Although committees deal in particular with preparing reports, they have great freedom to discuss any matter within their competence when they agree to do so. They organise hearings, colloquies or conferences on particular subjects, the findings of which can then be used for the preparation of reports to the Assembly.
The sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly are divided into four part-sessions, each lasting for about a week at the end of January, in April, at the end of June and the beginning of October.
The sitting in the Chamber is organised by political groups.
According to the Statute of the Council of Europe, the official languages of the Organisation are English and French. However, the Assembly provides interpretation in German and Italian as additional working languages.
The Table Office advises the President and members of the Assembly, the Secretary General of the Assembly and secretaries of delegations and political groups on how best to achieve their objectives within the Rules of Procedure and serves as custodian of these rules.
The Assembly's plenary debates are held in public, while committees meet in private or in camera. The debates are conducted according to the common procedures in national parliaments.
Only members duly designated by the national delegation and who have signed the register of attendance for the specific sitting shall be entitled to vote. The Assembly normally votes by using the electronic voting system.
A two-thirds majority is required, interalia, for the adoption of a draft recommendation or draft opinion to the Committee of Ministers or the adoption of urgent procedure. In respect of a draft resolution, a majority of the votes cast is required.
Rules of Procedure of the Assembly (December 2025), PDF Official version
Annotated Statute of the Council of Europe (April 2022)
Members' Handbook: English, French, German, Italian
Code of conduct for members of the Parliamentary Assembly: see Appendix II of the Rules of Procedure
Whilst it is normal that the Assembly elects its President and Vice-Presidents, it also carries out a series of other elections, a characteristic that reinforces its role as parliamentary organ of the Council of Europe.
The Assembly elects the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe as well as the Secretary General of the Assembly. All three are elected by secret ballot for a period of 5 years.
The Assembly also elects judges to the European Court of Human Rights and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.
Members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment are elected by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from a list of three names drawn up by the Bureau of the Assembly.