Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (28 April – 18 June 2023)
Progress report
| Doc. 15791
| 15 June 2023
- Committee
- Bureau of the Assembly
- Rapporteur :
- Mr Iulian BULAI,
Romania, ALDE
1 Introduction
At its meeting on 28 April 2023, the Bureau appointed me as
rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the
period from the last Bureau meeting of the second part-session of
2023 (Friday 28 April) to the pre-session Bureau meeting of the
third part-session (Monday 19 June 2023).
Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions taken by the Bureau
over the reported period which do not require ratification.
Chapter 3 presents a list of decisions taken by the Bureau
over the reported period which have been already ratified by the
Standing Committee.
An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau
meeting of 19 June, which will include decisions to be ratified
by the Assembly at the opening of the 2023 third part-session. Another
addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 23 June. It
will include only the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on
the same day, notably the references and transmissions to committees
which will have been approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau will hold its next meetings on Thursday 14 September
2023 in Paris, and on Monday 27 November 2023 in Vaduz. The next
meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in Vaduz on 28 November
2023.
2 Activities of
the Bureau since the last part-session and decisions not requiring
ratification by the Assembly
2.1 Follow-up to
the second part-session of 2023 (Strasbourg, 24-28 April)
On 28 April, the Bureau approved the follow-up proposals to
the second part-session, made by the Secretary General of the Assembly,
as follows:
- Debate on #RoadToReykjavik: decided to ask
the rapporteur of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy,
Ms Fiona O’Loughlin (Ireland, ALDE), to continue to follow the matter
- Debate on Russia’s role in
escalating tensions in the Republic of Moldova: decided
to refer the matter to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on The political consequences of the Russian
Federation’s aggression against Ukraine
- Resolution
2492 (2023) Assessing the functioning
of the partnership for democracy: decided to refer the matter
to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs to be taken into account in the preparation of the report
on Modification of various provisions
of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure
- Resolution
2494 (2023) Implementation of judgments
of the European Court of Human Rights: decided to seize
the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report.
2.2 Standing Committee,
Reykjavik, 15 May 2023
On 28 April, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda.
2.3 4th Council of
Europe Heads of State and Government Summit (Reykjavik, 16-17 May
2023)
On 25 May, the Bureau took note of the Declaration adopted
at the 4th Summit by the Heads of State and Government and considered
a draft Declaration on the follow-up to the 4th Summit with a view
to its adoption by the Standing Committee.
2.4 Standing Committee,
Riga, 26 May 2023
On 28 April, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda, and
took note of the requests of the leaders of the five political groups
to hold current affairs debates on The
follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit and on Excluding athletes from Russia and Belarus
from taking part in the Olympics.
On 25 May, it recommended to the Standing Committee to hold
these debates and appointed Ms Fiona O’Loughlin (Ireland, ALDE)
as the first speaker of the debate on The
follow-up to the Reykjavik Summit, and Mr Indrek Saar
(Estonia, SOC) as the first speaker of the debate on Excluding athletes from Russia and Belarus
from taking part in the Olympics. The Bureau updated
the draft agenda.
2.5 Third part-session
of 2023 (Strasbourg, 19-23 June)
On 25 May, the Bureau took note of the requests to hold debates
under urgent procedure on:
- Ensuring free and safe access through the Lachin
Corridor, submitted by the Committee on Migration, Refugees
and Displaced Persons
- Political consequences of the
Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, submitted
by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
- War of aggression against Ukraine
– Participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris
2024 Olympics?, submitted by the leaders of the five
political groups.
It also decided, for the third part-session of 2023 (Strasbourg,
19-23 June), to organise the seating in the hemicycle according
to political groups, and to open the notification of substitutions
by debate,Note and
drew-up the draft agenda.
2.6 Transmission
by the Committee of Ministers for consultation on the application
for membership set out in the letter of 12 May 2022 addressed to
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in line with Statutory
Resolution (51) 30
On 28 April, the Bureau took note of the letter of 24 April
2023 from the President of the Ministers’ Deputies, enclosing the
decision, taken by the Ministers’ Deputies on the same day at their
1464bis meeting under item 2.4 “Application for membership”, to
transmit to the Parliamentary Assembly for consultation the letter
of 12 May 2022 addressed to the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe (document
DD(2022)200), without prejudice to the Committee of Ministers’ future
consideration of this application to accede to the Council of Europe.
