At its meeting on 27 January 2023, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the first part-session of 2023 (Friday 27 January) to the pre-session Bureau meeting of the second part-session (Monday 24 April 2023).
Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions taken by the Bureau over the reported period which do not require ratification.
Chapter 3 presents a list of decisions taken by the Bureau over the reported period which have been already ratified by the Standing Committee.
An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 24 April, which will include decisions to be ratified by the Assembly at the opening of the 2023 second part-session. Another addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 28 April. It will include only the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the same day, notably the references and transmissions to committees which will have been approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau will hold its next meeting on Thursday 25 May 2023 in Riga. The next meetings of the Standing Committee will be held in Reykjavik on 15 May and in Riga on 26 May 2023.
On 27 January, the Bureau approved the follow-up proposals to the first part-session, made by the Secretary General of the Assembly, as follows:
On 27 January, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda; on 2 March it updated it.
On 2 March, the Bureau took note of the request to hold a current affairs debate on “Supporting Ukraine one year since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s large-scale war of aggression: the role of the Council of Europe”, and decided to recommend to the Standing Committee to hold this debate and to appoint Mr Iulian Bulai (Romania, ALDE) as the first speaker.
On 2 March, the Bureau decided to start the plenary sittings at 2:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It asked the President to consider convening a meeting of the Joint Committee. It also took note of the request by the chairpersons of the political groups for the Assembly to hold a current affairs debate on “On the #RoadToReykjavik” and drew-up the draft agenda.
On 27 January, the Bureau took note of information provided by the Secretary General of the Assembly and decided to hold this meeting in the two official languages of the Assembly (English and French). On 2 March, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda.
On 27 January, the Bureau took note of the statement by the President of the Assembly. On 2 March, it took note of the communications by the President of the Assembly, the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and held an exchange of views with the Secretary General.
On 27 January, the Bureau approved the following requests for extensions of references:
On 2 March, the Bureau approved the following request for an extension of reference:
On 27 January, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe this election and left it to the Presidential Committee to appoint its chairperson. On 2 March, the Bureau confirmed the appointment of Mr Joe O’Reilly (Ireland, EPP/CD) as chairperson, approved the final list of members of the ad hoc committee (appendix 1) and took note of the statement by the pre-electoral mission.
On 2 March, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections and appointed Mr Andrej Hunko (Germany, UEL) as chairperson (appendix 2).
On 2 March, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections, appointed Mr Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC) as chairperson (appendix 3) and decided that the same delegation would observe the second round of these elections. On 24 March 2023, the Bureau approved, by written consultation, the revised list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections.
On 2 March, the Bureau decided to include the institutional representatives of the Assembly to the Council for Democratic Elections as ex officio members, as well as to allocate a seat to a member not belonging to a political group to the ad hoc committee to participate in the conference. It also approved the list of members of this ad hoc committee and appointed Mr Damien Cottier (Switzerland, ALDE) as chairperson (appendix 4).
On 2 March, the Bureau took note of the report of the meeting.
On 27 January, the Bureau took note of the press release of the launch of the 2023 edition of the Prize. On 2 March, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly and re-appointed as members of the Selection Panel Ms Anne Brasseur and Mr Nils Muižnieks for a third term of two years starting from 1 June 2023.
Following a consultation by written procedure, the Bureau approved on 15 February 2023 the nominations as set up in Appendix 5.
On 27 January, the Bureau took note of the updated terms of reference of the General Rapporteur on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.
On 27 January, the took note of the letter by the committee informing of its decision to invite representatives of the democratic political forces for Belarus to its meetings during part-sessions and asked the Secretary General of the Assembly to look into the proposal that the same representatives could attend meetings of the other committees during the session week.
On 2 March, the Bureau took note of the information memorandum on the participation of members in Parliamentary Assembly plenary sessions and committee meetings in 2022 in accordance with Resolution 1583 (2007). It noted that the statistics on delegations’ participation in Assembly sessions in 2022 resulted in a worrying trend, with regard to the participation rates of members in plenary sittings and in votes.
Therefore, the Bureau decided to invite the President of the Assembly to notify in writing the chairpersons of the delegations and the speakers of the parliaments concerned by low participation rates (Rule 44.10 of the Rules of Procedure and paragraph 7.2 of Resolution 1583), and to arrange a meeting with the chairpersons of the relevant delegations, i.e.:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia;
Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia.
The Bureau also decided to publish the statistics relating to the participation of national delegations on the Assembly’s website.
