Review of arrangements under the Rules of Procedure for special guests (Rule 55 a) and parliamentary observers (Rule 55)

Resolution 949 (1990)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 28 September (11th Sitting) (see Doc. 6279, progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee, Rapporteur : Sir Geoffrey Finsberg). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 September 1990 (11th Sitting).

1. In Resolution 920 (1989) adopted on 5 July 1989, the Assembly decided ‘‘to reconsider in one year's time'' the provisions regarding special guest status.

2. On the basis of proposals made by the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries the Committee on Rules of Procedure prepared amendments to the provisions contained in Rule 55 a.

3. However, having regard to the principle that special guests should not have greater rights than observers, it is necessary to adjust the provisions of Rule 55, paragraph 1.

4. Consequently, the Assembly decides :

a to amend Rule 55 a as follows :

4.1.1 to add the following sentence at the end of paragraph 5 : ‘‘It shall be the same (without substitutes) as if the special guest country were a full member of the Council of Europe.'' ;

4.1.2 to replace the second and third sentences of paragraph 6 by the following text : ‘‘They shall have the right to speak with the authorisation of the President of the Assembly. Special guest delegations may appoint representatives to committees, with the exception of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme. However, Committees may decide to meet in private. This shall be clearly stated in the convening notice for the relevant meeting.'' ;

b to amend Rule 55 as follows : to replace paragraph 2 by the following text : ‘‘2. Such observers shall sit in the Assembly without the right to speak, except with the authorisation of the President of the Assembly. They may take part in committee meetings, unless the convening notice for a meeting specifies that it shall be held in private. Meetings of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and of the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme shall not be open to observers.''