At its meeting on 26 January 2024, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the first part-session of 2024 (Friday 26 January) to the pre-session Bureau meeting of the second part-session (Monday 15 April 2024).
The present report includes the decisions taken at the Bureau meetings held on 26 January 2024 in Strasbourg, and on 7 March 2024 in Paris. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions that were either already ratified by the Standing Committee on 7 March 2024, or which do not require ratification. Chapter 3 presents the activities of the Standing Committee at its meeting on 7 March 2024.
An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 15 April, which will also include decisions to be ratified by the Assembly at the opening of the 2024 second part-session. Another addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 19 April. It will only include 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 report of the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights presenting the conclusions of the committee on the lists of candidates submitted by Austria, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein and Monaco is published as Addendum 2 to this report.
The Bureau will hold its next meeting on Thursday 23 May 2024 in Vilnius. The next meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in Vilnius on Friday 24 May 2024.
On 26 January, the Bureau approved the follow-up proposals to the first part-session, made by the Secretary General of the Assembly, as follows:
On 26 January, the Bureau took note of the preliminary draft agenda, and it updated the draft agenda on 7 March.
On 7 March, the Bureau took note of the requests tabled by the five political groups of the Parliamentary Assembly, and decided to recommend to the Standing Committee to hold current affairs debates on:
On 7 March, the Bureau took note of the requests tabled by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to hold debates under urgent procedures on “Alexei Navalny’s death and the need to counter Vladimir Putin's totalitarian regime and its war on democracy”, “The arbitrary detention of Vladimir Kara-Murza and the systematic persecution of anti-war protesters in the Russian Federation and Belarus” (on the basis of a report with the same title currently being prepared by the committee), and “Opinion on the Draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” (subject to its finalisation). It also drew-up the draft agenda.
On 7 March, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly.
On 26 January, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Director of Committees – Human Dignity and Sustainable Development, and held an exchange of views.
On 26 January, the Bureau took note of the statement by the President of the Assembly. On 7 March, 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.
On 26 January, the Bureau considered and approved the references and transmissions to committees as presented in Doc. 15885 Add. 6, ratified by the Assembly the same day.
At its meeting on 7 March, the Bureau approved the following references and transmissions which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee.
On 7 March, the Bureau approved the following request for an extension of reference:
On 26 January, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections and appointed Mr Alfred Heer (Switzerland, ALDE) as its chairperson. On 7 March, it approved the updated list of members of the ad hoc committee to observe these elections (Appendix 1).
On 26 January, the Bureau took note of the minutes of the meeting and decided to declassify this document.
On 7 March, the Bureau decided to set up this ad hoc committee composed of 5 members from the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy and from the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development.
On 7 March, the Bureau approved the list of members of the ad hoc committee to participate in the Summit and left it to the members of the ad hoc committee to appoint its chairperson (Appendix 2).
On 26 January, the Bureau nominated members as presented in Doc. 15885 Add. 6, ratified by the Assembly the same day.
On 26 January and 7 March, the Bureau approved the nominations as set up in Appendix 4.
On 26 January, the Bureau approved the list of candidates in respect of this country to be forwarded to the Committee of Ministers.
On 7 March, the Bureau took note of the letter by the committee and decided to set up an ad hoc committee of the Bureau to visit the ICRC headquarters in Geneva as well as other Geneva based international organisations/agencies, on a date to be decided, in the framework of the follow-up to Resolution 2529 (2024) “The situation of the children of Ukraine”. It also decided that this ad hoc committee will be composed of 10 members as follows: 4 members from the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development (+ 2 alternates); 2 members from the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (+ 1 alternate); 2 members from the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy (+ 1 alternate); 2 members from the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (+ 1 alternate), and will be led by the President of the Assembly. At last, in the framework of the follow-up and implementation of paragraph 26 of Resolution 2529 (2024), it invited the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development to consider setting up a Network on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine, open to all members of the Assembly;
On 7 March, the Bureau took note of the letter by the committee and decided to set up an ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the event organised on 6 and 7 June 2024, in Luxembourg, on “The role of national parliaments in supporting the Belarusians in exile” and to invite the committees concerned to appoint members.
