Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (25 June-3 October 2011)
Progress report
| Doc. 12732 Part. I
| 01 October 2011
- Author(s):
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Dick MARTY,
Switzerland, ALDE
1 Introduction
1. On 24 June 2011, the Bureau appointed me rapporteur
for this report. Since the last part-session of the Assembly, the
Bureau has met in Caserta (Italy) on 5 September 2011. The Standing
Committee has not met during the period covered by this report.
2. In line with my predecessors, this progress report covers
the period outside of Assembly sessions, leaving aside the decisions
which have already been ratified by the Assembly. Thus, the first
part of this report presents the Bureau’s activities since the part-session
of June 2011 and up until the October 2011 part-session, that is
to say, essentially the meeting of 5 September 2011.
3. The Bureau will hold its next meetings on Monday 3 October
2011 at 8 a.m. and Friday 7 October 2011 at 8.30 am (in Strasbourg,
4th part-session), then on 24 November 2011 in Edinburgh following
an invitation by the United Kingdom delegation. Further to that
same invitation, the next meeting of the Standing Committee will
also be held in Edinburgh (United Kingdom) on 25 November 2011.
2 Activities
of the Bureau since the last part-session
2.1 Election of the
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
4. The term in office of the present Commissioner for
Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, will come to an end on 31 March
2012. Further to the adoption by the Ministers’ Deputies on 29 June
of the timetable for the preparation of the list of candidates,
the deadline for the submission of candidates has been set for 31 October
2011. According to practice and to
Order 547 (1999) of the Parliamentary Assembly, the Bureau has taken
note of the calendar for the election of the Council of Europe Commissioner
for Human Rights and asked the Assembly’s Committee on Legal Affairs
and Human Rights to organise the interviews of candidates for the
post of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in time
for the Assembly’s first part-session of 2012, preferably in December
2011. The sub-committee on human rights of the Committee on Legal
Affairs and Human Rights will meet for this purpose on 13 December
2011 in Paris.
2.2 Ad hoc committees
of the Bureau for the observation of elections and referenda
2.2.1 Election of a Constituent
National Assembly of Tunisia
5. This election will take place on 23 October 2011.
The Bureau decided, at its meeting on 26 May 2011 in Kyiv, to observe
this election and constituted an ad hoc committee to observe these
elections, composed of 20 members in accordance with the D’Hondt
system (EPP/CD: 7, SOC: 6; EDG: 3, ALDE: 3, UEL: 1). The Bureau
also authorised a pre-electoral mission composed of five members,
one from each group, who are also members of the ad hoc committee.
This pre-electoral mission took place from 14-17 September 2011
(see press release in Appendix I)
2.2.2 Meeting of the
Chairpersons of Ad Hoc Committees for the observation of elections,
Strasbourg, 4th part-session 2011
6. Further to various requests from chairpersons of
ad hoc committees of the Bureau for the observation of elections
to discuss the organisation of election observation by the Assembly,
the Bureau decided that this meeting would be held in Strasbourg
on 4 October 2011 at 6pm in Room 5 during the part-Session of October 2011.
Participants would include chairpersons as well as members of ad
hoc committees in recent years.
2.2.3 Parliamentary elections
in Turkey (12 June 2011)
7. Mrs Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE) presented the written
report
Note of the ad hoc committee which observed these
elections to the Bureau on 5 September 2011. The Bureau approved
this report which will be submitted to the Assembly in the framework
of the present progress report of the Bureau on 3 October 2011.
2.2.4 Presidential election
in the Kyrgyz Republic (30 October 2011)
8. The Assembly received an invitation from the Central
Electoral Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic to observe the presidential
election which will take place on 30 October 2011. The Bureau decided
to observe this election and constituted an ad hoc committee for
this purpose, composed of 5 members, one from each political group.
