Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (18 April-23 June 2008)
Progress report
| Doc. 11652
| 21 June 2008
- Committee
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Boris ZALA,
Slovak Republic
- Thesaurus
Part
I
A. Introduction
1. The Bureau met on 18 April in Strasbourg and on 29
May in Stockholm. The Standing Committee met on 29 May in Stockholm.
B. Functioning of the Assembly
I. Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly
and of the Standing Committee (18 April 2008-23 June 2008)
2. On 18 April, the Bureau appointed Mr Zala (Slovakia,
SOC) as rapporteur.
II. Third part of the 2008 Ordinary Session (Strasbourg,
23-27 June 2008)
i. List of reports
3. On 18 April, the Bureau took note of the list of
reports.
ii. Draft agenda
4. On 18 April, the Bureau:
a decided to hold a general policy debate on the political
situation in China on the eve of the Olympic Games and asked the
Political Affairs Committee to draw up the report that would serve
as a basis for the debate;
b decided to add the report on empowering women in a modern,
multicultural society to the agenda of the part-session and to invite
Mrs Inés Alberdi, Executive Director of the United Nations Development
Fund for Women (UNIFEM), to address the Assembly in this context;
c decided to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address
the Assembly;
d took note of the personalities who would be invited to
speak during the debate on the state of democracy in Europe;
e drew up a preliminary draft agenda for the part-session.
5. On 29 May, the Bureau updated the draft agenda of the part-session.
iii. Requests for debate under urgent procedure
6. On 29 May, the Bureau:
a took note of a request for a debate under urgent procedure,
submitted by the five chairpersons of the Assembly’s political groups
on behalf of their groups, on “the functioning of democratic institutions
in Turkey”; decided to recommend that the Assembly hold this debate;
and proposed to refer this matter to the Monitoring Committee for
report;
b took note that the Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee
would request, on behalf of the committee, the holding of a debate
under urgent procedure on “the functioning of democratic institutions
in Armenia”, if the corapporteurs, following their visit to Armenia
on 16 and 17 June 2008, concluded that insufficient progress had
been achieved by then as regards the implementation of the proposals
made by the Assembly in its
Resolution
1609 (2008) on the functioning of democratic institutions
in Armenia.
III. Standing Committee (Stockholm, 29 May 2008)
7. On 18 April, the Bureau:
a took note of the draft agenda for the meeting, as well
as the programme;
b decided to invite a representative of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary
Conference to participate in particular in the debate on chemical
munitions buried in the Baltic Sea.
8. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of the updated draft agenda.
9. On 29 May, the Standing Committee:
a heard a welcome address by Mr Per Westerberg, Speaker
of the Riksdag;
b held an exchange of views with Mrs Cecilia Malmström,
Minister for EU Affairs of Sweden;
c held an exchange of views with Mr Erkki Tuomioja, President
of the Nordic Council;
d ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly
submitted by the delegation of Armenia;
e ratified the changes in the composition of Assembly committees
in respect of the delegation of Armenia;
f heard a communication by the Secretary General of the
Council of Europe.
IV. Adopted texts
10. On 29 May, the Standing Committee adopted, on behalf
of the Parliamentary Assembly, the following texts:
V. References and transmissions to committees
11. On 18 April, the Bureau approved the following references
and modifications of references, which were ratified by the Assembly
later that day:
i. References to committees
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs BemelmansVidec and
others
Candidates for the European Court of Human Rights, to the
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report,
and to the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, for opinion
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Kosachev and others
75th anniversary of mass famine in the territory of the former
USSR, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report,
and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for opinion
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Hancock and others
Promoting dialogue between the Council of Europe and its neighbour,
China, on social values and working conditions, postponed its decision
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Marquet and others
Preventive health care policies in the Council of Europe member
states, to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, for report
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Roseira and others
Towards a new social vision for 21st century Europe – report
of the High Level Task Force on Social Cohesion, to the Social,
Health and Family Affairs Committee, for
report
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Lambert and others
The situation of abandoned and disabled children in Bulgaria,
to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, for information
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Huss and others
Noise and light pollution: serious risks for the environment,
to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs, for report at the Standing Committee
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Dorić and others
Towards a strategy on innovation and good governance at local
level, to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local
and Regional Affairs, for information
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Margelov and others
Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia in Europe, postponed its
decision
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Margelov and others
Prospects for co-operation between the Council of Europe and
Israel, to the Political Affairs Committee, to
take it into account in the framework of the report on the situation
in the Middle East.
ii. Modification of a reference
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Evans and others
Growing food or fuel?