On 27 January, the Bureau authorised:
On 2 March, the Bureau authorised:
On 2 March, taking into account security concerns, the Bureau postponed the decision concerning the request by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for its ad hoc sub-committee to meet in Ukraine, until the Committee is in a position to define the exact dates and places of the meeting.
On 20 March 2023, the Bureau authorised by written consultation to set up an ad hoc committee to participate in the meeting of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network in Paris, on 4-5 April 2023. On 28 March, it approved by written consultation the list of members of the ad hoc committee and appointed Mr George Katrougalos (Greece, UEL) as chairperson (Appendix 6).
On 2 March, the Bureau, on the basis of proposals by:
On 2 March, the Bureau approved the following references and transmissions which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee:
On 2 March, the Bureau approved the following reference which was subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee:
The Standing Committee, meeting on 2-3 March 2023 in The Hague, with Mr Tiny Kox, President of the Assembly, in the Chair:
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European solidarity in the context of asylum and international protection |
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European solidarity in the context of asylum and international protection |
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The Cultural Routes: a platform for intercultural dialogue |
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The Cultural Routes: a platform for intercultural dialogue |
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Promoting online education and research across national borders |
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Promoting online education and research across national borders |
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Innovative approaches to sexual and reproductive health and rights |
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Joe O’REILLY, Ireland / Irlande (EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance (EC-DA) / Groupe des Conservateurs européens et Alliance démocratique (CE-AD)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Co-rapporteur·e·s AS/MON (ex officio)*
* members of the pre-election delegation / membres de la délégation préélectorale
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Andrej HUNKO (Germany / Allemagne, UEL / GUE)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance (EC/DA) / Groupe des conservateurs européens et Alliance démocratique (CE/AD)
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Co-rapporteur·e·s AS/Mon (ex officio)
Venice Commission / Commission de Venise
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Frank SCHWABE (Germany / Allemagne, SOC)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance (EC-DA) / Groupe des Conservateurs européens et Alliance démocratique (CE-AD)
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Co-rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)*
* members of the pre-election delegation / membres de la délégation préélectorale
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Damien COTTIER (Switzerland / Suisse, ALDE / ADLE)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance (EC/DA) / Groupe des conservateurs européens et Alliance démocratique (CE/AD)
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Members not belonging to a political group (NR) / Membres n’appartenant à aucun groupe politique (NI)
Members of the Council for Democratic Elections of the Venice Commission (ex officio) / Membres du Conseil des Elections Démocratiques de la Commission de Venise (ex officio)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
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Body / Organe |
who represents the Assembly / qui représente l'Assemblée |
reference |
2023 |
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I. Council of Europe bodies / Organes du Conseil de l'Europe |
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European Commission for Democracy through Law Venice Commission Commission européenne pour la démocratie par le droit – Commission de Venise |
Representatives of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau to attend the sessions of the Commission Représentants de l'Assemblée désignés par le Bureau pour assister aux sessions de la Commission |
Article 2.4 of the Venice Commission Statute (Res CM (2002) 3) Article 2.4 du statut de la Commission de Venise (Rés CM (2002) 3) |
Members: Mr Rik Daems (Belgium, ALDE) Appointment by the President Mr Constantinos Efstathiou (Cyprus, SOC) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Mr Serhii Vlasenko (Ukraine, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) |
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Council for Democratic Elections of the Venice Commission Conseil des élections démocratiques de la Commission de Venise |
Representatives of AS/Pol, AS/Jur and AS/Mon approved by the Bureau of the Assembly Représentants de l’AS/Pol, l’AS/Jur et l’AS/Mon approuvés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée |
Bureau decision of 10 March 2003 Décision du Bureau du 10 mars 2003 |
Members: Mr Michael Georg Link (Germany, ALDE) (AS/Pol) Mr. Davor Ivo Stier (Croatia, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Ms María Valentina Martínez Ferro (Spain, EPP/CD) (AS/Mon) Substitutes: Mr Aleksander Pociej (Poland, EPP/CD) (AS/Pol) Ms Khatia Dekanoidze (Georgia, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Ms Laura Castel (Spain, UEL) (AS/Mon) |
