Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (20 June 2016)

Progress report | Doc. 14086 Addendum I | 20 June 2016

Rapporteur :: Mr Ian LIDDELL-GRAINGER, United Kingdom, EC

1 Decisions of the Bureau of 20 June 2016 requiring ratification by the Assembly

1.1 References and transmissions to committees

The Bureau considered and approved the following references:

Doc. 14038, motion for a resolution, Fighting corruption as a policy response to the migration crisis: transmission to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons for information;
Doc. 14039, motion for a resolution, The provision of elderly and palliative care in Europe: reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report;
Doc. 14040, motion for a resolution, Protecting children from racism and hate speech: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on "Ending cyberdiscrimination and online hate" (Ref. 4144 of 28 September 2015);
Doc. 14041, motion for a resolution, Safeguarding and enhancing Europe's intangible cultural heritage: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
Doc. 14042, motion for a resolution, Reshaping the role of education for "digital citizens": reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
Doc. 14044, motion for a resolution, Restricting rights to protect national security – how far can States go? and Doc. 14048, motion for a resolution, Legal challenges arising from the hybrid war: reference of the two motions to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for one report and to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for opinion;
Doc. 14046, motion for a resolution, Women's empowerment in the economy: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
Doc. 14049, motion for a resolution, Promoting the human rights of and eliminating discrimination against intersex people: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
Doc. 14051, motion for a resolution, Universal access to maternal healthcare: reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report;
Doc. 14052, motion for a resolution, Protecting children and young people affected by armed conflicts: reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report;
Bureau decision, An urgent call for increased solidarity: the right to work, the right to strike, reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report.

1.2 Election observation

1.2.1 Jordan: early parliamentary elections (20 September 2016, subject to receiving an invitation)

Subject to receiving an invitation, the Bureau decided to observe these elections and constituted an ad hoc committee for this purpose composed of 11 members (EPP/CD: 3; SOC: 3; ALDE: 2; EC: 2; UEL: 1 - in accordance with the D’Hondt system) and the rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, Ms Josette Durrieu (France, SOC).

1.3 Composition of committees

1.3.1 Composition of the Monitoring Committee

On the basis of a proposal by the EC Group, the Bureau nominated Mr Dominik Tarczyński Poland) to replace Mr Andrzej Jaworski (Poland).

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

2 Other decisions of the Bureau

2.1 Third part-session of 2016 (20 to 24 June)

2.1.1 Request for a current affairs debate

The Bureau decided to propose to the Assembly to hold a current affairs debate on Reaffirming the role of the Assembly as a pan-European forum for inter-parliamentary dialogue and co-operation on Wednesday, 22 June in the afternoon, and designated Mr Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD), as the first speaker.

2.1.2 Draft agenda

The Bureau took note of a letter by the Chairperson of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons informing about the display of photos taken during the visit of the ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Greece (30-31 May 2016) during the Assembly debate on Refugees at risk in Greece, and updated the draft agenda.

2.1.3 Election of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the United Kingdom

The Bureau took note of the report drawn up by the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights following interviews with candidates for the post of judge to the Court in respect of this country. This report had been already declassified by the Committee and submitted to the attention of all members of the Assembly (Doc. 14086 Addendum II).

2.2 Election observation

2.2.1 Belarus: parliamentary elections (11 September 2016)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections and authorised a pre-electoral mission (Appendix 1).

2.2.2 Morocco: parliamentary elections (7 October 2016)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections (Appendix 2).

2.2.3 Georgia: parliamentary elections (8 October 2016, subject to receiving an invitation)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections (Appendix 3).

2.2.4 Montenegro: parliamentary elections (16 October 2016, date to be confirmed, subject to receiving an invitation)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections (Appendix 4).

2.2.5 Republic of Moldova: presidential election (30 October 2016)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe this election (Appendix 5).

2.2.6 Bulgaria: presidential election (October 2016, date to be confirmed, subject to receiving an invitation)

The Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe this election (Appendix 6).

2.3 Ad hoc committee of the Bureau on the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Greece

The Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee (see Doc. 14086 Addendum III).