Reference No. 3398 of 21 January 2008, to the Committee on
the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for report, and to the Committee
on Economic Affairs and Development, for
opinion.
iii. Reply after consultation
Motion for a resolution presented by Lord RussellJohnston
and others
The state of health of Mr Abdullah Öcalan, no further action
Motion for a recommendation presented by Mr Kaikkonen and
others
Changing the name of the Council of Europe, no further action
12. On 29 May, the Standing Committee ratified the following
references and modifications and extensions of references:
i. References to committees
Motion for a resolution presented by Mr Margelov and others
Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia in Europe, to the Committee
on Culture, Science and Education, for
report, and to the Political Affairs Committee, for opinion (to deal with paragraph 3 of the
motion)
Motion for a resolution by Mr Pieter Omtzigt and others
Children without parental care: urgent need for action, to
the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, for report
Motion for a resolution by Ms Carina Ohlsson and others
Children who witness domestic violence, to the Social, Health
and Family Affairs Committee, for report,
and to the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, for opinion
Motion for a resolution by Mrs Christine McCafferty and others
Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Maghreb
in fighting social exclusion, to the Social, Health and Family Affairs
Committee, for report
Motion for a resolution by Mr Konstantin Kosachev and others
Inhumane treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human
organs in Kosovo, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report
Motion for a resolution by Mr Francis Grignon and others
Protecting innovation and consumers in Europe, consultation of the Committee on
Economic Affairs and Development, on
the follow-up to be given
Motion for a resolution by Mr John Prescott and others
The challenges posed by climate change, to the Committee on
the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for report
Motion for a resolution by Mr Bernard Marquet and others
Water: a strategic challenge for the Mediterranean Basin,
to the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional
Affairs, for report
Motion for a resolution by Mr Paul Rowen and others
Human rights and the family division in England and Wales,
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for information
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Bilozir and others
European expatriates: relations to their countries of origin,
to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, for report
ii. Modification of a reference
a. Decision of the Bureau of 17 December 2007 Situation
of democracy in Europe
Reference No. 3413 of 21 January 2008, to the Political Affairs
Committee, for report, and
to the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, for opinion
iii. Extension of a reference
Motion for a resolution presented by Ms Bousakla and others
Abduction and “re-education” of Muslim women and children
who have become too “Western-minded” Reference No. 3200 of 17 March
2006 – Validity:
17 March 2008, extended to 27 June 2008 by Bureau decision
on 21 January 2008, extension until
31 December 2008.
VI. Conferences/forums
i. European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments
(Strasbourg, 22-23 May 2008)
13. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of the conclusions
by the President and authorised their transmission for information and possible action
to the chairpersons of national delegations of the Assembly and
to the committees of the Assembly.
ii. Tripartite Forum on the Situation in the Middle
East (Rhodes, 11-12 June 2008)
14. On 29 May, the Bureau established an ad hoc committee
of the Bureau to participate in the forum composed of the following
members or their representatives: the five chairpersons of the political
groups; the chairpersons of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human
Rights; the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development; the Committee
on Social, Health and Family Affairs; the Committee on Environment,
Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs and the Committee on
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.
VI. Parliamentary Assistance Programmes in 2007
and 2008
15. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of the document submitted
by the Secretariat on this subject.
VIII. Composition of the Monitoring Committee
16. On 18 April, the Bureau approved the designation
of new members proposed by the Socialist Group for ratification
by the Assembly: Mrs Ferić-Vac (Croatia, SOC) and Mr Saar (Estonia,
SOC).
IX. Institutional representation of the Parliamentary
Assembly in 2008
17. On 18 April, the Bureau appointed:
a Mr Wilshire (United Kingdom, EDG),
on behalf of the Monitoring Committee, as a Substitute to represent the
Assembly at the Council for Democratic Elections of the Venice Commission;
b Mrs Melo (Portugal, SOC) and Mrs Papadopoulos (Cyprus,
ALDE), on behalf of, respectively, the Committee on Culture, Science
and Education and the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development,
as Substitutes to represent the Assembly at the Executive Council
of the North-South Centre.
