parliamentary Assembly (hereinafter
referred to as the “Members”) travelling on Council of Europe business
and at the Council’s expense shall arrange their journeys in the
most economical manner. Travelling expenses shall be reimbursed
and daily subsistence allowances paid in accordance with the present aide-mémoire.
II. MEANS
OF TRANSPORT AND TRAVELLING EXPENSES
1. Members shall be entitled, as provided for below,
to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in travelling between
the address specified in the notice of the meeting (hereinafter
referred to as the “place od departure”), and the place of the meeting.
2. If, for personal or professional reasons, Members travel to
the meeting from a place other than their place of departure, or
return to such place after the meeting, the refund shall be restricted
to the amount of expenses they would have incurred in travelling
to or from their place of departure. In exceptional and duly justified
circumstances, with the prior approval of the Secretary General
of the Parliamentary Assembly, Members may request reimbursement
based on the actual itinerary.
3. All claims for reimbursement
of travel expenses for all means of transport must be accompanied by
a copy of the relevant ticket and evidence of the expenditure actually
incurred for example, an original invoice or certified copy, credit
card slips or bank statement). In no case shall the amount reimbursed
exceed the actual expenditure incurred.
4. Rail travel
The reimbursement of the first class rail fare is authorized.
Where the duration of the journey is longer than 6 hours between
10 p.m. and 7 a.m., the reimbursement of a first class sleeper is
authorized.
5. Air travel
Reimbursement shall be based on the economy class fare.
However, reimbursement may be based on the business class
fare in the following circumstances:
- for single flights lasting more than 7 hours;
- for more than 15 hours travelling time (more than one
flight plus stopovers);
- for health reasons attested by a medical certificate,
which must be submitted with the claim form.
The
flight itinerary must be presented to justify the duration of flying
time or total travelling time, as appropriate.
Excess baggage charges are not refundable unless justified
on grounds of official requirements.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly is authorized
to travel on business class.
6. Sea travel
The reimbursement of travel by sea shall not exceed the amount
of the air fare as defined in paragraph 6 above. When Members travel
by car, the cost of transporting the car by sea shall not be reimbursed.
7. Transit fares in
connection with changing from one means of transport to another
and fares paid for travel between the place of departure and/or
the place of the meeting and railway station or airport are provided for
within the daily allowances paid for attendance at meetings and
shall not therefore be directly reimbursed. However, when such fares
exceed 20% of the daily allowances paid, the difference may be reimbursed,
subject to the prior approval of the Secretary General of the Parliamentary
Assembly and on presentation of evidence of the expenditure actually
incurred.
8. Local travel costs incurred
during meeting days are provided within the daily allowances paid
for attendance at meetings and shall not therefore be directly reimbursed.
9. Members travelling by means
other than public transport on a distance exceeding 30
kilometers per journey (one-way) shall be refunded a lump sum based
on kilometric allowance determined annually by the Committee of
Ministers. Distances over 1600 kilometers for the return journey
shall be refunded on the basis of economy class air fare from the
nearest airports, unless there is a prior approval by the Secretary
General of the Parliamentary Assembly authorizing reimbursement
based on the kilometric allowance. Journeys of less than 30 kilometers
(one-way) are not reimbursed.
The journey time used as the basis for the calculation of
daily allowances shall be the result of the number of kilometers
divided by 90 and shall not exceed 24 hours.
Related costs, such as toll and parking feed, may only be
reimbursed with the prior approval of the Secretary General of the
Parliamentary Assembly and only where there is no other possible
alternative. Such claims shall be accompanied by evidence of the
expenditure actually incurred.
If two or more members entitled to claim expenses use the
same car, a refund shall be made only to the person in charge of
the vehicle, with an increase of 10 % for the each passenger.
Members travelling by car do so at their own risk. The Council
of Europe disclaims all liability in respect of any accident that
may occur during the journey.
III. DAILY
ALLOWANCES
1. During the mission, members shall be entitled to
receive an allowance at a daily rate determined annually by the
Committee of Ministers (the rate in force
as from 1 January 2014
is 269 euros). This rate is the same wherever the meeting
takes place.
2. This allowance shall be deemed to cover all expenditure incurred
by Members in attending meetings, except for the travel expenses
provided for above.
3. However, where in exceptional and duly justified circumstances,
and with the prior approval of the Secretary General of the Parliamentary
Assembly, total accommodation costs (room, breakfast and related taxes)
amount to more than 60% of the total daily allowances payable in
respect of the meeting, members may submit a claim for a supplementary
payment. Any such claim must be supported by original vouchers attesting the
actual expenditure incurred for accommodation.
4. The duration of the period conferring entitlement to the allowance
shall be determined as follows:
a The
daily allowance is payable for each 24-hour period within the duration
of a mission. Part-days totaling 12 hours give entitlement to the
full allowance and parts totaling between 6 and 12 hours to half the
allowance; parts totaling less than 6 hours give no entitlement.
b The duration of a mission is calculated according to the
day and hour of departure from and return to the usual place of
departure.
5. Members shall declare any meals or overnight accommodation
provided to them free of charge. Where overnight accommodation or
meals to Members are provided free of charge the daily allowance
shall be reduced, unless the Secretary General of the Parliamentary
Assembly decides otherwise, as follows:
- reduction of 50% of the daily allowance per night;
- reduction of 15% of the daily allowance per meal (lunch
or dinner).
IV. OTHER
EXPENSES
1. Other expenses incurred by Members in connection
with their attendance at the meeting, such as visa fees and vaccination
costs, which are strictly unavoidable, shall be reimbursed. Such
claims shall be accompanied by evidence of the expenditure actually
incurred.
2. Expenses related to insurance, representation, communication
by telephone or fax, the use of the Internet and the rental of meeting
rooms are not reimbursed.
V. SICKNESS
AND ACCIDENT
1. Specific travel related risks are covered by a CHARTIS insurance policy (number 2.004.761), which provides cover
for persons up to their 76th birthday. The following help line CHARTIS Assistance 24 hours can
be called in case of need: (32) 3 253
69 16. Damages caused by the insured parties when using
motor cars or vehicles or any other form of overland transport are
not covered by this insurance policy. They are nevertheless obliged
in the first instance to exhaust all possibilities of payment of
benefits due to them under the scheme to which they are affiliated
in their own country in respect of illness and accident occurring
during the journey and/or the meeting.
VI. REIMBURSEMENT
1. The expenses referred to above shall be refunded
upon submission of a claim certified true and correct by the Members,
to which all vouchers required by the present aide-mémoire must
be appended.
