Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (21 January 2008)

Progress report | Doc. 11490 Part. II | 21 January 2008

Author(s):

Bureau of the Assembly

Rapporteur :

Mr René van der LINDEN, Netherlands, EPP/CD

1 Introduction

1. The Bureau met on 21 January in Strasbourg.

2 Functioning of the Assembly

2.1 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (5 October 2007 to 21 January 2008)

2. On 21 January, the Bureau approved the progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee covering the period from 5 October 2007 to 21 January 2008.

2.2 First part of the 2008 Ordinary Session (Strasbourg, 21-25 January 2008)

2.2.1 Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights

3. On 21 January, the Bureau:

a took note of the report of the Sub-Committee on the Elections of Judges including the recommendations contained in it and decided to forward it to the Assembly members;

b proposed to the Assembly to ask the Government of Azerbaijan to submit a new list of candidates for the post of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of this country;

c concerning the list of candidates in respect of Slovenia, took note that hearings have not been completed as one of the candidates was ill and would not be able to come to the interview; and that the sub-committee would endeavour to complete hearings in respect of this country in March 2008;

d concerning the list of candidates in respect of Ukraine, took note that hearings have not been completed as the sub-committee has not yet received the name of the third candidate to be interviewed; and that the sub-committee would endeavour to complete hearings in respect of this country in March 2008.

2.2.2 Draft order of business

4. On 21 January, the Bureau:

a approved the updated draft order of business and decided to reduce the speaking time to four minutes for Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 January;

b decided to invite the newly re-elected President of the Republic of Georgia, Mr Saakashvili, to address the Assembly on Thursday 24 January.

2.3 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2008

5. On 21 January, the Bureau took note of the names of the candidates for the post of Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2008.

2.4 Composition of the Monitoring Committee

6. On 21 January, the Bureau approved the list of members as proposed by political groups for ratification by the Assembly.

2.5 Composition of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

7. On 21 January, the Bureau approved the list of members including members as proposed by political groups and a member not belonging to political groups for ratification by the Assembly.

3 Elections

3.1 Presidential election in Georgia (5 January 2008)

8. On 21 January, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee which observed these elections (rapporteur: Mr Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE)).

3.2 Presidential election in Serbia (20 January 2008)

9. On 21 January, the Bureau:

• took note that according to the Assembly’s election observation guidelines and the rules of procedure, the observation mission of the first round was cancelled;
• subject to a formal invitation, agreed to set up an ad hoc committee to observe the second round of these elections.

3.3 Presidential election in Armenia (19 February 2008)

10. On 21 January, the Bureau:

• took note of an invitation letter addressed by Mr Torosyan, Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, to observe these elections;
• approved the composition of the pre-electoral mission which is foreseen for 29 and 30 January 2008.

3.4 Presidential election in the Russian Federation (2 March 2008)

11. On 21 January, the Bureau postponed consideration of this item until its next meeting.

4 Other matters

4.1 Communications

12. On 21 January, the Bureau took note of communications by the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe as well as the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly.

Appendix

References and transmissions to committees

On 21 January, the Bureau approved the following references and modifications of references, subject to ratification by the Assembly:

References to committees

a. Doc. 11345

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Branger and others, Human rights and democratic concerns for the integration of migrants

b. Doc. 11346

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Hajiyeva and others Europe’s population decline and migration

c. Doc. 11347

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Çavuşoğlu and others, Diasporas: their role in the integration of migrants

Reference of these three motions to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population for the drafting of one single report on “Human rights and democratic concerns for the integration of migrants”

[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe priority: Strengthening the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees and displaced persons; Contribute to the management of migratory flows]

d. Doc. 11455 rev.

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Kozma and others A new start for youth co-operation in Europe, to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for report

[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe priority: Promoting education for democratic citizenship in Europe]

e. Doc. 11462

Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Ivanov and others Military waste and the environment, to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for report

[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe priority: Promoting sustainable development (climate, water, energy, pollution...)]

f. Doc. 11463

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs de Melo and others For a new governance of the oceans – The problem of the North Atlantic, to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for report

[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe priority: Promoting sustainable development (climate, water, energy, pollution...)]

Extension of references

a. Doc. 10802

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Hägg and others Abortion and its impact on women and girls in Europe

Reference No. 3175 of 27 January 2006 – Validity: 27 January 2008, extension until 25 April 2008.

b. Doc. 10718

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Vermot-Mangold and others, Feminicides

Reference No. 3204 of 17 March 2006 – Validity: 17 March 2008, extension until 27 June 2008.

c. Doc. 10753

Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Bousakla and others Abduction and “re-education” of Muslim women and children who have become too “Western-minded”

Reference No. 3200 of 17 March 2006 – Validity: 17 March 2008, extension until 27 June 2008.

d. Doc. 10719

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Çavuşoğlu and others, Migration and mobility in the Eurasian region – Prospects for the future

Reference No. 3198 of 17 March 2006 – validity: 17 March 2008, extension until 31 December 2008.

e. Doc. 10948

Motion for a recommendation presented by Mrs Mendonça and others, Detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe

Reference No. 3252 of 30 June 2006 – Validity: 30 June 2008, extension until 31 December 2008.