X. Appointments of Assembly representatives for
official activities
18. On 18 April, the Bureau appointed Mr Biberaj (Albania,
EPP/CD) to participate in the Crans Montana Forum to be held in
Tirana (Albania) from 15 to 17 May 2008 (at no cost to the Assembly).
19. On 29 May, in reply to formal invitations, the Bureau took
the following decisions:
a Mr Vrettos
(Greece, SOC): Parliamentary Summit and 31st Plenary Session of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(PABSEC), Athens (Greece), 9-11 June 2008;
b Mr Wille (Belgium, ALDE): Closing conference of the Council
of Europe “Campaign to Combat Domestic Violence against Women, including
Domestic Violence”, Strasbourg, 10-11 June 2008;
c Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD): 17th Annual Session of the
OSCE, Astana (Kazakhstan), 29 June3 July 2008;
d Mr Lindblad (Sweden, EPP/CD), Mr Gross (Switzerland, SOC)
and Mr McIntosh (United Kingdom, SOC): 3rd Summer University for
Democracy of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 30 June-4 July 2008;
e Mrs McCafferty (United Kingdom, SOC): G8 International
Parliamentarians’ Conference on Population and Sustainable Development,
Tokyo (Japan), 2-3 July 2008 (at no cost to the Assembly).
XI. Visits by rapporteurs
20. On 29 May, the Bureau:
- authorised Mr Margelov, Rapporteur of the Political Affairs
Committee on the “Situation in the Middle East” to carry out a fact-finding
visit to the Middle East (Israel, Palestinian Territories and Jordan)
from 16 to 20 June 2008 in the framework of the preparation of his
report;
- authorised Mrs Papadopoulos, Rapporteur of the Committee
on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men on “Abduction and illegal
confinement of women and girls in the name of practices contrary
to human rights” to carry out a fact-finding visit to Morocco in
the framework of the preparation of her report.
XII. Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg or
Paris
21. On 18 April, the Bureau authorised the following
meetings:
- Monitoring Committee:
Kyiv (Ukraine), 26-28 May 2008;
- Ad hoc sub-committee of the Committee on Culture, Science
and Education, composed of one member from each political group,
in order to participate in the conference on the democratisation
of media in Belarus: Warsaw (Poland), 6-7 June 2008.
22. On 29 May, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
a Sub-Committee on International
Economic Relations (of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development):
Washington, DC (United States of America), 1-3 July 2008;
b Committee on Culture, Science and Education: Warsaw (Poland),
1-3 September 2008;
c Sub-Committee on Migration (of the Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Population): Kyiv (Ukraine), 4-5 September 2008.
C. Relations with other bodies of the Council
of Europe
I. Committee of Ministers
i. Meeting of the Joint Committee (Thursday, 26
June 2008)
23. On 29 May, the Bureau agreed to include the following
items on the agenda of the next meeting of the Joint Committee on
Thursday 26 June 2008 at 6.30 p.m.:
a the
Council of Europe and the situation in SouthEastern Europe;
b the Council of Europe and the situation in the South Caucasus
region;
c the European Court of Human Rights: current and future
developments;
d possibly: any matter arising from the Assembly’s June
2008 part-session.
II. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
24. On 18 April, the Bureau drew up the list of candidates
with regard to Poland on the basis of the order of preference recommended
by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights as endorsed by the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights:
a Mrs Marzena
Ksel;
b Mr Zbigniew Holda;
c Mr Adam Laptas.
III. North-South Centre
25. On 29 May, the Bureau decided to put forward the
candidature of the following personalities for the NorthSouth prize
of the Council of Europe 2008:
a Her
Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan;
b Mr Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio, United Nations High
Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and former President
of Portugal.
D. Relations with other international organisations
I. Conference of European Regional Legislative
Assemblies (CALRE)
26. On 29 May, the Bureau approved the draft co-operation
agreement between the Assembly and the Conference of European Regional
Legislative Assemblies.