On 7 March, the Bureau authorised Mr Lulzim Basha (Albania, EPP/CD), rapporteur on “Support for the reconstruction of Ukraine” to participate in the event on “Achievements in pursuing accountability since two years of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine”, on 8 March, in New-York (at no cost for the Assembly). It also considered and approved the terms of reference of a “General Rapporteur for a Democratic Belarus” (Appendix 3), subject to ratification by the Assembly.
On 7 March, the Bureau decided to grant the title of Honorary President to Mr Tiny Kox, President of the Parliamentary Assembly from 2022 to 2024.
On 7 March, the Bureau took of the deadline for submission of nominations to 15 March 2024.
On 26 January, the Bureau authorised:
The Standing Committee, meeting on 7 March 2024 in Paris, with Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Assembly, and Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez, Vice-President of the Assembly, in the Chair:
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Resolution 2535 (2024) |
The right to freedom of information: ensuring access to historical documents |
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Recommendation 2270 (2024) |
The right to freedom of information: ensuring access to historical documents |
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Resolution 2536 (2024) |
Precarious and irregular work situations of migrant seasonal and domestic workers |
Chairperson / Président: Mr / M. Alfred HEER, Switzerland / Suisse
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group / Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD) / Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
European Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance (EC/DA) / Groupe des Conservateurs européens et Alliance démocratique (CE/AD)
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe (ADLE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL) / Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Substitutes / suppléant·e·s
Co-rapporteur·e·s AS/MON (ex officio)
Venice Commission / Commission de Venise
Denomination: General Rapporteur for a Democratic Belarus
Term of office: One year, renewable once
Mandate: The General Rapporteur for a Democratic Belarus ensures the visibility and coherence of the Assembly’s action to support a democratic future for Belarus.
Responsibilities: The role of the general rapporteur is to:
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Body / Organe |
who represents the Assembly / Qui représente l'Assemblée |
Reference |
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
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I. Council of Europe bodies / Organes du Conseil de l'Europe |
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European Commission for Democracy through Law Venice Commission Commission européenne pour la démocratie par le droit – Commission de Venise |
Representatives of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau to attend the sessions of the Commission Représentants de l'Assemblée désignés par le Bureau pour assister aux sessions de la Commission |
Article 2.4 of the Venice Commission Statute (Res CM (2002) 3) Article 2.4 du statut de la Commission de Venise (Rés CM (2002) 3) |
Members: Mr Tiny KOX (Netherlands, UEL) Appointment by the President Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES (Spain, SOC) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Mr Sergiy VLASENKO (Ukraine, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) |
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Council for Democratic Elections of the Venice Commission Conseil des élections démocratiques de la Commission de Venise |
Representatives of AS/Pol, AS/Jur and AS/Mon approved by the Bureau of the Assembly Représentants de l’AS/Pol, l’AS/Jur et l’AS/Mon approuvés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée |
Bureau decision of 10 March 2003 Décision du Bureau du 10 mars 2003 |
Members: Mr Michael Georg Link (Germany, ALDE) (AS/Pol) Mr Pablo HISPÁN (Spain, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Ms Laura CASTEL (Spain, UEL) (AS/Mon) Substitutes: Mr Corneliu-Mugurel COZMANCIUC (Romania, EPP/CD) (AS/Pol) Ms Octavie MODERT (Luxembourg, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Ms Blerina GJYLAMETI (Albania, SOC) (AS/Mon) |
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European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity – North-South Centre Centre européen pour l’interdépendance et la solidarité mondiales – Centre Nord-Sud |
Two members of the Executive Council – appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly Deux membres du Conseil exécutif – désignés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée |
Article 4.2 (b) of the North-South Centre revised Statute (Res CM (2011) 6) Article 4.2 (b) du statut révisé du Centre Nord-Sud (Rés CM (2011) 6) |
Members: Ms Edite ESTRELA (Portugal, SOC) (AS/Cult) Mr Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) (AS/Soc) Substitutes: Ms Eka SEPASHVILI (Georgia, EC/DA) (AS/Cult) Ms Carmen Leyte (Spain, EPP/CD) (AS/Soc) |