2.4 References and transmissions to committees

2.4.1 Extension of references

Doc. 13555, motion for a resolution, Establishing genuine parliamentary dialogue with Algeria (Ref. 4065 of 3 October 2014 – validity: 3 October 2016): extension until 30 June 2017;
Doc. 13556, motion for a resolution, Political developments in Iran (Ref. 4066 of 3 October 2014 – validity: 3 October 2016): extension until 30 June 2017;
Doc. 13484, motion for a resolution, Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship of the Council of Europe: What follow-up on respect for human rights? (Ref. 4050 of 23 June 2014 – validity: 23 June 2016): extension until 23 June 2017;
Doc. 13567, motion for a resolution, The exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons in Europe (Ref. 4075 of 3 October 2014 – validity: 3 October 2016): extension until 30 June 2017;
Doc. 13569, motion for a resolution, Drafting social indicators and issuing an annual report on social rights / “The Turin process” for the European Social Charter (Ref. 4077 of 3 October 2014 – validity: 3 October 2016): extension until 30 June 2017.

2.4.2 Consultation of committees

Doc. 14043, motion for a resolution, Safeguarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace, Greece: consultation of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination on possible follow-up;
Doc. 14053, motion for a resolution, Human rights in the relations between the European Union and Cuba: consultation of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy on possible follow-up;

2.5 Communications

The Bureau took note of communications by the President, the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Appendix 1 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in Belarus (11 September 2016)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)Note

Denis JACQUAT, France
Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland
Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania
Attila TILKI, Hungary

Socialist Group

Paolo CORSINI, Italy
Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania
Gisela WURM, Austria

Substitutes

Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria
Jean-Claude FRÉCON, France
Yuliya L OVOCHKINA, Ukraine
Attila MESTERHAZY, Hungary
Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
Idalia SERRÃO, Portugal

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco
Goran TUPONJA, Montenegro

Substitutes

Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy
Nellija KLEINBERGA, Latvia

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway
Suat ӦNAL, Turkey

Substitutes

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Soña MARKOVÁ, Czech Republic

Substitutes

Rapporteur AS/POL (ex officio)

Andrea RIGONI, Italy

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of the Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division

Appendix 2 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in Morocco (7 October 2016)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)Note

Nicole DURANTON, France
Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine
Vladyslav GOLUB, Ukraine
Alina Ştefania GORGHIU, Romania
Eduard KÖCK, Austria
Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal
François ROCHEBLOINE, France
Elisabeth SCHNEIDER-SCHNEITER, Switzerland
Senad ŠEPIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Adão SILVA, Portugal
Svitlana ZALISHCHUK, Ukraine

Socialist Group

Marietta KARAMANLI, France
George FOULKES, United Kingdom
Josette DURRIEU, France

Substitutes

Francesco VERDUCCI, Italy
Pascale CROZON, France
Eleonora CIMBRO, Italy
Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania
Geneviève GOSSELIN-FLEURY, France
Catherine QUÉRÉ, France
Florian KRONBICHLER, Italy
Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria
Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland
Gisela WURM, Austria
Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
Idália SERRÃO, Portugal
Ingrid ANTIČEVIĆ-MARINOVIĆ, Croatia

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Andrea RIGONI, Italy
Meritxell MATEU, Andorra

Substitutes

Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco
Adele GAMBARO, Italy
Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Ian LIDDELL-GRAINGER, United Kingdom
Serhii KIRAL, Ukraine

Substitutes

Suat ÖNAL, Turkey

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Tiny KOX, Netherlands

Substitutes

Expert Venice Commission

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of the Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Franck DAESCHLER, Principal Administrative Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division

Appendix 3 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in Georgia (8 October 2016)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

Damien ABAD, France
Giuseppe GALATI, Italy
Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine
Andres HERKEL, Estonia
Nermina KAPETANOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE, Latvia
Jasen MESIĆ, Croatia
Killion MUNYAMA, Poland
Joe O’REILLY, Ireland
Karin STRENZ, Germany
Svitlana ZALISHCHUK, Ukraine

Socialist Group (SOC)

