Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (25 June-3 October 2011)

Progress report | Doc. 12732 Part. II | 03 October 2011

Author(s):

Bureau of the Assembly

Rapporteur :

Mr Dick MARTY, Switzerland, ALDE

Contents

1Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly

1.1 2011 Fourth ordinary part-Session (Strasbourg, 3-7 October 2011)

1.2 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (25 June-3 October 2011) (Rapporteur: Mr Dick Marty, Switzerland, ALDE)

1.3 Election observations

1.4 Motions for recommendation and resolution

1.5 Composition of the Monitoring Committee

2Activities of the Bureau not requiring ratification by the Assembly

2.1 1 Meeting of the Chairpersons of Ad Hoc Committees for the observation of elections

2.2 Issues raised by the Committees

2.3 Communications

2.4 Cooperation with the European Parliament

2.5 Other business

Appendix 1– References to committee

Appendix 2– Appointments of representatives of the Assembly for official activities

1 Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly

1. The Bureau met on 3 October 2011 in Strasbourg.

1.1 2011 Fourth ordinary part-Session (Strasbourg, 3-7 October 2011)

1.1.1 Requests for debates under urgent procedure and current affairs debate

2. Following a request by the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, the Bureau decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold a current affairs debate during the 2011 Fourth part-Session on “How can Council of Europe member states come to the aid of countries touched by humanitarian catastrophes such as those in East Africa?” on Thursday 6 October 2011 at 3 pm and to appoint Mr Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, President of the Assembly, to open the debate.

3. Following a request by the Socialist Group, the European Democrat Group, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the Group of Unified European Left, the Bureau decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold a debate under urgent procedure on the “Political situation in the Balkans”” on Thursday 6 October 2011 at 4 pm and to refer the matter to the on Political Affairs Committee for report.

1.1.2 Updating of the draft agenda

4. The Bureau updated the draft agenda.

1.2 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (25 June-3 October 2011) (Rapporteur: Mr Dick Marty, Switzerland, ALDE)

5. The Bureau approved the Progress Report presented by the rapporteur.

1.3 Election observations

1.3.1 Election of a Constituent National Assembly in Tunisia (23 October 2011)

6. The Bureau to take note of the statement issued by the pre-electoral delegation which made a pre-electoral mission in Tunisia from 14 to 17 September 2011 to assess the state of preparations and the political climate prior to the forthcoming elections.

1.3.2 Presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic (30 October 2011)

7. Following the Bureau’s decision at its last meeting to observe these elections and to constitute an ad hoc committee, composed of 5 members, one from each political group, the Bureau approved the list of members and appointed Ms Nursuna Memecan (Turkey, ALDE) as Chairperson.

1.3.3 Parliamentary elections in the Russian Federation (4 December 2011)

8. Following the Bureau’s decision at its last meeting to observe these elections and to constitute an ad hoc committee, composed of 40 members, according to the d’Hondt system, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc committee and appointed Mr Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL) as Chairperson.

1.4 Motions for recommendation and resolution

9. Further to the tabling of motions for recommendations or resolutions by members of the Assembly [(1) See Rules 23.2.c and 24 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.], the Bureau, on the basis of proposals made by the Presidential Committee, approved the references and modifications to references as presented in appendix I, subject to ratification by the Assembly.

10. The Assembly is invited to ratify the proposals made by the Bureau.

1.5 Composition of the Monitoring Committee

11. On the basis of proposals from the political groups, the Bureau nominated Mr Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC) to replace Mr José Vera Jardim (Portugal, SOC) and decided to submit these proposals to the Assembly for ratification.

12. The Assembly is invited to ratify the proposals made by the Bureau.

2 Activities of the Bureau not requiring ratification by the Assembly

2.1 1 Meeting of the Chairpersons of Ad Hoc Committees for the observation of elections

13. The Bureau took note of the draft agenda of this meeting which will take place on Tuesday 4 October 2011, from 6.00 pm. to 7.00pm (Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, room 5).

2.2 Issues raised by the Committees

14. The Bureau took note of the letter from the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, dated 12 September 2011, requesting that Ms Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of the UN Women be invited to address the Assembly in the context of the debate on “Fighting the global backlash on women’s rights” during the 2012 First part-Session and agreed to this proposal.

2.3 Communications

15. 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.

2.4 Cooperation with the European Parliament

16. The Bureau took note of the oral report on the meeting of the Presidential Committee and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament in Brussels on 22 September 2011, presented by the President.

2.5 Other business

17. The next meeting of the Bureau will be held in Strasbourg on Friday 7 October 2011 at 8.30 am.

Appendix 1 – References to committee

1. The accession of non-member states to Council of Europe conventions

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Umakhanov and others

Doc. 12667

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report

2. Code of conduct of members of the Assembly: good practice or a core duty?

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Mignon and others

Doc. 12669

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report

3. Child friendly justice

Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Wohlwend and others

Doc. 12672

Proposal: reference to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for report and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for opinion

4. More transparency and accountability at FIFA

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Omtzigt and others

Doc. 12673

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on “Good governance and sport ethics” (Doc. 12336, Ref. 3709)

5. Call for a European-wide black list of condemned medical professionals

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Omtzigt and others

Doc. 12674

Proposal: transmission to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for information

6. Alternatives to Europe’s sub-standard IDP collective centres

Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Acketoft and others

Doc. 12676

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for report

7. Destruction or restoration of industrial heritage

Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Rihter and others

Doc. 12677

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education for report

8. Unaccompanied migrant children: what rights at 18?

Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Reps and others

Doc. 12678

Proposal: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for report

9. Europe and integrated risk management

Motion for a resolution presented Mr Meale and others

Doc. 12679

Proposal: reference to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on “Preventing natural disasters” (Doc. 12049, Ref. 3616)

10. New parliamentary effort to create a stability pact in the Caucasus

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Gross and others

Doc. 12680

Proposal: reference to the Political Affairs Committee for report

11. The rise of populist movements in Europe and its dangers for democracy

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Volontè and others

Doc. 12681

Proposal: reference to the Political Affairs Committee for report

12. ILO Convention of domestic worker, good opportunity for the Parliamentary Assembly

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Volontè and others

Doc. 12682

Proposal: transmission to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for information

13. The European Convention on Nationality: application and solution proposals

Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Papadimitriou and others

Doc. 12696

Proposal : reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report

14. Adolescents and online pornography

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Oscarsson and others

Doc. 12697

Proposal: transmission to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for information

15. Towards the International Year of the Family 2014

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Mota Amaral and others

Doc. 12698

Proposal: transmission to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for information

Appendix 2 – Appointments of representatives of the Assembly for official activities

In reply to formal invitations, the Bureau appointed the following members to represent the Assembly:

a Mr Luca Volonté (Italy, EPP/CD), 88th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission, 14-15 October 2011 (Venice, Italy)

b Ms Francine John-Calame (Switzerland, SOC) and Mr André Bugnon (Switzerland, ALDE), Award of an honorary doctorate to Mr Dick Marty, 15 October 2011 (University of Geneva, Switzerland), at no cost for the Assembly

c Mr Indrek Saar (Estonia, SOC), 30th session of the Baltic Assembly and 17 Baltic Council, 24-25 November 2011, (Tallin, Estonia), at no cost for the Assembly