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European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance – ECRI Commission européenne contre le racisme et l’intolérance – ECRI |
Representatives of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau (representatives of the following three committees: AS/Pol, AS/Ega and AS/Cult) Représentants de l’Assemblée désignés par le Bureau (représentants des trois commissions suivantes: AS/Pol, AS/Ega et AS/Cult) |
Article 5 of the ECRI Statute (Res CM (2002) 8) Article 5 du statut de l’ECRI (Rés CM (2002) 8) |
Members: Mr Max LUCKS (Germany, SOC) (AS/Pol) Ms Mia KARAMEHIĆ-ABAZOVIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina, NR) (AS/Cult) Ms Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC) (AS/Ega) Substitutes: Ms Sena Nur ÇELİK KANAT (Türkiye, NR) (AS/Pol) ZZ (AS/Cult) Mr Fourat BEN CHIKHA (Belgium, SOC) (AS/Ega) |
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Group of States against Corruption – GRECO Groupe d'états contre la corruption – GRECO |
A representative of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau Un représentant de l'Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
CM decision of 717th meeting in 2000 in accordance with Article 7.2 of the Statute of the GRECO Décision du CM lors de la 717ème réunion en 2000 selon l'Article 7.2. du Statut du GRECO |
Member: Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER (Austria, SOC) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Ms Elena-Simona SPĂTARU (Romania, ALDE) (AS/Jur) |
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Committee of Experts on Artificial Intelligence, Equality and Discrimination (GEC/ADI-AI) Comité d’expert∙es sur l’intelligence artificielle, l’égalité et la discrimination (GEC/ADI-AI) |
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets: – Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peuvent envoyer des représentants sans droit de vote et à la charge de leurs budgets administratifs respectifs: – l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe |
CM/Res(2021)3 |
Ms Mireille CLAPOT (France, ALDE) |
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Committee for Works of Art (C-ART) Comité des œuvres d'art(C-ART) |
Two members appointed by the Bureau of the Assembly (at present AS/Cult Committee member and Museum Prize rapporteur) Deux membres désignés par le Bureau de l’Assemblée (actuellement un membre de l'AS/Cult et le rapporteur du Prix du musée) |
CM decision of 482nd meeting in 1992 Décision du CM lors de la 482ème réunion en 1992 |
Member: Mr Constantinos EFstathiou (Cyprus, SOC) (AS/Cult) Substitute: Mr David MORRIS, (United Kingdom, EC/DA) (AS/Cult) |
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MONEYVAL |
A representative of the Assembly appointed by the Bureau Un représentant de l’Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
Article 4.1 of Resolution CM/Res (2010) 12 Article 4.1 de la Résolution CM/Res (2010) 12 |
Member: Ms Maria-Gabriela Horga (Romania, EPP/CD) (AS/Jur) Substitute: Ms Klotilda BUSHKA (Albania, SOC) (AS/Jur) |
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Committee of Experts on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (PC-ENV) Comité d’experts sur la protection de l'environnement par le droit pénal (PC-ENV) |
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets: – Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peuvent envoyer des représentants sans droit de vote et à la charge de leurs budgets administratifs respectifs: – l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe |
CM/Res(2021)3 |
Members: Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU (Cyprus, SOC) (AS/Jur) Ms Yuliia OVCHYNNYKOVA (Ukraine, ALDE) (AS/Soc) Substitutes: ZZ (AS/Jur) Mr Stefan SCHENNACH (Austria, SOC) (AS/Soc) |
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Committee on offences relating to cultural property (PC-IBC) / Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) Comité sur les infractions visant les biens culturels (PC-IBC) / Comité directeur de la culture, du patrimoine et du paysage (CDCPP) |
The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets: – Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Un représentant de l’Assemblée désigné par le Bureau |
STCE n°221 CM(2017)32, Chapter V, Article 23.1 SG/Inf(2012)12 |
Mr Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC) (AS/Cult) |
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II. Others / Autres |
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EUROPA NOSTRA Pan-European Federation for Heritage EUROPA NOSTRA – Fédération paneuropéenne du patrimoine |
One member (and substitute) to be nominated by the Assembly – to attend the Federation Council meetings as observer Un membre (et son/sa suppléant/e) qui seront désignés par l'Assemblée pour assister aux réunions du Conseil de la Fédération en tant qu'observateurs |
Article 21.4 of the Statute of Europa Nostra |
Member: ZZ (AS/Cult) Substitute: ZZ (AS/Cult) |