On the same day, it decided to refer the issue to the Committee
of Political Affairs and Democracy for report, for the preparation
of the statutory Opinion to the Committee of Ministers on the application
for membership, and to the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human
Rights and the Committee of Equality and Non-Discrimination for
opinion.
It also instructed the President of the Assembly to present
at its next meeting, on 25 May in Riga, proposals for the appointment
by the Bureau, on the same day, of two eminent lawyers who, according
to established practice, will draw up a report for the attention
of the Bureau assessing the conformity of the applicant's legal system
with Council of Europe standards. On 25 May, upon proposals by the
President, the Bureau appointed Ms Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark and
Mr Thomas Markert, as the eminent lawyers.
2.7 Communications
On 28 April, the Bureau took note of the statement by the
President of the Assembly. On 25 May, it took note of the communications
by the President of the Assembly, the Secretary General and the
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and held an exchange
of views with the Secretary General.
2.8 Extension of
references
On 28 April, the Bureau approved the following requests for
extension of references:
- Respect
for the rule of law and fight against corruption within the Council
of Europe, Doc. 15195, Reference 4556 of 25 January 2021 (extended on 1 February
2021) – validity: 25 July 2023: extension until 31 December 2023
- Establishment of a “youth partner” status with the Parliamentary
Assembly, Doc. 15262, Reference 4582 of 28 May 2021 – validity: 28 May 2023:
extension until 28 November 2023.
2.9 Election observation
2.9.1 Bulgaria: early
parliamentary elections (2 April 2023)
On 25 May, the Bureau approved the report by the observation
mission.
2.9.2 Conference “Elections
in times of crisis: challenges and opportunities” (Bern, 9-10 May
2023)
On 28 April, the Bureau approved the list of members of the
ad hoc committee to attend the conference (appendix 1). The summary
report and conclusions of the parliamentary conference are published
as the addendum 1 of this progress report (Doc. 15791 add1).
2.9.3 Türkiye: presidential
and parliamentary elections (14 May 2023)
On 25 May, the Bureau took note of the statement by the observation
mission.
2.9.4 Montenegro: parliamentary
elections (11 June 2023)
On 28 April, the Bureau approved the list of members of the
ad hoc committee to observe these elections. On 25 May, it appointed
Mr Reinhold Lopatka (Austria, EPP/CD) as its Chairperson and approved
the final list of members of the ad hoc committee (appendix 2).
2.10 Václav Havel
Human Rights Prize
On 28 April, the Bureau took note of the extension, until
30 June 2023, of the deadline to submit candidatures to the 2023
edition of the Prize.
2.11 Vigdís Prize
for Women’s Empowerment
On 28 April, the Bureau took note that the Prize would be
launched at a special event in the margins of the Standing Committee
in Reykjavik, on 15 May 2023.
2.12 European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (CPT) – Lists of candidates in respect of Belgium,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, San Marino
On 28 April, the Bureau approved the lists of candidates in
respect of these countries to be forwarded to the Committee of Ministers.
2.13 Issues raised
by committees
2.13.1 Committee on
Political Affairs and Democracy
On 25 May, the Bureau authorised the rapporteur on “The Parliamentary
Assembly should support Kazakhstan to continue its democratic reforms”,
to carry out a fact-finding visit to Kazakhstan, in the framework
of the preparation of his report. It also authorised the rapporteur
on “Strengthening relations between the Council of Europe and Latin
America”, to carry out fact-finding visits to Parlatino (Panama),
Colombia and Mexico (at no cost to the Assembly), in the course
of 2023, in the framework of the preparation of his report.
