Special guests, observers, partners
for democracy and other
guests
Rule 65Partners for democracy
65.1. The Assembly may grant partner
for democracy status to national parliaments of non-member states
of the Council of Europe in neighbouring regions, which meet the
conditions set out in Rule 65.2.
and
any specific conditions which the Assembly may lay down.
65.2. Any formal
request for partner for democracy status shall be addressed to the
President of the Parliamentary Assembly by the president or speaker
of the parliament concerned. This request shall contain the following
elements:
- an explicit
reference to the aspiration of the said parliament to embrace the
values of the Council of Europe, which are pluralist and gender
parity-based democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms;
- a commitment to act to abolish
the death penalty and to encourage the competent authorities to
introduce a moratorium on executions;
- a statement on the intention
of the parliament to make use of the Assembly’s experience, as well
as the expertise of the European Commission for Democracy through Law
(Venice Commission), in its institutional and legislative work;
- a commitment to organise free
and fair elections in compliance with relevant international standards;
- a commitment to encourage
balanced participation of women and men in public and political
life;
- a commitment to encourage
the competent authorities to become party to the relevant Council
of Europe conventions and partial agreements which are open for
signature and ratification by non-member states, in particular those
dealing with human rights, rule of law and democracy issues;
- an obligation to inform the
Assembly regularly on the state of progress in implementing Council
of Europe principles.
65.3. The Assembly shall specify
the number of members of a partner for democracy delegation.
65.4. A parliament
with partner for democracy status shall transmit to the President
of the Parliamentary Assembly not less than one week before the
opening of the session the list of the delegation members appointed
for the duration of the entire 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.
65.5. Members
of delegations with partner for democracy status 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.
65.6. Members
of delegations with partner for democracy status 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 (except those under Rules 9.2.
and 75
) and written declarations. However,
they shall not be taken into account for the number of signatures
required. Members of such delegations may participate in the work
of political groups according to the conditions established by the
groups. Their names shall be published on the website and in the
Assembly list after the list of members for each committee, under
the heading ‘partners for democracy’.
65.7. On a proposal by the Committee on Political Affairs
and Democracy, the Bureau may decide to grant some additional rights
to partner for democracy delegations which have shown outstanding
results in achieving the goals of the partnership and participate
fully in the work of the Assembly. The decision of the Bureau shall
be ratified by the Assembly at the beginning of a new session (in
January) and shall be valid for the duration of the session (one
year), with the possibility or not of extension at each following
session depending on the results and according to the same procedure.
Such additional rights for the delegations and their members may
include:
65.7.a. the right to table motions
for recommendations and resolutions, subject to co-signature by
a member of the Assembly, with both names appearing as authors of
the motion;
65.7.b. the right to table amendments,
subject to co-signature by a member of the Assembly, with both names
appearing as authors of the amendment;
65.7.c. the right to request current
affairs debates and to be chosen to open such debates. If such a
request is made by an individual member of a partner for democracy
delegation, it should be subject to co-signature by a member of
the Assembly, with both names appearing as authors of the request,
and to having the support of 19 more members of the Assembly. If
a request is made by a partner for democracy delegation, it should
be supported by a political group, a national delegation or a committee,
as provided by Rule 54.2;
65.7.d. the right to table written
declarations, subject to co-signature by a member of the Assembly,
with both names appearing as authors of the written declaration;
65.7.e. the right to be appointed
as rapporteur for information reports which do not contain a draft
resolution and/or recommendation.
65.8. The
decision to grant, suspend or withdraw partner for democracy status
shall be taken by a resolution of the Assembly following a report
by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, with an opinion
by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and an opinion
by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination and, where appropriate,
an opinion by any other relevant Assembly committee. These committees,
in the fields within their specific terms of reference, review the
progress achieved in fulfilling the undertakings made by the parliaments
concerned when they requested this status.