E. Observation of elections
I. Parliamentary elections in Serbia (11 May 2008)
27. On 18 April, the Bureau:
a took note of a letter from the Speaker of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Serbia inviting the Assembly to observe
these elections;
b heard a report by Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), Chairman
of the ad hoc committee for observing these elections, on the pre-electoral
mission which took place on 9 and 10 April 2008.
28. On 29 May, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee
(rapporteur Mr Gardetto, Monaco, EPP/CD).
29. On 29 May, the Standing Committee held an exchange of views
on the observation of the parliamentary elections in Serbia (11
May 2008), and took note of the report of the Bureau ad hoc committee.
II. Parliamentary elections in Georgia (21 May
2008)
30. On 18 April, the Bureau approved the composition
of the ad hoc committee for observing these elections and that of
the pre-electoral delegation; and appointed Mr Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE)
as chairperson.
31. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of the press release issued
after the elections and, in the absence of the rapporteur (Mr Eörsi,
Hungary, ALDE), decided to postpone discussion of this item until
its next meeting.
III. Parliamentary elections in “the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia” (1 June 2008)
32. On 18 April, the Bureau:
a subject to receipt of an invitation, set up an ad hoc
committee for observing these elections composed of 20 members according
to the “d’Hondt” system (7 EPP/CD, 6 SOC, 3 EDG, 3 ALDE and 1 UEL);
b asked the President to appoint the chairperson of the
ad hoc committee.
33. On 29 May, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc
committee and took note that the President had appointed Mr Çavuşoğlu
(Turkey, EDG) as chairperson of the committee.
IV. Meeting of chairpersons of ad hoc committees
for the observation of elections
34. On 29 May, the Bureau decided to call a meeting,
during the June 2008 part-session, of chairpersons of ad hoc committees
for the observation of elections who had held this function during
the period 2006-2008, and open to all members having participated
in the observation of elections.
F. Budgetary matters
35. On 18 April, the Bureau approved the apportionment
of the allocation to the political groups for 2008.
G. Other matters
I. 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe
36. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of a document prepared
by the Secretariat on the Assembly’s participation in the 60th anniversary
celebrations of the Council of Europe and decided to return to this
item at one of its future meetings.
II. Medium-term strategy of the Council of Europe
37. On 18 April, the Bureau held an exchange of views
with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
III. Communications
38. On 29 May, the Bureau took note of communications
by the President of the Assembly, the Secretary General and the
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and the Secretary
General of the Assembly.
Part II
A. Introduction
39. The Bureau met on 23 June in Strasbourg.
B. Functioning of the Assembly
I. Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly
and of the Standing Committee (18 April-23 June 2008)
40. On 23 June, the Bureau approved the Progress report
of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee.
II. Third part of the 2008 Ordinary Session (Strasbourg,
23-27 June 2008)
i. Requests for debates under urgent procedure
41. On 23 June, the Bureau:
a “The functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey”
(submitted by the five chairpersons of the Assembly’s political
groups, on behalf of their groups): confirmed its decision to recommend
that the Assembly hold this debate under urgent procedure and proposed
to refer this matter to the Monitoring Committee for report; and
proposed to modify the title as follows: “The functioning of democratic institutions
in Turkey: recent developments”;
b “Proposed 42 days’ pre-charge detention in the United
Kingdom” (submitted by 20 parliamentarians):
- decided to recommend that the Assembly not hold this debate
under urgent procedure;
- proposed to refer the motion for a resolution on this
matter to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report;
c “Implementation by Armenia of Assembly
Resolution 1609 (2008)”
(submitted by the Monitoring Committee): decided to recommend that
the Assembly hold this debate under urgent procedure and proposed
to refer this matter to the Monitoring Committee, for report.
ii. Draft agenda
42. On 23 June, the Bureau approved the updated draft
agenda and proposed that the Assembly limit the speaking times to
four minutes on Monday 23, Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25 and Thursday
26 June 2008.
iii. Draft agenda of the Joint Committee
43. On 23 June, following the proposals by the Ministers’
Deputies, the Bureau updated the draft agenda.
iv. Meeting of chairpersons of ad hoc committees
for the observation of elections
44. On 23 June, the Bureau decided to postpone this meeting
to the next Assembly part-session.