2.14 Meetings elsewhere
than Strasbourg and Paris
On 28 April, the Bureau authorised the ad hoc sub-committee
on Western Balkans of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy,
to hold a meeting in Skopje, on 20 October 2023. It also took note
that the Presidential Committee would visit Kyiv before the 2023
June part-session, subject to receiving an invitation, and encouraged
the rapporteurs with relevant mandates in the committees to assess
the opportunity to pay fact-finding visits to Ukraine, in the framework
of the preparation of their reports. In this context, the Bureau decided
to give no follow-up to the request by the Committee on Legal Affairs
and Human Rights for its ad hoc sub-committee to carry out a second
fact-finding visit to Ukraine.
2.15 2023 World Forum
for Democracy (Strasbourg, 6-8 November)
On 25 May, the Bureau took note of the concept paper and decide
to set up an ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the
Forum.
3 Decisions taken
by the Bureau at its meeting on 25 May, and subsequently ratified
by the Standing Committee
3.1 Composition of
the Monitoring Committee
On 25 May, the Bureau, on the basis of a proposal by the EC/DA
group, nominated Ms Sheryll Murray (United Kingdom) as a member.
3.2 References and
transmissions to committees
On 25 May, the Bureau approved the following references and
transmissions which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee.
3.2.1 References to
committees
- The
need to designate the Russian “Wagner Group” as a terrorist organisation, Doc. 15720: transmission
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to be taken into account in the framework of
the report on “Legal and human rights aspects of the Russian Federation’s
aggression against Ukraine” and to the Committee on Political
Affairs and Democracy for information
- Strengthening the protection
of biodiversity in Europe through sustainable and fair financing
of the Bern Convention, Doc. 15727: transmission
to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for consultation
- Commemorating the 90th anniversary
of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, Doc. 15728: reference to
the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report, and to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy and transmission to the Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media for information
- Promoting universal health
coverage, Doc. 15729: reference to
the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report
- Support for the reconstruction
of Ukraine, Doc. 15732: reference to
the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report and to the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to
be taken into account in the framework of the report on “Legal and
human rights aspects of the Russian Federation’s aggression against
Ukraine”
- Overcoming age-based discrimination
against older persons, Doc. 15735: reference to
the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report
- Call for a change on rules
relating to gender quota, Doc. 15749: transmission
to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs to be taken into account in the
framework of the report on “Modification of various provisions of
the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure” and to the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination for
information
- Protecting human rights in
and through sport: obligations and shared responsibilities, Doc. 15750: reference to
the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report
- Investigation into the illegal
surveillance of foreign leaders, political opponents and activists
in Poland, Doc. 15751: transmission
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to be taken into account in the framework of
the report on “Pegasus and similar spyware and secret state surveillance” and
to the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments
by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) for information
- Budgets and priorities of the Council of Europe for the
period 2024-2027, Terms of reference of the committee: reference
to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional
Affairs for report
- Expenditure of the Parliamentary Assembly for the biennium
2024-2025, Terms of reference of the committee: reference to the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report
3.2.2 Reply after consultation
- The
foreseeable wealth gap in the automated future, Doc. 15701: reference to
the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for taking into account within the framework
of the preparation of its report on “Safeguarding future rights
for future generations”
4 Activities of
the Standing Committee
4.1 Standing Committee
in Reykjavik, 15 May 2023
The Standing Committee, meeting on 15 May in Reykjavik, with
Mr Tiny Kox, President of the Assembly, in the Chair:
- heard a welcome address by Mr Birgir
Ármannsson, Speaker of Alþingi – Parliament of Iceland;
- heard an online address by Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker
of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
- within the framework of the Special event on the 4th Summit
of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe – United
around values in the face of extraordinary challenges:
- heard the introductory
remarks by Mr Bjarni Jónsson, Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation
to the Parliamentary Assembly;
- heard the remarks by Mr Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary
General of the Council of Europe;
- held a panel discussion on “The Council of Europe as
a key player of the multilateral architecture”, moderated by Ms Rósa
Björk Brynjólfsdóttir, Office of the Prime Minister of Iceland and
former Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly, with the participation of Ms Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð
Gylfadóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland; Mr Tiny Kox,
President of the Assembly; Ms Sylvie Bermann, former Ambassador
of France to Beijing, London, and Moscow; and Ms Alice Bergholtz,
Vice-Chair of the Advisory Council on Youth, Council of Europe;
- held a panel discussion on “The Council of Europe as
a pioneer of human rights protection: the new generation of rights”,
moderated by Ms Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir, Office of the Prime
Minister of Iceland and former Chairperson of the Icelandic delegation
to the Parliamentary Assembly, with the participation of Ms Katrín
Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland; Mr Tiny Kox, President
of the Assembly; Ms Ilze Brands Kehris, United Nations Assistant
Secretary-General for Human Rights; Ms Nathalie Smuha, Researcher
and Assistant Lecturer, Institute for European Law, KU Leuven, expert
on Artificial Intelligence; and Ms Tinna Hallgrímsdóttir, youth
representative in the Icelandic Climate Council;
- heard an address by Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader
of the Belarus democratic opposition;
- heard concluding remarks by Ms Katrín Jakobsdóttir,
Prime Minister of Iceland, and Mr Tiny Kox, President of the Parliamentary
Assembly.