2.2.5 Parliamentary elections
in Morocco (25 November 2011)
9. Parliamentary elections in Morocco have been scheduled
for the 25 November 2011. In the framework of the Partnership for
Democracy and subject to the receipt of an invitation, the Bureau
decided to observe these elections and to constitute an ad hoc Committee
for this purpose composed of 20 members, in accordance with the
D’Hondt system (EPP/CD: 7, SOC: 6; EDG: 3, ALDE: 3, UEL: 1) and
to authorise a pre-electoral mission of 5 members (one from each
political group) approximately one month ahead of the elections.
2.2.6 Parliamentary elections
in the Russian Federation (4 December 2011)
10. The Assembly received an invitation from the Central
Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation to observe the elections
which will take place in the Russian Federation on 4 December 2011.
The Bureau decided to observe these elections and constituted an
ad hoc Committee for this purpose composed of 40 members, in accordance
with the D’Hondt system (EPP/CD: 13, SOC: 12; EDG: 7, ALDE: 6, UEL:
2). The Bureau also authorised a pre-electoral mission of 5 members
(one from each political group) approximately one month ahead of
the elections. This mission will take place from 9-11 November 2011
(date to be confirmed).
2.2.7 Parliamentary elections
in Egypt (date to be confirmed)
11. The Bureau invited the President to convey to the
competent authorities in Egypt the Assembly’s interest to observe
these elections.
2.3 Issues raised by
committees
2.3.1 Committee on Rules
of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
12. The Bureau endorsed the proposals made in the information
memorandum on “Freedom of access and movement for Parliamentary
Assembly members in Council of Europe member states”.
Note
13. The Bureau decided to propose to the Assembly that its committees
do not hold any meetings for a period of two years in member states
which fail to honour their commitments vis-à-vis the freedom of
movement of its members, particularly in connection with the issue
of visas to Assembly members wishing to attend meetings or visit
the country in question as a member of the Assembly travelling on
Assembly business.
The Assembly is invited to ratify this decision.
14. Furthermore, the Bureau reminded Assembly committees
that in such a context, they have the possibility to cancel a meeting
themselves.
2.3.2 Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men
15. The Bureau took note that Ms Theresa May, Home Secretary
and Minister for Women and Equalities of the United Kingdom, be
invited to address the Standing Committee, at its meeting in Edinburgh
on 25 November 2011, in the context of the debates on “Psychological
violence” and “European norms concerning the enforcement and supervision
of restraining orders in case of gender-based violence”.
2.3.3 Political Affairs
Committee
16. On 5 September 2011, the Bureau authorised the visit
by Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) to Egypt, in the framework of his
report on ”Co-operation between the Council of Europe and emerging
democracies in the Arab World” and by Mr Vrettos (Greece, SOC) in
the framework of his report on “the Situation in the Middle East”.
2.4 References and
transmissions to committees
17. On 5 September 2011, the Bureau approved the following
references, subject to ratification by the Assembly:
- Doc. 12652, Gender equality and the status of women in the Council
of Europe southern neighbourhood, motion for a recommendation presented
by Ms Bergamini and others, to the Committee on Equal Opportunities
for Women and Men for report
- Doc. 12654, Parental leave as a way to foster gender equality,
motion for a resolution presented by Mr Rigoni and others, to the
Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for report and to the Social, Health
and Family Affairs Committee for opinion
- Doc. 12655, Support for a European sign language dictionary on
the Internet, motion for a recommendation presented by Ms de Pourbaix-Lundin
and others, to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee for information
- Doc. 12657, The promotion of active citizenship in Europe, motion
for a resolution presented by the Earl of Dundee and others, to
the Political Affairs Committee for report
- Doc. 12659, Promoting alternatives to imprisonment, motion for
a resolution presented by Mr Gardetto and others, to the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
report
- Doc. 12661, Counteraction to manifestations of neo-nazism and xenophobia,
motion for a resolution presented by Mr Kosachev and others, to
the Political Affairs Committee for report
The Assembly is invited to ratify these references.