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European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity North-South Centre Centre européen pour l’interdépendance et la solidarité mondiales – Centre Nord-Sud |
Two members of the Executive Council – appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly Deux membres du Conseil exécutif – désignés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée |
Article 4.2 (b) of the North-South Centre revised Statute (Res CM (2011) 6) Article 4.2 (b) du statut révisé du Centre Nord-Sud (Rés CM (2011) 6) |
Members: Ms Marijana Balić (Croatia, EPP/CD) (AS/Cult) Mr Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) (AS/Soc) Substitutes: Ms Maria-Gabriela Horga (Romania, EPP/CD) (AS/Cult) Ms Carmen Leyte (Spain, EPP/CD) (AS/Soc) |
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European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance ECRI Commission européenne contre le racisme et l’intolérance – ECRI |
Representatives of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau (representatives of the following three committees: AS/Pol, AS/Ega and AS/Cult) Représentants de l’Assemblée désignés par le Bureau (représentants des trois commissions suivantes: AS/Pol, AS/Ega et AS/Cult) |
Article 5 of the ECRI Statute (Res CM (2002) 8) Article 5 du statut de l’ECRI (Rés CM (2002) 8) |
Members: Mr Ahmet Yildiz (Türkiye, NR) (AS/Pol) Ms Luz Martinez Seijo (Spain, SOC) (AS/Cult) Ms Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC) (AS/Ega) Substitutes: ZZZ (AS/Pol) Mr Asim Mollazada (Azerbaijan, EC/DA) (AS/Cult) Mr Fourat Ben Chikha (Belgium, SOC) (AS/Ega) |
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Group of States against Corruption GRECO Groupe d'états contre la corruption – GRECO |
A representative of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau Un représentant de l'Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
CM decision of 717th meeting in 2000 in accordance with Article 7.2 of the Statute of the GRECO Décision du CM lors de la 717ème réunion en 2000 selon l'Article 7.2. du Statut du GRECO |
Member: Mr Titus Corlatean (Romania, SOC) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Ms Elena-Simona Spătaru (Romania, ALDE) (AS/Jur) |
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Committee for Works of Art Comité des œuvres d'art |
Two members appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly (at present AS/Cult Committee member and Museum Prize rapporteur) Deux membres désignés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée (actuellement un membre de l'AS/Cult et le rapporteur du Prix du musée) |
CM decision of 482nd meeting in 1992 Décision du CM lors de la 482ème réunion en 1992 |
Member: Mr Constantinos Efstathiou (Cyprus, SOC) (AS/Cult) Substitute: Mr David Morris, (United Kingdom, EC/DA) (AS/Cult) |
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MONEYVAL |
A representative of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau Un représentant de l’Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
Article 4.1 of Resolution CM/Res (2010) 12 Article 4.1 de la Résolution CM/Res (2010) 12 |
Member: Ms Maria-Gabriela Horga (Romania, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Ms Klotilda Bushka (Albania, SOC) (AS/Jur) |
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Committee of Experts on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (PC-ENV) Comité d’experts sur la protection de l'environnement par le droit pénal (PC-ENV) |
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets: - Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Peuvent envoyer des représentants sans droit de vote et à la charge de leurs budgets administratifs respectifs: - l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe |
CM/Res(2021)3 |
Members: Ms Sunna Aevarsdottir (Iceland, SOC) (AS/Jur) Mr Jean-Pierre Grin (Switzerland, ALDE) (AS/Soc) Substitutes: Mr Ziya Altunyaldiz (Turkey, NR) (AS/Jur) Ms Yulia Ovchynnykova (Ukraine, ALDE) (AS/Soc) |
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Committee on offences relating to cultural property (PC-IBC)/ Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) Comité sur les infractions visant les biens culturels (PC-IBC) / Comité directeur de la culture, du patrimoine et du paysage (CDCPP) |
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets: - Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Un représentant de l’Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
STCE n°221 CM(2017)32, Chapter V, Article 23.1 SG/Inf(2012)12, |
Mr Stefan Schennach (Austria) (AS/Cult) |
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EUROPA NOSTRA Pan-European Federation for Heritage EUROPA NOSTRA – Fédération paneuropéenne du patrimoine |
One member (and substitute) to be nominated by the Assembly – to attend the Federation Council meetings as observer Un membre (et son/sa suppléant/e) qui seront désignés par l'Assemblée pour assister aux réunions du Conseil de la Fédération en tant qu'observateurs |
Article 21.4 of the Statute of Europa Nostra |
Member: Ms Foteini Pipili (Greece, EPP/CD) (AS/Cult) Substitute: Mr Andries Gryffroy (Belgium, NR) (AS/Cult) |
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. George KATROUGALOS (Greece, UEL / Grèce, GUE)
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy / Commission des questions politiques et de la démocratie
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development / Commission des questions sociales, de la santé et du développement durable
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media / Commission de la culture, de la science, de l’éducation et des médias