4.2 Standing Committee
in Riga, 26 May 2023
The Standing Committee, meeting on 26 May 2023 in Riga, Latvia,
with Mr Tiny Kox, President of the Assembly, in the Chair:
- heard the welcome address by
Mr Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima;
- held an exchange of views with Mr Edgars
Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia;
- ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly
submitted by the delegations of Austria, Georgia, Germany and the
Republic of Moldova;
- approved changes in the composition of Assembly committees;
- took note of the draft agenda of the third part-session
of the Assembly (19-23 June 2023);
- ratified the references proposed by the Bureau (see Appendix
1);
- held a current affairs debate on “The follow-up to the
Reykjavík Summit”, heard a statement by Ms Aoife Nolan, President
of the European Committee of Social Rights, and adopted a declaration
as amended (see Appendix 3);
- took note of the report of the Ad hoc Committee of the
Bureau on the Observation of the early parliamentary elections in
Bulgaria (2 April 2023);
- held an exchange of views with Mr Carlo Monticelli, Governor
of the Council of Europe Development Bank;
- held a current affairs debate on “Excluding athletes from
Russia and Belarus from taking part in the Olympics” and heard a
statement by Mr Kaspars Cipruss, Secretary General of the Latvian
Basketball Federation;
- decided to hold its next meeting in Vaduz, Liechtenstein,
on 28 November 2023.
Appendix 1 – List of members of the ad hoc
committee for the parliamentary conference on “Elections in times
of crisis: Challenges and opportunities” (Bern, Switzerland, 9-10
May 2023)
Chairperson /
Président: Damien COTTIER (Switzerland / Suisse, ALDE
/ ADLE)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens
Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
- Ms / Mme Thórhildur
Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland / Islande
- Mr / M. Adnan DIBRANI, Sweden / Suède
- Mr / M. Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus / Chypre
- Ms / Mme Edite ESTRELA, Portugal
- Ms / Mme Róisín GARVEY, Ireland
/ Irlande
- Ms / Mme Cécile HEMMEN, Luxembourg
- Mr / M. Haluk KOÇ, Türkiye
- Ms / Mme Jelena MILOŠEVIĆ,
Serbia / Serbie
- Mr / M. Ion PRIOTEASA, Romania / Roumanie
- Mr / M. Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro / Monténégro
Group of the European People’s
Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
- Mr / M. Lulzim BASHA, Albania
/ Albanie
- Mr / M. Corneliu-Mugurel COZMANCIUC, Romania / Roumanie
- Mr / M. Georg GEORGIEV, Bulgaria / Bulgarie
- Ms / Mme Sylvie GOY-CHAVENT,
France
- Ms / Mme Arusyak JULHAKYAN,
Armenia / Arménie
- Mr / M. Reinhold LOPATKA, Austria / Autriche
- Ms / Mme Isabel MEIRELLES,
Portugal
- Mr / M. Cristian-Augustin NICULESCU-ȚÂGÂRLAȘ, Romania
/ Roumanie
- Mr / M. Sergiy VLASENKO, Ukraine
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Mr / M. Yuri KAMELCHUK, Ukraine
- Mr / M. Kęstutis MASIULIS, Lithuania / Lituanie
- Mr / M. Jacek PROTASIEWICZ, Poland / Pologne
- Ms / Mme Denitsa SACHEVA, Bulgaria
/ Bulgarie
- Ms / Mme Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA,
Bulgaria / Bulgarie
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe
(ADLE)
- Mr / M. Damien
COTTIER, Switzerland / Suisse
- Ms / Mme Valentina GRIPPO,
Italy / Italie
- Mr / M. Andrii LOPUSHANSKYI, Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Liliana TANGUY, France
- Ms / Mme Lesia ZABURANNA, Ukraine
European Conservatives Group and
Democratic Alliance (EC/DA) / Groupe des conservateurs européens
et Alliance démocratique (CE/AD)
- Mr / M. Erkin GADIRLI, Azerbaijan
- Mr / M. Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Emine Nur GÜNAY, Türkiye
(NR/NI)
- Mr / M. Ian PAISLEY, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
- Mr / M. Ahmet YILDIZ, Türkiye (NR/NI)
Group of the Unified European
Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