2.5 Requests for extension
of references
18. On 5 September 2011, the Bureau approved the following
extensions
- Doc. 11982, Population transfer as a human rights violation, motion
for a resolution presented by Mr Lotman and others, Ref. 3604 of
2 October 2009 – Validity: 2 October 2011, extension until 31 March 2012
- Doc. 11903, The inadmissibility of restrictions on freedom of movement
as punishment for political positions, motion for a resolution presented
by Mr Gross and others, Ref. 3620 of 20 November 2009 – Validity:
20 November 2011, extension until 31 March 2012
- Doc. 11976, Ad hoc judges: a problem for the legitimacy of the
European Court of Human Rights, motion for a resolution presented
by Mrs Bemelmans-Videc and others, Ref. 3600 of 2 October 2009 –
validity: 2 October 2011, extension until 30 November 2011
2.6 Other business
19. The Bureau approved the declaration of the Bureau
of the Parliamentary Assembly for the international day of democracy
on 15 September 2011. The declaration appears in Appendix IV.
20. With regard to the Forum for the Future of Democracy (Cyprus,
13-14 October 2011), the Bureau took note of the programme and decided
to invite Maghreb Parliaments to participate in the Forum.
21. Further to the receipt of an invitation to the international
conference “Women as drivers of change
in the Mediterranean” Rome,
24 and 25 October 2011, the Bureau decided to accept this invitation
and to constitute an ad hoc Committee of the Bureau composed of
up to three members of the three following Committees – the Committee
on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, the Committee on Culture,
Science and Education and the Political Affairs Committee – to participate
in the meeting.
22. Exceptionally, in the framework of the appointment of Assembly
representatives for official visits, the Bureau wished to remind
members that visiting a country they can only speak on behalf of
the Assembly after having been appointed by the Bureau or a committee
to an official visit to this country. The Bureau also approved the
proposals for appointments as set out in Appendix II. Moreover,
the Bureau authorised the meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg
or Paris as set out in Appendix III.
Appendix 1 – Press release
Tunisia:
Statement by the pre-electoral delegation of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly
Ref. PACE 074 (2011)
Strasbourg, 16.09.2011 – A delegation from the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has made a pre-electoral
visit to Tunis to evaluate the electoral campaign prior to elections
to Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly on 23 October 2011. The
delegation met Mouldi Kefi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ridha Bellhadj,
Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, Yadh Ben Achour, President
of the Higher Political Reform Commission, the leaders of the main
political parties taking part in the elections, the Secretary General
of the Higher Independent Body for Elections, as well as representatives
of the international community and non-governmental organisations.
The pre-electoral delegation notes with satisfaction that
the Tunisian authorities have swiftly devised a legal framework
for organising pluralist elections and, in this respect, it encourages
them to step up cooperation with the Council of Europe’s Venice
Commission. The effective and transparent functioning of electoral administration
is a decisive factor in guaranteeing the democratic nature of the
entire electoral process and strengthening the confidence of political
players and citizens in the elections.
Democratic elections mean more than the proper running of
the ballot itself. The delegation has been informed of the delay
in drawing up voter lists, concerns over the organisation of voting
for Tunisian citizens living abroad and the possible risk of tensions
during the electoral campaign. In this connection, the Parliamentary
Assembly delegation calls on the country’s political leaders to
refrain from any aggressive rhetoric, pressure or actions contrary
to European standards for fair and democratic elections and to comply
with the Code of good practice in the field of political parties.
The pre-electoral delegation welcomes the diversity of media
in the country and hopes that coverage of the election campaign
will be balanced and detached from political leanings. Concerning
the funding of political parties, the delegation considers that
current legislation must be applied in good faith.
The pre-electoral delegation welcomes the willingness of the
Tunisian authorities to allow a large number of national and international
observers to monitor the National Constituent Assembly elections.
It considers that the role of international observers is to make
the international community’s experience available to Tunisian society
and monitor the proper running of the elections, but in no circumstances
to interfere in the electoral process or lecture on how elections
should be held.