Maryvonne BLONDIN, France *
Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria
Idàlia SERRĀO, Portugal
Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland
Claude ADAM, Luxembourg
Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland
Florian KORNBICHLER, Italy
Gisela WURM, Austria
Catherine QUÉRÉ, France
Paolo CORSINI, Italy

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Alfred HEER Switzerland
Nellija KLEINBERGA, Latvia
Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia
Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain *

Substitutes

Kristýna ZELIENKOVÁ, Czech Republic
Olena SOTNYK, Ukraine
Carles JORDANA MADERO, Andorra
Karl GARÐARSSON, Iceland
Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway *
Mark PRITCHARD, United Kingdom
Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom

Substitutes

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Andrej HUNKO, Germany *

Substitute

Rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)

Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia *
Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden *

Expert Venice Commission

Secretariat

Bodgan TORCATORIU, Administrator, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division

* members of the pre-election delegation

Appendix 4 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in Montenegro (16 October 2016)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)Note

Damien ABAD, France
Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania
Marie-Christine DALLOZ, France
Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine
Sylive GOY-CHAVENT, France
Denis JACQUAT, France
Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal
Jasen MESIĆ, Croatia
Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
Joe O’REILLY, Ireland
Attila TILKI, Hungary

Socialist Group (SOC)

Petra DE SUTTER, Belgium
Gülsün BILGEHAN, Turkey
Silvia BONET, Andorra

Substitutes

Renata DESKOSKA, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
George FOULKES, United Kingdom
Geneviève GOSSELIN-FLEURY, France
Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland
Gisela WURM, Austria
Catherine QUÉRÉ, France
Idalia SERRÃO, Portugal

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Adele GAMBARO, Italy
Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

Substitutes

Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy
Alain DESTEXHE, Belgium
Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Erkan KANDEMIR, Turkey
…

Substitutes

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) (GUE)

Matjaž HANŽEK, Slovenia

Substitutes

Rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)

Terry LEYDEN, Ireland
Ionuţ-Marian STROE, Romania

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of the Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division

Appendix 5 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the presidential election in the Republic of Moldova (30 October 2016)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

Damien ABAD, France
Elena CENTEMERO, Italy
Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine
Denis JACQUAT, France
Ionuţ-Marian STROE, Romania

Socialist Group

Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria *
Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro
Maryvonne BLONDIN, France
Eleonora CIMBRO, Italy
Josette DURRIEU, France
Claude ADAM, Luxembourg
Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland

Substitutes

Catherine QUÉRÉ, France
Idália SERRÃO, Portugal

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Karl GARÐARSSON, Iceland
Meritxell MATEU, Andorra *

Substitutes

Alain DESTEXHE, Belgium
Bernard PASQUIER, Monaco
Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Erkan KANDEMIR, Turkey *
Mark PRITCHARD, United Kingdom

Substitutes

Suat ÖNAL, Turkey

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Lotta JOHNSSON FORNAVE, Sweden *

Substitutes

Co-rapporteur on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Moldova

Valentina LESKAJ, Albanie *
Ögmundur JȮNASSON, Iceland *

Expert Venice Commission

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of the Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Franck DAESCHLER, Principal Administrative Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division

* members of the pre-election delegation

Appendix 6 – List of members of the ad hoc committee for the observation of the presidential election in Bulgaria (October 2016, date to be confirmed)

List of members

Chairperson:

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)Note

Damien ABAD, France
Denis JACQUAT, France
Luís LEITE RAMOS, Portugal
Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''

Socialist Group (SOC)

Attila MERTERHAZY, Hungary
Geneviève GOSSELIN-FLEURY, France
Renata DESKOSKA,''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''

Substitute

Idàlia SERRĀO, Portugal

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Anne MULDER, Netherlands
Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy

Substitutes

Carles JORDANA MADERO, Andorra
Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

European Conservatives Group (EC)

Mark PRITCHARD, United Kingdom
Suat ÖNAL, Turkey

Substitutes

Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Ertuğrul KÜRKÇÜ, Turkey

Substitute

Rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)

Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary
Franck SCHWABE, Germany

Secrétariat

Bogdan TORCĂTORIU, Administrative Officer, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division
Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Election observation and Interparliamentary co-operation Division