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Increasing members’ active participation in and contribution to the work of the Parliamentary Assembly and its committees

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 15518 | 02 May 2022

Signatories:
Mr Pere LÓPEZ, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Margreet De BOER, Netherlands, SOC ; Ms Mònica BONELL, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Marina CAROBBIO GUSCETTI, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Jeremy CORBYN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Heike ENGELHARDT, Germany, SOC ; Ms María FERNÁNDEZ, Spain, SOC ; Lord George FOULKES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Mr Antón GÓMEZ-REINO, Spain, UEL ; Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES, Spain, SOC ; Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Carmen LEYTE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Sir Tony LLOYD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jacques MAIRE, France, ALDE ; Ms Ada MARRA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Carles NAUDI, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Esther PEÑA, Spain, SOC ; Mr Paulo PISCO, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Roberto RAMPI, Italy, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Ms Elena-Simona SPĂTARU, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Petra STIENEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Ms Susana SUMELZO, Spain, SOC

During the pandemic, the Parliamentary Assembly was the first Council of Europe institution to resume full-fledged activity, thanks to the rapid adaptation of its Rules of Procedure and working methods to new realities, as well as the use of new IT technologies.

On the negative side, new members who joined the Assembly as a result of renewal of national delegations and / or parliamentary elections during the pandemic, had limited opportunities to learn and experiment with the Assembly’s practices and working methods. As the Assembly is gradually returning to normal functioning, it is necessary to adapt its Rules and working methods to give more possibilities to its members to contribute to and actively participate in its activities, as well as reinforcing Assembly’s transparency.

Therefore, the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs should study the possibility of introducing the following changes to the Rules:

  • limiting to 3 the maximum number of rapporteurships that one member can take on;
  • consider whether it is relevant and appropriate to limit the possibility for committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons to take up reports during their term of office;
  • consider establishing mechanisms and rules to enhance co-operation between committees involved in the preparation of reports and opinions at the same time;
  • consider and propose any other mechanisms and adaptations to the Rules that could be introduced in order to increase the contribution and participation of members in the work of the Assembly.