The elections of 23 October will be the first free elections
since Tunisia’s independence in 1956. In this connection, the pre-electoral
delegation wishes to underline the crucial importance of democratically
electing a National Constituent Assembly to ensure the legitimacy
of its power. That legitimacy is absolutely vital for forming the
institutions of a democratic and functional State so that the efforts
of the public authorities may then focus on resolving the urgent
problems facing the citizens of Tunisia.
The pre-electoral delegation praises the considerable efforts
made by the Commission chaired by Mr Yadh Ben Achour and the agreement
signed on 15 September by the leaders of 11 political parties with
a view to guaranteeing a democratic transition of power after the
elections of 23 October 2011.
The Parliamentary Assembly will send a 20-member delegation
to observe the elections to the National Constituent Assembly on
23 October 2011.
Pre-electoral
delegation members:
- Andreas Gross (Switerland,
SOC), Head of delegation
- Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD)
- Christophe Chope (United Kingdom, EDG)
- Anne Brasseur (UEL, France)
Appendix 2 – Appointments
of Assembly Representatives for official activities
The Bureau approved the following appointments:
a Mr Schneider (France, EPP/CD):
Enter! Youth Meeting, Strasbourg, 15 September 2011;
b Ms Lundgren (Sweden, ALDE): International Conference on
“The Council of Europe – the European Union Facing the challenges
of the modern world”, Warsaw, 15 September 2011;
c Mr Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD): Conference on the Prevention
as part of human rights’ protection mechanism organised within the
framework of the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe, Kyiv, 20-21 September 2011
d The Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights, subject to his availability: Round table on the role
of the supreme Court in the protection of human rights at national
level, Kyiv, 22 September 2011
e Sir Alan Meale (United Kingdom, SOC), Summit of Mayors
on Roma, Strasbourg, 22 September 2011
f Mr Volontè (Italy, EPP/CD): 2011 OSCE Human Dimension
Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, 26 September – 7 October 2011 (at
no cost for the Assembly)
g Mr Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD): OSCE PA’s Fall Meetings,
Dubrovnik (Croatia), 7-10 October 2011 (at no cost for the Assembly)
h Mr Preda (Romania, EPP/CD): 57th Annual Session of the
NATO PA, Bucharest, 7-10 October 2011.
Appendix 3 – Meetings elsewhere
than in Strasbourg and Paris
a Sub-Committee
on Sustainable Development (of the Committee on the Environment,
Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs): Kyiv, 19 September
2011;
b Sub-Committee of the Europe Prize (of the Committee on
the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs): Landerneau
(France), 15 October 2011;
c Sub-Committee on Crime Problems and the Fight against
Terrorism (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights):
Belgrade, 28 October 2011;
d Sub-Committee on Children (of the Committee on Social,
Health and Family Affairs): Monaco, 20-21 November 2011.
Appendix 4 – International
Day of Democracy, 15 September 2011
Statement
by the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The celebration of the International Day of Democracy takes
on a very special meaning this year at a time when movements of
popular protest have broken out in the Arab world, bringing changes
both spectacular and unexpected. The protagonists of the “Arab Spring”,
who have forged rapid links via the social networks and Internet,
want democratic change founded on trust and transparency: they aspire
to dignity, freedom, social justice and respect for human rights
in a law-based state. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe salutes the courage and supports the commitment of the
emerging pro-democracy movements in the Arab states which still
display a great diversity of situations.
This support must now be accompanied by strong actions and
signals. The Council of Europe and its member states must seize
this opportunity to involve themselves tangibly and aid the transition
to democracy in the Arab world. Reaffirming its commitment to a
cohesive Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe would
turn to account its experience of assistance to countries in transition
and of election monitoring. The Parliamentary Assembly offers the
parliaments of non-member states in the neighbourhood “Partner for Democracy
status”, which the Parliament of Morocco already gained in June
this year, while the Palestinian National Council’s accession to
it is in progress. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe is more determined than ever to pursue this innovative process
of democratic partnership.
