Rules of Procedure of the Assembly (December 2025)

64.1. The Assembly may, on the proposal of the Bureau, grant observer status to national parliaments of non-member states of the Council of Europe which meet the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of Statutory Resolution (93) 26 of the Committee of Ministers on observer status. Any requests for observer status shall be referred to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report and to other relevant committees for opinion.

64.2. The Assembly shall specify the number of members of observer delegations. The parliaments concerned are not required to submit credentials to the President of the Assembly. However, they shall submit to the President of the Assembly not less than one week before the opening of the ordinary session a list of members appointed for the whole duration of the session. The delegation shall be composed to ensure a fair representation of the political parties or groups within their parliament. The delegation shall include both women and men among its representatives, and strive to ensure equal representation between women and men.

64.3. Members of such delegations may sit in the Assembly but without the right to vote. They shall have the right to speak with the authorisation of the President of the Assembly.

64.4. Members of observer delegations may participate in committee meetings as provided in Rule 48.5.. They may submit to the committee chairperson proposals concerning the draft agenda of committee meetings and proposals for amendments to draft texts examined in these meetings. The committee chairperson shall decide on any further action. They may sign motions for resolutions and recommendations and written declarations. However, they shall not be taken into account for the number of signatures required. Members of observer delegations may participate in the work of political groups according to the conditions established by the groups.

64.5. The President of the Assembly may invite representatives of parliaments of other non-member states to attend a debate in the Assembly.