At its meeting on 30 June, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the third part-session of 2017 (Friday 30 June) to the first Bureau meeting of the fourth part-session of 2017 (Monday 9 October).
The present report includes the decisions taken at the Bureau meetings of 30 June in Strasbourg and 4 September in Paris. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions which do not require ratification.
An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 9 October, which will include decisions to be ratified on the same day. Another addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 13 October. It will include the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the same day, notably the references and transmissions, which will have been approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau will hold its next meetings in Strasbourg on Friday 13 October at 8.30 am, then on Thursday, 23 November in Copenhagen and on Friday, 15 December in Paris. The next meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in Copenhagen on 24 November.
On 30 June, the Bureau heard a statement as set out in Appendix 1.
On 30 June, the Bureau approved the follow-up proposals made by the Secretary General of the Assembly to texts adopted by the Assembly, namely:
– Resolution 2170 (2017) on Promoting integrity in governance to tackle political corruption:
“10. For its part, the Assembly resolves to:
10.1. pay special attention to the revision and effective implementation of its own Code of Conduct;
10.2. fully support the independent external investigation body to look into allegations of corruption within the Assembly;
10.3. strengthen its own Anti-corruption Platform with the aim of promoting integrity campaigns in national parliaments;
10.4. provide a sound regulation for lobbying activities, including through the setting up of a Parliamentary Assembly transparency register, following the example of the European Parliament.”
Follow-up: the Bureau decided to submit the matters listed in paragraph 10 to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on the Follow-up to Resolution 1903 (2012): promoting and strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity of Parliamentary Assembly members (Rapporteur: Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, United Kingdom, EC).
– Resolution 2178 (2017) on The implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights:
“12. In view of the urgent need to speed up implementation of the Court's judgments, the Assembly resolves to remain seized of this matter and to continue to give it priority”.
Follow-up: the Bureau decided to seize the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for the preparation of a report on this issue.
On 30 June, the Bureau took note of a letter by Mr Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD) concerning the Assessment of the Code of Conduct for Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe carried out by GRECO, and decided to transmit this letter to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on Follow-up to Resolution 1903 (2012): promoting and strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity of Parliamentary Assembly members (Rapporteur: Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, United Kingdom, EC).
On 30 June, following a vote, the Bureau decided to postpone the decision whether to acknowledge the formation of the group to a later meeting.
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of letters by Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (United Kingdom, EC), Chairperson of the EC Group, Ms Adele Gambaro (Italy, NR), and Mr Talip Küçükcan (Turkey, EC), Chairperson of the Turkish delegation to the Assembly. It acknowledged the formation of the Free Democrats Group in line with Rule 19 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, and asked the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs whether, in line with the Rules and in view of the documents submitted to the Bureau on 30 June 2017, the date of the acknowledgment of the Group should be defined as 30 June 2017 or 4 September 2017.
On 30 June, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft agenda. On 4 September, it drew up the draft agenda.
On 30 June, The Bureau took note of the statement of the electoral mission. On 4 September, it approved the report of the ad hoc committee.
On 30 June, subject to receiving an invitation, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe this election and appointed Ms Doris Fiala (Switzerland, ALDE) as its Chairperson (Appendix 2). On 4 September, it took note of the invitation to observe this election.
On 30 June, the Bureau approved the following extensions of references:
On 30 June, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Assembly and decided that, should the motion of dismissal of the President of the Assembly be tabled, the meeting of the Selection Panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, to be held in Prague on 28-29 August 2017, be chaired by Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC) in his capacity as most senior Vice-President of the Assembly.
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the shortlist made by the Selection Panel at its meeting in Prague on 28-29 August 2017, consisting of (in alphabetical order):
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the calendar for the election of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and asked the Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to organise, through its Sub-Committee on Human Rights, the interviews of candidates in time for the Assembly’s first part-session of 2018, preferably in December 2017.
On 4 September, the Bureau was informed of the guidelines established by the investigation body.
On 30 June, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the Forum as set out in Appendix 3.
On 30 June, the Bureau approved the communication submitted by the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs.
On 30 June, the Bureau considered and approved the lists of candidates in respect of Croatia, Georgia, Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden, which were subsequently transmitted to the Committee of Ministers.
On 30 June, the Bureau took note of the written report of Ms Tamar Chugoshvili (Georgia, SOC) concerning her participation in the Spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Tbilisi, from 26 to 29 May 2017 and appointed Mr Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE) to participate in the 26th Annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk, Belarus, on 5-9 July 2017. On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the report by Mr Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE) on his participation in the 26th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
On 30 June, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly.
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the letter by Ms Elena Centemero (Italy, EPP/CD), Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, concerning the #InspiringWomen initiative, as well as of the “Memorandum taking stock of the measures to improve gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the work of the Assembly” prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly in consultation with the Chairperson of the Committee.
During the reference period, the Bureau authorised:
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the communication by the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the letter by Mr Jonas Gunnarsson (Sweden, SOC), Chairperson of the Swedish delegation to the Assembly, concerning the issue of General Rapporteurs in the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination.
On 4 September, the Bureau took note of the draft programme.
On 4 September, the Bureau approved the proposals as set out in Appendix 4.
Mr President,
I feel obliged to make a statement to the Bureau in view of yesterday’s message delivered by Mr Agramunt. As you know he attended the meeting of the Presidential Committee yesterday, and at the end asked those who were still present in the room to have a family photo taken.
This photograph has been put by him on his Twitter account together with an unacceptable – in my view – political comment.
I strongly protest – also on behalf of my two colleagues from the Secretariat who were present– against using our image to support a political message. I find this unacceptable. Once I found this twitter message I reacted immediately to Mr Agramunt – however without any response from him.
I would also like to inform you that the Secretariat of the Assembly is following the situation of Mr Agramunt with anxiety and unease. We are worried about the future of this Assembly and its role within the Council of Europe. At all cost we would like to avoid a possible divide between parliamentarians and staff, and I very much regret that, unfortunately, in his recent statements Mr Agramunt has been trying to introduce this divide.
The success of this Assembly also depends on the common harmonious work and good cooperation of members and staff. We, the staff, really care about this.
In this difficult time for the Assembly, my role – as the Secretary General of the Assembly – is to provide you with the best possible assistance and to help you to proceed in line with the Statute of the Council of Europe and the Rules of the Assembly, while avoiding at the same time any partisan approach. This is also the duty of all my colleagues and I am very grateful to them for their work and for all that they are doing for the Assembly.
Chairperson: Ms Doris FIALA (Switzerland, ALDE)
Substitutes
Substitutes
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Monday 22 January, 8.00 am Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Friday 26 January, 8.30 am Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Thursday 15 March, 3.00 pm, Paris: Bureau (to be confirmed)
Friday 16 March, 9.30 am, Paris: Standing Committee (to be confirmed)
Monday 23 April, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Friday 27 April, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
End of May, Croatia: Bureau and Standing Committee (CM Chairmanship)
Monday 25 June, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Friday 29 June, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Monday 3 September, 9 am, Paris: Bureau
Monday 8 October, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
Friday 12 October, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session): Bureau
End of November, Finland: Bureau and Standing Committee (CM Chairmanship)
Friday 14 December, 9.00 am, Paris: Bureau