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Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (22 January 2024)

Progress report | Doc. 15885 Add. 5 | 22 January 2024

Committee
Bureau of the Assembly
Rapporteur :
Mr Tiny KOX, Netherlands, UEL

1 Decisions of the Bureau of 22 January 2024 requiring ratification by the Assembly

1.1 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2024

The Bureau took note of the list of candidates for Vice-Presidents of the Assembly (Appendix 1).

1.2 References and transmissions to committees

The Bureau considered and approved the following references:

  • Saving migrants’ lives at sea and protecting their human rights, Doc. 15881, Motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report
  • The challenges and needs of public and private actors involved in migration management, Doc. 15882, Motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report.

1.3 Election observation

1.3.1 North Macedonia: Presidential and parliamentary elections (24 April and 8 May 2024 – tbc)

The Bureau, subject to receiving an invitation, decided to observe these elections 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.

1.4 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 post of judges in respect of Serbia, Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Lithuania, subject to ratification by the Assembly in the Progress report (Doc. 15885 Add. 3).

1.5 Issues raised by committees

1.5.1 Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media:

The Bureau considered and approved the draft terms of reference of a “General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in Sport” (Appendix 2).

1.6 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 (2024) 01 Addendum 1).

1.7 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 2024, namely Mr Armağan Candan and Mr Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu.

1.8 Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo*Note 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 2024 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

The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.

2 Other decisions by the Bureau

2.1 First part-session of 2024 (Strasbourg, 22-26 January)

2.1.1 Request for a debate under urgent procedure

The Bureau took note of the request to hold a debate on

  • The situation of the children of Ukraine, submitted by the leaders of political groups, decided to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to refer the matter to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report and to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for opinion.

2.1.2 Draft agenda

The Bureau updated the draft agenda.

2.1.3 Joint Committee (Strasbourg, 25 January 2024)

The Bureau prepared the meeting of the Joint Committee.

2.2 Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (from 13 October 2023 to 21 January 2024)

The Bureau approved the Progress report (Doc. 15885).

2.3 Election observation

2.3.1 Serbia: early parliamentary elections (17 December 2023)

The Bureau approved the report by the observation mission (Doc. 15895).

2.3.2 Azerbaijan: early presidential election (7 February 2024)

The Bureau regretted that the Azerbaijani authorities have failed to invite the Assembly to observe this election, despite their obligation to do so as a member State under monitoring procedure; it took note that the Assembly will therefore not observe this election and that none of its members or bodies have been mandated to observe or comment on this electoral process on behalf of the Assembly.

2.3.3 Election Observation activities of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2023

The Bureau took note of the report (Doc. 15885 Add. 4).

2.4 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize

The Bureau took note of the press release of the launch of the 2024 edition of the Prize.

2.5 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. It held an exchange of views with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Appendix 1 – Candidatures Vice-Presidents of the Assembly for 2024

GROUPS / GROUPES

COUNTRY / PAYS

CANDIDATURES

GROUP I / GROUPE I

France

Mr Bertrand BOUYX

Germany / Allemagne

Mr Armin LASCHET

Italy / Italie

Ms Elisabetta GARDINI

Türkiye

Mr Yıldırım Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ

United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni

Mr David MORRIS

GROUP II / GROUPE II

Poland / Pologne

Ms Agnieszka POMASKA

Ukraine

Ms Olena KHOMENKO

GROUP III / GROUPE III

Austria / Autriche

Mr Reinhold LOPATKA

Azerbaijan / Azerbaïdjan

Mr Samad SEYIDOV

Belgium / Belgique

Mr Rik DAEMS

Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosnie-Herzégovine

Ms Snježana NOVAKOVIĆ BURSAĆ

Bulgaria / Bulgarie

Mr Georg GEORGIEV

Slovak Republic / République slovaque

Vacant seat / siège vacant

Sweden / Suède

Mr Markus WIECHEL

Switzerland / Suisse

Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ

GROUP IV / GROUPE IV

Albania / Albanie

Ms Blerina GJYLAMETI

Andorra / Andorre

Ms Bernadeta COMA

San Marino / Saint-Marin

Mr Marco NICOLINI

Slovenia / Slovénie

Ms Tamara VONTA

Appendix 2 – Terms of reference of the General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in Sport

Denomination: General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in Sport

Term of office: one year renewable, subject to a maximum of two years

Subject: it is the duty of the General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in Sport to consider and intervene on issues relating to sport policies, sport governance and the role of sport as a vector of values and a factor in social cohesion and peace keeping.

Responsibilities:

The role of the General Rapporteur is to:

  • follow activities of other Assembly committees and liaise with rapporteurs dealing with sport matters from other perspectives such as: human rights and fundamental freedoms in general, gender equality and non-discrimination, protection of vulnerable groups, fight against organised crime, migration and integration, health, social, cultural, economic, technological and environmental impact;
  • ensure sound interaction of committee work in this area with the activities of other committees, seeking possible collaboration and synergies;
  • follow activities and maintain working relations with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) of the Council of Europe and advise the Committee on emerging issues and relevant work of EPAS and the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe;
  • follow activities and maintain working relations with major sports organisations and NGOs in the field of sport;
  • liaise with national parliaments as well as with relevant international, intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary or other organisations;
  • follow up and promote relevant Assembly resolutions and recommendations in his/her domain of work.