The 2nd part of the 2019 Ordinary Session of the Assembly was an opportunity to meet Mr Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia, and Mr Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as Mr Timo Soini, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
In my meetings with the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia, I welcomed the progress achieved by their respective countries in pursuing democratic reforms, consolidating the rule of law and enhancing the protection of human rights. It was particularly encouraging to hear their words of appreciation of the instrumental role the Council of Europe played in this process, by providing the necessary expertise and political support. I encouraged the Prime Ministers to continue good co-operation with the Venice Commission and to foster a pluralist political debate about the reform priorities, paying particular attention to the rights of the opposition. Turning to the broader challenges the Organisation has to face, we emphasised the need to preserve the unity and the Pan-European character of the Council of Europe, as well as the duty of all member States to honour their statutory and financial obligations.
With the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, we discussed the implementation of the priorities of the Finnish Presidency, the dialogue between the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the preparations for the Helsinki Ministerial Session.
During the part-session, I also met a number of members of national delegations to the Assembly, as well as a delegation of representatives of the Algerian Parliament. In particular, I was encouraged by the latter’s open approach to co-operation with the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly; in this context, I invited them to study the possibilities offered by the Partnership for Democracy Status encouraging them to apply.
Finally, I had the opportunity to meet Mr Alain Lamassoure, former minister, member of the European Parliament, to discuss the issue of the possible establishment of an Observatory for History Teaching, a project that will be supported within the framework of the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. I encouraged Mr Lamassoure to work closely with the Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media which has developed a solid expertise in the field of education.
On 18 April 2019, I participated in the international conference on combating terrorism co-organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Inter-parliamentary Union, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS member States, as well as the United Nations.
In my opening statement at the conference, I highlighted the obligation of member States to ensure respect of our human rights and rule of law standards in any activities to combat terrorism and presented the Council of Europe legal tools to promote international co-operation in this field.
Furthermore, I referred to the Assembly’s work on prevention of terrorism and the development of counter-narratives against terrorism. In particular, I emphasised the role of politicians in promoting positive and flexible alternative discourses adapted to terrorist propaganda. In addition, I underlined the importance of working with communities, as well as with civil society, religious and community leaders, while using different types of media.
Combating hate speech and condemning those who propagate it is equally important in the context of fighting terrorism, and politicians bear a special responsibility in this respect. Moreover, we should promote inclusive education and ensure that schools play their full role in the development of active, critically thinking citizens, ready to live in a plural society.
The Parliamentary Assembly’s recent report on Counter-narratives against terrorism provides a range of examples of measures that could be implemented at national level and I encouraged the participants to use these examples in their work.
In the margins of the Conference, I met representatives of several international inter-parliamentary organisations, as well as Ms Valentina Matvienko, Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS member States and Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. With Ms Matvienko, we discussed the relations between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS which are developed within the framework of a co-operation agreement signed in 1997, as well as the relations between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Russian Parliament. I informed Ms Matvienko of the recent Assembly discussions and of the Assembly’s report on its role and mission. I was encouraged to hear from Ms Matvienko assurances of Russia’s commitment to the Council of Europe and of the readiness of the Russian Parliament to continue dialogue with the Parliamentary Assembly notwithstanding the current impasse.
On 24 April 2019, I held an exchange of views with the Ministers’ Deputies, presenting the outcomes of the April 2019 part-session of the Assembly, focusing in particular on the Assembly’s recommendations in the light of the proposals in the report on its role and mission.
On 29-30 April 2019, I visited Georgia, to participate in the celebrations devoted to the 20th anniversary of the country’s accession to the Council of Europe.
In my statement at the Georgian Parliament, I pointed out that the country’s accession to the Council of Europe was a major step in the consolidation of its democratic institutions and a huge boost for reforms in several important areas.
I welcomed, in particular, the significant progress made in a number of key areas, including the fight against corruption, reform of the judiciary and the smooth functioning of Parliament. I emphasised that this progress was achieved thanks to the political will and constant efforts of all institutions and political players, along with input from Council of Europe bodies and experts. In this context, I encouraged the authorities to continue fruitful co-operation with Council of Europe expert and monitoring bodies, in particular the Venice Commission.
My official meetings were also an opportunity to discuss the political challenges the Council of Europe was facing, as well as the forthcoming Georgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
I would like to thank the Georgian authorities for the excellent organisation of my visit.
It was an honour to participate, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in the Ceremony devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, hosted by the President of Finland, Mr Sauli Niinistö, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Timo Soini, in Helsinki, on 16 May 2019. In my statement, I put the Council of Europe’s achievements into a historical perspective and emphasised the relevance of the Organisation’s political mission, which is to promote trust between peoples and nations, support dialogue and co-operation and protect the fundamental rights of 830 million Europeans according to a common uniform standard enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Speaking at the 129th Session of the Committee of Ministers, I welcomed increased dialogue and co-operation between the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly. Referring to the Assembly’s resolution and recommendation on its role and mission and to the Committee of Ministers’ decision on ensuring respect for rights and obligations, principles, standards and values, I highlighted the importance of the two Statutory bodies of the Organisation moving forward hand in hand. In particular, I welcomed the fact that the Committee of Ministers gave due consideration to Assembly Recommendation 2153 and took on board the Assembly’s proposals regarding the setting up of a common reaction procedure for situations where a member State violates its statutory obligations or does not respect the standards, fundamental principles and values upheld by the Council of Europe. I assured the Committee of Ministers of the willingness of the Assembly to work together on the implementation of these proposals.
