Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (28 September 2026)
Progress report
| Doc. 16484 Add. 1
| 28 September 2026
- Author(s):
- Bureau of the Assembly
1 Decisions of
the Bureau of 28 September 2026 requiring ratification by the Assembly
1.1 References and
transmissions to committees
The Bureau considered and approved the following references
and transmissions:
- A constitutional right to reliable information:
safeguarding democracy in the age of artificial intelligence and
platform power, Doc. 16449, motion for a resolution: transmission to the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy and to the Committee on Legal
Affairs and Human Rights for information;
- Integrity of electoral registers
in Council of Europe member States with high emigration rates: the
need for digital modernisation, Doc. 16452, reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and
Democracy to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on “Out-of-country voting”;
- Towards a European strategy
on arbitrary detention and hostage taking of European and dual national citizens, Doc. 16453, motion for a resolution: reference
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report;
- Quantum technologies and artificial
intelligence: the need for a European anticipation and governance strategy, Doc. 16455, and Regulatory sandboxes
for quantum technologies: enabling innovation in line with Council
of Europe values, Doc. 16457, motion for a resolution, reference to the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for
report and to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media for opinion, for a single report on “Quantum technologies and artificial intelligence:
the need for a European anticipation and governance strategy”;
- Supporting the establishment
of a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Democracy, Doc. 16456, motion for a resolution: reference
to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to be taken into account in the preparation
of the report on “Shaping the Parliamentary Assembly’s relations
with the United Nations Human Rights Council”;
- The Russian Federation’s aggression
against Ukraine and the need to combat sanctions evasion, Doc. 16458, motion for a resolution: reference
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to be taken into account in the preparation
of the reports on “Accountability for the Russian Federation’s war
of aggression against Ukraine” and “Strengthening safeguards against
the misuse of dual-use goods by authoritarian regimes” and
reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to be taken into account in the preparation
of the report on “Political consequences of the Russian Federation’s
war of aggression against Ukraine”;
- The cultural situation of the
Kurds, Doc. 16459, motion for a resolution: reference
to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Anti-personnel mines and cluster
munitions: reaffirming humanitarian commitments in a new security context, Doc. 16463, motion for a resolution: reference
to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to be taken into account in the preparation
of the report on “The need to modernise International Humanitarian
Law”;
- Protecting Europe’s cultural
diversity and sovereignty by promoting access to European cinematographic
and audiovisual works, Doc. 16466, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media for
report;
- Towards a United Nations Convention
on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, Doc. 16471, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report;
- Solidarity with Ceuta, a test
case for Europe, Doc. 16479, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation for report, with a view to a possible
debate at the January 2027 part-session.
1.2 Modification
of references
The Bureau considered and approved the following modifications
of references:
- Strengthening the affective and emotional dimension
of comprehensive sexuality education to prevent and combat discrimination,
hate crime and gender-based violence, Doc. 16318, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Equality and Non-Discrimination for
report and to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health
and Sustainable Development for opinion;
- Protecting the right to education
in Gaza, Doc. 16445, motion for a resolution: reference to the Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media for
report and to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health
and Sustainable Development for opinion.
1.3 Election of judges
to the European Court of Human Rights
The Bureau took note of the report drawn up by the Committee
on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights
concerning the list of the candidates to the Court in respect of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to ratification by the Assembly
through the Progress report (Doc. 16484
Add. 2).
1.4 Composition of
the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of
the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)
- on the basis of a proposal
by the SOC Group, the Bureau nominated Mr Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland)
as member,
- on the basis of a proposal by the EPP/CD Group, the Bureau
nominated Mr Márton Hajdu (Hungary) as member.
1.5 Composition of
the Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities
On the basis of a proposal by the SOC Group, the Bureau nominated
Ms Gökçe Gökçen (Türkiye) as member.
1.6 Composition of
the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of
Human Rights
On the basis of a proposal by the ECPA Group, the Bureau nominated
Ms Martina Kempf (Germany) as member.
The Bureau approved the revised list of members of the representative
delegation of Belarusian democratic forces for 2026:
Members:
- Mr Astapenka
Vladzimir (“Latushka Coalition and the Movement ‘For Freedom’” faction),
Head of the delegation
- Mr Latushka Pavel (“Latushka Coalition and the Movement
‘For Freedom’” faction)
- Ms Lutskina Kseniya (“European Choice” faction)
Substitutes:
- Mr Andreichyk
Evgeny (“Nastup” faction)
- Ms Mamaeva Alexandra (Non-affiliated)
- Ms Skryhan Hanna (“United Civic Platform” faction)
The Assembly is invited to ratify
these Bureau decisions.
