Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (23 January 2023)

Progress report | Doc. 15685 Add. 3 | 23 January 2023

Committee

Bureau of the Assembly

Rapporteur :

Mr George KATROUGALOS, Greece, UEL

1 Decisions of the Bureau of 23 January 2023 requiring ratification by the Assembly

1.1 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2023

The Bureau took note of the list of candidates for Vice-Presidents of the Assembly (appendix).

1.2 References and transmissions to committees

The Bureau considered and approved the following references:

1.2.1 References to committees

• Doc. 15661, Motion for a resolution, The serious problem of conflicts of interest at the European Court of Human Rights: transmission to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for information within the framework of the consideration of the admissibility of the petition on the same issue.

1.2.2 Modification of a reference

• Doc. 15568, Reference 4672 of 10 October 2022, The situation of Ukrainian persons forcefully displaced or transferred to the Russian Federation or Ukrainian territories under the de facto control of the Russian Federation: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report and to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for opinion.

1.2.3 Reply after consultation

• Doc. 15555, Motion for a resolution, Public regulation of the freedom of expression in digital platforms: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report

1.3 Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights

The Bureau took note of the report drawn up by the Committee on the election of judges for the posts of judges in respect of Denmark and Iceland (Doc. 15685 Addendum 2).

1.4 Election observation

1.4.1 Montenegro: Presidential election (19 March 2023)

The Bureau, subject to receiving an invitation, decided to observe this election and to set up an ad hoc committee composed of 20 members (SOC-6; EPP/CD-6; ALDE-4; EC/DA-3; UEL-1), as well as the two co-rapporteurs of the monitoring committee, and to conduct a pre-electoral mission.

1.5 Composition of the Monitoring Committee, the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs and the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights

The Bureau, on the basis of proposals by the political groups, nominated members of these three committees and decided to submit them to the Assembly for ratification (Commissions (2023) 01 Addendum 1).

1.5.1 Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

The Bureau appointed Mr Ahmet Yıldız (NR) as a member.

1.6 Resolution 1376 (2004) relating to Cyprus

The Bureau took note of the letters from the two Turkish Cypriot political parties informing the President of the Assembly of the names of the "elected representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community" entitled to sit in the Assembly in 2023, namely Mr Armağan Candan and Mr Özdemir Berova.

1.7 Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo [(1) All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.] and the role of the Council of Europe

The Bureau took note of the letter by the President of the Assembly of Kosovo informing the President of the Assembly of the names of the members of the delegation of the Assembly of Kosovo for the 2023 ordinary session and approved the list of the delegation.

Members:

• Ms Saranda Bogujevci, Self-Determination Movement, Head of Delegation
• Mr Arben Gashi, Democratic League of Kosovo
• Mr Enis Kervan, Parliamentary Group “Multiethnic”

Substitutes:

• Ms Ariana Musliu-Shoshi, Democratic Party of Kosovo
• Mr Besnik Tahiri, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo
• Vacant seat

The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.

2 Other decisions by the Bureau

2.1 First part-session of 2023 (Strasbourg, 23-27 January)

2.1.1 Requests for debates under urgent procedure

The Bureau took note of the requests to hold debates on

• Legal and human rights aspects of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, tabled by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to refer the matter to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
• Attacks against public service workers, tabled by the EC/DA Group, decided to recommend to the Assembly not to hold this debate.

2.1.2 Requests for current affairs debates

The Bureau took note of the requests for current affairs debates on:

• Recent tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, tabled by the delegation of the United Kingdom, and decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to appoint Mr John Howell (United Kingdom, EC/DA) as its first speaker;
• How to improve the Council of Europe’s cooperation with civil society, as a way to strengthen and protect human rights, democracy and rule of law, including in Belarus and the Russian Federation?, tabled by the Norwegian delegation, and decided to recommend to the Assembly not to hold this debate;
• Addressing the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of the Latchin corridor, tabled by the EPP/CD Group, decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate and appointed Mr Paul Gavan (Ireland, UEL) as the first speaker.

2.1.3 Draft agenda

The Bureau updated the draft agenda.

2.1.4 Joint Committee (Strasbourg, 26 January 2023)

The Bureau prepared the meeting of the Joint Committee.

2.2 Requests for extensions of references

The Bureau considered and approved the following extensions of references:

• Doc. 15274 Reference 4586 of 28 May 2021 – validity: 28 May 2023, Precarious status of cross-border and seasonal workers in Europe (new title: Precarious and irregular work situations of migrants and cross-border workers): extension until 31 December 2023.
• Doc. 15130, Reference 4527 of 15 September 2020 – validity: 15 March 2023, Call for an inclusive national political process in Belarus (new title: Call for a national political reform process in Belarus): extension until 15 March 2024.
• Doc. 15047, Reference 4499 of 6 March 2020 – validity: 6 March 2023, Relationship between the parliamentary majority and the opposition in a democracy: extension until 6 March 2024.
• Bureau decision, Reference 4494 of 31 January 2020 – validity: 31 January 2023, Recent developments in Libya and in the Middle East: what consequences for Europe?: extension until 31 January 2024.

2.3 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (14 October 2022 to 23 January 2023)

The Bureau approved the Progress report (Doc. 15685).

2.4 Communications

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

Appendix – Candidatures Vice-Presidents of the Assembly for 2023

GROUPS / GROUPES	COUNTRY / PAYS	CANDIDATURES
GROUP I / GROUPE I	France	Mr Bertrand BOUYX
	Germany / Allemagne	Mr Armin LASCHET
	Italy / Italie	Vacant seat / siège vacant
	Türkiye	Mr Ahmet YILDIZ
	United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni	Mr John HOWELL
GROUP II / GROUPE II	Spain / Espagne	Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES
	Ukraine	Ms Olena KHOMENKO
GROUP III / GROUPE III	Austria / Autriche	Mr Reinhold LOPATKA
	Norway / Norvège	Ms Ingjerd SCHOU
	Portugal	Ms Edite ESTRELA
	Romania / Roumanie	Mr Ionuţ-Marian STROE
	Serbia / Serbie	Ms Elvira KOVÁCS
	Slovak Republic / République slovaque	Ms Anna ZÁBORSKÁ
	Sweden / Suède	Mr Markus WIECHEL
	Switzerland / Suisse	Ms Sibel ARSLAN
GROUP IV / GROUPE IV	Montenegro / Monténégro	Ms Maja VUKIĆEVIĆ
	North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord	Mr Darko KAEVSKI
	San Marino / Saint-Marin	Mr Marco NICOLINI
	Slovenia / Slovénie	Ms Tamara VONTA