At the meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly, I reported to Bureau members about the discussions held and decisions taken at the 129th session of the Committee of Ministers in Helsinki. In particular, we exchanged views about the implications of the decision entitled “A shared responsibility for democratic security in Europe – Ensuring respect for rights and obligations, principles, standards and values” and asked the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to take this decision into account when preparing the report entitled “Strengthening the decision-making process of the Parliamentary Assembly concerning credentials and voting”. We also appointed Ms Anne Brasseur and Mr Nils Muižnieks as new members of the Selection Panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize for a two-year term beginning on 1st of June 2019.
On the sidelines of the Bureau meeting, we held a joint meeting of the Presidential Committee with the Bureau of the Ministers’ Deputies to discuss the consequences of the decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers in Helsinki. I should like to thank Ms Amélie de Montchalin, Secretary of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, in charge of European Affairs, representing the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for attending the meeting,
The Standing Committee meeting provided an opportunity to hold an initial exchange of views on the priorities of the French Presidency with Ms Amélie de Montchalin representing the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. We underlined the importance of resolving the crisis currently affecting the Council of Europe by strengthening the organisation’s institutions and mechanisms. In this context, the determination of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers to work together on a new joint procedure for responding more effectively when a member State fails to meet its statutory obligations is particularly important. I also announced my intention to convene a meeting of the Joint Committee during the June 2019 part-session in order to continue the discussions on this subject.
In my address at the seminar on public debate as a tool for the governance of new technologies, I presented the Parliamentary Assembly’s work concerning public debate on the use of new technologies and major societal issues in general. In particular, I underlined the principle of the Oviedo Convention – requiring States Parties to ensure appropriate public debate regarding the fundamental issues raised by developments in biology and medicine – which the Assembly has reiterated in several of its reports in terms of applying it to the use of new technologies and artificial intelligence in general. I also set out the main principles which should govern public debate. In the Assembly’s view, it should be open and inclusive, genuinely adversarial and guided by respect for the fundamental standards championed by the Council of Europe, in particular the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the Strasbourg Court.
On the sidelines of the seminar, I met Ms Brigitte Bourguignon, Chair of the Social Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly. In particular, we discussed the issues relating to the organisation of public debate about the key issues facing society and France’s experience in this area. I also informed Ms Bourguignon about the priorities of the work of the Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, calling for synergies between the National Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe when we are dealing with issues of common interest. Lastly, I urged her to support the Assembly’s initiative, #NotInMy Parliament.
During my visit to Strasbourg, I also met Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Mattei, Chair of the Ministers’ Deputies, to discuss the implementation of the recent decisions of the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers and the preparation of the Assembly’s June 2019 part-session.
I was honoured to represent the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the Plenary Session of the Austrian National Council dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe. In my address, I paid tribute to Austria’s commitment to the Council of Europe’s work and highlighted the major fruits of that successful co-operation.
In praising Austria’s key contribution to the work of the Council of Europe, I underlined that because of its geographical location and cultural identity, Austria was a stabilising factor for Europe which had contributed, over the years, to building bridges and strengthening co-operation among our member States.
I also paid tribute to the Austrians who helped to shape the Organisation and put their efforts into seeing it firmly established as Europe’s moral compass. In particular, I highlighted the contribution of the former Parliamentary Assembly Presidents, Mr Karl Czernetz (1975-1978) and Mr Peter Schieder (2002-2005).
During my visit, I met Mr Wolfgang Sobotka, Speaker of the Austrian National Council and Mr Clemens Jabloner, Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Reforms Deregulation and Justice, as well as the Austrian national delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
I should like to thank the National Council and the national delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for organising my visit to Vienna so well.
In my address to the Conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), I stressed that GRECO’s work helps to preserve the integrity and legitimacy of our democratic institutions and our political system. I drew the attention of the participants to the normative acquis developed by GRECO based on the practices of its 49 member States in the field of prevention and fight against corruption. Moreover, I focused on GRECO's unique methodology of assessing all member States on an equal footing and on the basis of mutual peer review process.
Furthermore, I suggested ways of increasing collaboration between the Council of Europe bodies and GRECO, in particular by making the most of the tools already available, including ad hoc evaluation procedures, by organising parliamentary debates on GRECO's recommendations to ensure the best follow-up, as well as by encouraging closer co-operation with the European Union to avoid the emergence of two separate legal frameworks for prevention and fight against corruption.
On 10 June 2019, following on from previous contacts, I met representatives of both chambers of the Russian Parliament to continue the dialogue about relations between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Russian Parliament, in particular in the light of the adoption by the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Institutional Affairs of the report on the decision-making process of the Parliamentary Assembly concerning credentials and voting.
On the same day, I spoke by telephone with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr Sergey Lavrov. The conversation focused on the issue of co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation in the light of the adoption by the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs of the said report.