- Mr / M. Anton GOMEZ-REINO, Spain
/ Espagne
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Ms / Mme Nina
KASIMATI, Greece / Grèce
Membres not belonging to a political
group (NR) / Membres n’appartenant à aucun groupe politique (NI)
- Ms / Mme Serap
YAŞAR, Türkiye
Members of the Council for Democratic
Elections of the Venice Commission (ex officio) / Membres du Conseil
des Elections Démocratiques de la Commission de Venise (ex officio)
- Ms / Mme María
Valentina MARTÍNEZ FERRO, Spain / Espagne
- Mr / M. Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland / Pologne
- Mr / M. Davor Ivo STIER, Croatia / Croatie
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Ms / Mme Laura
CASTEL, Spain / Espagne
- Ms / Mme Khatia DEKANOIDZE,
Georgia / Géorgie
Appendix 2 – List of members of the ad hoc
committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in
Montenegro (11 June 2023)
Chairperson /
Président: Mr Reinhold LOPATKA (Austria / Autriche, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
Socialists, Democrats and Greens
Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
- Mr / M. Adnan DIBRANI, Sweden
/ Suède
- Mr / M. Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus / Chypre
- Ms / Mme Edite ESTRELA, Portugal
- Mr / M. Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatia / Croatie
- Ms / Mme Cécile HEMMEN, Luxembourg
- Mr / M. Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria / Autriche
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Mr / M. Yunus EMRE,
Türkiye
- Mr / M. Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosnie-Herzégovine
- Mr / M. Didier MARIE, France
- Ms / Mme Daniela OTEŞANU, Romania
/ Roumanie
- Mr / M. André VALLINI, France
Group of the European People’s
Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
- Mr / M. Corneliu-Mugurel COZMANCIUC,
Romania / Roumanie
- Mr / M. Reinhold LOPATKA, Austria / Autriche
- Mr / M. Joe O’REILLY, Ireland / Irlande
- Mr / M. Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland / Pologne
- Ms / Mme Jorida TABAKU, Albania
/ Albanie
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe
(ADLE)
- Mr / M. Eerik-Niiles
KROSS, Estonia / Estonie
- Mr / M. Jacques LE NAY, France
- Mr / M. Andrii LOPUSHANSKYI, Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Fiona O'LOUGHLIN,
Ireland / Irlande
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Mr / M. Jean-Pierre GRIN, Switzerland
/ Suisse
- Ms / Mme Valentina GRIPPO,
Italy / Italie
- Mr / M. Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania / Lituanie
- Ms / Mme Ms Yuliia OVCHYNNYKOVA,
Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Diana STOICA, Romania
/ Roumanie
- Ms / Mme Liliana TANGUY, France
European Conservatives Group and
Democratic Alliance (EC/DA) / Groupe des Conservateurs européens
et Alliance démocratique (CE/AD)
- Mr / M. Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine
- Mr / M. José Maria SANCHEZ GARCIA, Spain / Espagne
- Mr / M. Harald WEYEL, Germany / Allemagne
Group of the Unified European
Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
- Ms / Mme Nina
KASIMATI, Greece / Grèce
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
- Mr / M. Andrej HUNKO, Germany
/ Allemagne
Co-rapporteur·e·s AS/MON (ex officio)
- Mr / M. Damien COTTIER, Switzerland
/ Suisse
- Mr / M. Nicos TORNARITIS, Cyprus / Chypre
Appendix 3 - Declaration on The Reykjavik
Summit: a strong message of unity, common purpose and unwavering
resolve to be followed up by action
2. With the Reykjavik Declaration, the Heads of State and Government
have provided a new direction for the Council of Europe in the years
to come. As a statutory organ of the Council of Europe, the Assembly
stands ready to translate the Summit vision into concrete results,
through its parliamentary deliberations, its monitoring procedure,
its inter-parliamentary co-operation activities and networks, and
its interaction with the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary
General.
3. Standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes, the Assembly
will spare no effort to support the reconstruction and democratic
resilience of Ukraine, being convinced that well-functioning democratic institutions,
respect for the rule of law and compliance with democratic standards
together with stronger European integration are the best guarantees
for the democratic security of Ukraine and Europe.
5. At the same time, the Assembly will resolutely pursue its
efforts to ensure that the political and military leadership of
the Russian Federation is held to account for its war of aggression
against Ukraine, supporting the urgent establishment of a special
tribunal for the crime of aggression and calling for the Council
of Europe to be a part of relevant consultations and negotiations,
providing its expert and technical support. It calls for justice
for the victims of war crimes, human rights and humanitarian law
violations and for the creation of viable mechanisms to ensure the
return of abducted persons, including children, back home.
6. Following up the Reykjavik Declaration, the Assembly will
strive to preserve the role of the Council of Europe as a beacon
of human rights protection, by promoting compliance with the European
Convention on Human Rights, protecting the authority of the Court,
and ensuring the swift and satisfactory execution of its judgements;
and by promoting the accession of the European Union to the European
Convention on Human Rights without any further delay.
7. Welcoming the Reykjavík Process, and reaffirming once more
its belief that the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable
environment is a fundamental human right which should be enshrined
in domestic and international law, the Assembly will contribute
actively to the standard-setting work of the Council of Europe in the
environmental field. It will also continue to support the Organisation’s
work to shape human rights protection in the digital age and to
address other emerging societal challenges from a human rights perspective.
8. Convinced of the urgent need to prevent and resist democratic
backsliding, the Assembly will continue to support member states
in tackling its root causes, placing greater emphasis on promoting
equality and protecting social rights. It will endorse, promote
and further develop the Reykjavik Principles of Democracy. The Assembly
will strengthen its initiatives to prevent and counter foreign interference
with democratic processes, to enhance the integrity of elections,
and to promote media freedom and freedom of expression. It will
also step up its engagement with civil society and mainstream a
youth perspective in its work, as well as continue promoting and
protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.
9. As the body representing the national parliaments of all member
States, the Assembly stands ready to engage in the Council of Europe
High-level Dialogue with member States and partners on the Reykjavik Principles
of Democracy. It will also play its part beyond Council of Europe
membership, strengthening relations with parliamentary bodies and
other international organisations, further consolidating dialogue
and co-operation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society,
and identifying channels and means to strengthen dialogue with Russian
democratic forces and civil society who share Council of Europe
values.
10. The Assembly calls on all its members, representing national
parliaments of the 46 member States, to commit to ensuring that
the Reykjavik Declaration finds its expression in action at the
national level, through holding governments to account on the commitments
made at the Summit, supporting the necessary legislative changes
and ratifications, and ensuring and mobilizing the level of budgetary
resources commensurate with the mandate and tasks given to the Organisation
in Reykjavik.
11. Finally, the Assembly expresses its appreciation for the climate
of constructive dialogue with which it co-operated with the Committee
of Ministers, the Secretary General and other Council of Europe
bodies in the lead-up to the Summit and looks forward to pursuing
this approach in its follow-up, including through the Joint Committee.
It also supports holding regular Summits of Heads of State and Government
of the Council of Europe to provide overarching direction and political
momentum to the Organisation.
