Special
rules on honorary status
ii.Special rules on the title and prerogatives
of Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe
adopted
by the Bureau of the Assembly on 25 January 1999 and amended
by the Bureau on 22 May 2014 and
by Resolution 2182 (2017)
The regulations for Honorary President
of the Parliamentary Assembly follow, mutatis mutandis,
those of the Honorary Associates of the Parliamentary Assembly and
similar provisions existing in national parliaments and international
parliamentary assemblies.
The decision to grant the title of
Honorary President falls within the competence of the Bureau of
the Assembly.
1. Conditions for
conferring the title of Honorary President of the Parliamentary
Assembly
Those who may be considered for this
title are any former President of the Assembly who exercised the
functions of President for at least one term (one year).
The Honorary President will be given
a diploma mentioning this title.
2. Prerogatives linked
to the quality of Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly
a. The Honorary President
can use this title in all activities of a public character such as
publication of articles and books, lectures;
b. the Honorary President
can be invited to specific events organised by the Assembly or its
committees, upon the initiative of those responsible for the event;
c. the Committee
on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
can appoint the Honorary President to
present Flags of Honour and Plaques of Honour to award-winning municipalities;
d. the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe can grant the Honorary President
all facilities of an administrative kind compatible with existing
regulations.
3. When awarded the title of
Honorary President, the former President of the Assembly shall sign
a sworn declaration stating that he or she is not involved in representing
or fostering another person’s or entity’s interests in the Assembly.
The Honorary President shall be stripped of the title if he or she
failed to declare any relevant interests or made an untruthful declaration.
4. The above provisions
are applicable to former Presidents of the Assembly provided they are
no longer a member of the Parliamentary Assembly.
5. These special
rules shall not have any financial implications for the budget of
the Parliamentary Assembly, the only exception being expenses under
paragraph 2.c above.
