Appendix – Proposals for Enhanced Dialogue and Co-operation
between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers
on the basis of the previous ad hoc meetings in Brussels, Paris
and Bled
16 September 2009
Recent discussions on the election of the Secretary General
have resulted in a disagreement between the Committee of Ministers
and the Parliamentary Assembly regarding Article 36 of the Statute
of the organisation and the regulations governing the election.
The role of each of the organs in the election process is at its
centre.
Furthermore, the debate has brought to the forefront a more
general need to enhance dialogue and co-operation between the Committee
of Ministers and the Assembly in a broader context.
It is therefore essential to take urgent steps to ensure a
constructive, forward-looking and open relationship, with due regard
to the role and prerogatives of both organs.
The Bureau of the Committee of Ministers and the Presidential
Committee of the Assembly have met informally on several occasions
over the past few months. They have taken stock together of a number
of proposals identified either by the Committee of Ministers or
by the Parliamentary Assembly or by both. It was agreed that a joint
consolidated list of possible measures be drawn up.
A three step approach is jointly proposed. The first step (A) concerns those measures which
have been identified and supported by the Committee of Minister
and by the Presidential Committee of the Assembly and can be implemented
immediately. This includes the review of the future election procedure
and action to enhance dialogue and co-operation in general. The
second step (B) concerns
those ideas for improving dialogue and co-operation which will require
more thorough discussion and consultation as part of a longer term
process. The third step (C) concerns
the question of how to handle this longer term process.
A. Measures which have been agreed by
the Bureau of the Committee of Ministers and the Presidential Committee
of the Assembly and can be implemented immediately. This does not
imply a commitment to additional funding.
on the specific question of the election
procedure:
1. the rules and procedures for
future elections of the Secretary General will be re-examined in
order to clarify the consultation processes between the Assembly
and the Committee of Ministers and to strengthen the gender aspects.
2. the Ministers’ Deputies will complete the preparation of a
first draft paper not later than June 2010 on their approach to
future elections of the Secretary General. On the Assembly side,
the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs has already been tasked by the Assembly to start its reflections on
this matter.
to enhance dialogue and co-operation in
general:
3. The
impact and effectiveness of the Council of Europe will be strengthened by
working jointly to enhance the focus on the core issues for the
Organisation.
4. Preparation of the agendas and discussions of the Joint Committee will be enhanced
in order to make it more effective as a forum for constructive dialogue
and consultation.
5. Meetings between the Chair of
the Deputies and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
will take place regularly to inform about each other’s work.
6. Informal meetings on
questions of common interest between the Bureau of the Committee
of Ministers and the Presidential Committee of the Assembly will
take place on a regular basis.
7. Timetables for consultation on new draft Council of Europe treaties will be established allowing
the Parliamentary Assembly to give its opinion without undue haste
and within a reasonable timeframe.
8. The Committee of Ministers will seek to give an early and
substantial reply to the Parliamentary Assembly
texts.
9. Communication within the Council
of Europe will be enhanced through reinforcement of contacts between
the two organs.
B. The suggested measures or topics listed
below require a thorough discussion both within the Committee of
Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, with due regard to the
role and prerogatives of both organs. The items are listed without
prejudice to the outcome of their consideration. The list is not
given in any priority order.
1. Possible measures/topics identified
by the Bureau of the Committee of Ministers:
- Review existing arrangements
for co-operation and informal dialogue with the aim of
achieving a closer understanding of each other’s views and thus
enhancing the effectiveness of the Council of Europe.
- Drawing-up of an inventory of best practices with a view
to seeing jointly with the Parliamentary Assembly how they can be
improved or extended.
2. Possible measures/topics identified by the Presidential Committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly:
- enhancing the working relationship between
the two organs as regards the process of consultation of the Parliamentary
Assembly.
- updating and improving certain
texts, in particular as regards formal recognition of
the use of the name “Parliamentary Assembly”.
- enhancing the role of the
Assembly when establishing Council of Europe policies
and priorities, including budgetary issues.
C. Examination and follow-up of the above
mentioned measures must clearly be a process jointly led by the
Chair of the Committee of Ministers and the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly, with the assistance of the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe.
1. A report on the measures identified
by the Bureau of the Committee of Ministers and/or the Presidential Committee
should be drawn up by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers and
the President of the Assembly with the assistance of the Secretary
General. To this end:
- the Secretary General should be
tasked at their next Joint committee with drawing up a report under the
authority of the Chair of the Committee of Ministers and the President
of the Assembly, in the light of thorough discussions, on the items
listed in part B above.
- the report should be presented at the earliest opportunity
and not later than October 2010, to a special meeting of the Joint
Committee.