C. Observation of elections
I. Parliamentary elections in Georgia (21 May
2008)
45. On 23 June, the Bureau approved the report of the
ad hoc committee to observe these elections (rapporteur: Mr Eörsi
(Hungary, ADLE)).
II. Parliamentary elections in “the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia” (1 and 15 June 2008)
46. On 23 June, the Bureau approved the report of the
ad hoc committee to observe these elections (rapporteur: Mr Çavuşoğlu
(Turkey, EDG)).
III. Presidential election in Azerbaijan (15 October
2008)
47. On 23 June, the Bureau:
a subject to receipt of an invitation, decided to observe
these elections;
b decided to set-up an ad hoc committee to observe these
elections composed of 30 members, according to the “d’Hondt” system;
c authorised a pre-electoral mission consisting of five
members – one from each political group who were also members of
the ad hoc committee – on the understanding that it should take
place approximately one month ahead of the elections.
Appendix – References and transmissions to committees
On 23 June, the Bureau approved the following
references and modifications of references, subject to ratification
by the Assembly:
i. References to committees
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Sasi and others
The future of the European Centre for Global Interdependence
and Solidarity (North-South Centre), to the Committee on Economic
Affairs and Development, for report,
and to the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, for opinion
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Marquet and others
The fight against harm to the environment in the Mediterranean,
to the Committee on the Environment,
Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for report
Motion for a resolution by Ms Pashayeva and others
The gravest security threat to South Caucasus, postponed its
decision
Motion for a resolution by Mr Wilshire and others
External interference in internal political processes, no
further action
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Wille and others
Protecting financial aid granted by Council of Europe member
countries to poor countries against the financial funds known as
“vulture funds”, postponed its decision
Motion for a resolution by Mr Jakavonis and others
Rural tourism and the environment, to the Committee on the
Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for information
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Adonts and others
Regional co-operation, to the Political Affairs Committee, for report, and to the Committee
on the Environment,
Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for opinion
Motion for a resolution by Mr Mota Amaral and others
Promoting parliamentary diplomacy, to the Political Affairs
Committee, for report
Motion for a resolution by Mr Cubreacov and others
Difficult cultural situation of the Istro-Romanian minority
particularly threatened, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human
Rights, to take it into account in the
preparation of the report on the European Charter for Regional or
Minority Languages (Doc. 11480,
Reference No. 3406)
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Melčák and others
Cyclic use of raw materials from products, to the Committee
on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs, for information
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Vrettos and others
Wealth, welfare and well-being: how to reconcile them in a
changing Europe?, postponed its decision
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Zernovski and others Integration
of refugees, displaced persons and returnees in South-East Europe,
to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, for information (the Assembly adopted Recommendation 1802 (2007) on
the situation of longstanding refugees and displaced persons in
SouthEastern Europe)
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Dorić and others
The obligation of member states of the Council of Europe to
co-operate in prosecution of war crimes, consultation of the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, on
a possible follow-up
Motion for a resolution by Mr Petrenco and others
On non-recognition by Romania of the Moldovans’ right to national
identity, postponed until the holding of the elections in Moldova
Motion for a resolution by Ms Hajiyeva and others
The demographic future of Europe and migration, to the Committee
on Migration, Refugees and Population, for
report
Motion for a recommendation by Ms Jonker and others
Unaccompanied minors in Europe: issues of arrival, stay and
return, to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, for report, and to the Social, Health
and Family Affairs Committee, for opinion
Motion for a resolution by Mr Van den Brande and others
On the compliance of the International Court of Justice decision
in the Avena case, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report
Motion for a recommendation by Mr Wille and others
The wage gap between women and men, postponed its decision
Request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers
Draft Council of Europe convention on access to official documents,
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report
ii. Modification of references
Motion for a resolution by Mr Jurgens and others
Legal remedies for human rights violations in the North Caucasus
Region, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report, provided that the report
is adopted in time for the Monitoring Committee to have it at its
disposal before adopting its report on the honouring of obligations
and commitments by the Russian Federation
iii. Extension of references
Motion for a resolution presented by Mrs Vermot-Mangold and
others
Feminicides, Reference No. 3204 of 17 March 2006 – Validity:
27 June 2008 (extended on 21 January 2008), extension until 31 December
2008