2 Other decisions
by the Bureau
2.1 Fourth part-session
of 2026 (Strasbourg, 28 September – 2 October)
2.1.1 Requests for
debates under urgent procedure
The Bureau took note:
- of
the request tabled by Mr Sam Rushworth and 21 other members of the
Assembly: Repression and targeted attacks
on LGBTI persons and defenders in Türkiye: decided to
recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to refer the
matter to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
- of the request tabled by the leaders of the Assembly’s
five political groups: Fake “elections”
in Russia and its destabilising attacks on Europe: decided
to recommend to the Assembly to hold this debate, and to refer the
matter to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report.
2.1.2 Requests for
current affairs debates
The Bureau took note:
- of
the request tabled by the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination: Targeted attacks on the LGBTI community and
its rights in Türkiye: a further alarming sign of democratic backsliding: decided
to recommend to the Assembly not to hold this debate;
- of the request tabled by the leaders of the Assembly’s
five political groups: Solidarity with
Ceuta: a test case for Europe: decided to recommend to
the Assembly to hold this debate, and appointed Lord Michael German
(United Kingdom, ALDE) as the first speaker.
2.1.3 Draft agenda
The Bureau updated the draft agenda of the part-session and
decided to limit the speaking time to two minutes on Tuesday and
Wednesday.
2.1.4 General policy
debate
The Bureau took note of the decision of the President of the
Parliamentary Assembly, together with the leaders of the Assembly’s
five political groups, to hold a general policy debate on Council of Europe: grounded in core values
to meet the challenges ahead, and decided to appoint
Mr Knut Abraham (Germany, EPP/CD) as the first speaker. It also
decided that the debate will consist of interventions by the leader
of the Assembly’s five political groups and by the chairpersons
of committees.
2.1.5 Joint Committee
(Strasbourg, 30 September 2026)
The Bureau prepared the meeting of the Joint Committee.
2.2 Progress report
of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (26
June – 28 September 2026)
The Bureau approved the Progress report (Doc. 16484).
2.3 Election observation
2.3.1 Armenia: parliamentary
elections (7 June 2026)
The Bureau approved the report on the observation of these
elections.
2.3.2 Assembly of Kosovo*Note:
early elections (7 June 2026)
The Bureau approved the revised report on the observation
of these early elections.
2.3.3 Morocco: parliamentary
elections (23 September 2026)
The Bureau took note of the statement by the observation mission.
2.3.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina:
general elections (4 October 2026)
The Bureau took note of the statement of the pre-electoral
delegation and approved the revised list of members of the ad hoc
committee to observe these elections (Appendix 1).
2.3.5 Serbia: early
parliamentary elections (25 October 2026)
The Bureau approved the revised list of members of the ad
hoc committee to observe these elections, subject to receiving an
invitation (Appendix 2).
2.4 World Forum for
Democracy, Strasbourg, 2-3 November 2026
The Bureau approved the revised list of members of the ad
hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in this event (Appendix
3).
2.5 Extension of
reference
The Bureau approved the following extension of reference:
- The
honouring of membership obligations to the Council of Europe by
Sweden, Monitoring Committee decision, Reference 4781
of 22 January 2024 – validity: 22 January 2027: extension until
22 January 2029.
2.6 Communications
The Bureau took note of the communication by the President
of the Parliamentary Assembly and held an exchange of views with
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2.7 Meetings elsewhere
than Strasbourg and Paris
The Bureau authorised the Committee on Migration, International
Protection and Economic Co-operation to meet in Istanbul on 16-17
November 2026.
Appendix 1 – Revised list of members of
the ad hoc committee for the observation of the general elections
in Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 October 2026)
Chairperson /
Président: Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA, Norway / Norvège
Vice-Chairperson / Vice-présidente:
Ms / Mme Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group
/ Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
- Ms / Mme Aysu
BANKOGLU, Türkiye
- Mr / M. Jone BLIKRA, Norway / Norvège *
- Mr / M. Piero FASSINO, Italy / Italie
- Ms / Mme Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA,
North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord
- Mr / M. António MENDONÇA MENDES, Portugal
- Mr / M. Mike READER, United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
/ Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
- Mr / M. Ricardo CARVALHO,
Portugal *
- Ms / Mme Andrea EDER-GITSCHTHALER,
Austria / Autriche
- Mr / M. Tekke PANMAN, The Netherlands / Pays-Bas
- Mr / M. Marko PAVIĆ, Croatia / Croatie
- Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS, Greece / Grèce
European Conservatives, Patriots &
Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)
- Ms / Mme Elisabetta
GARDINI, Italy / Italie *
- Mr / M. José María SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA, Spain / Espagne
- ZZ
- ZZ
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe
(ADLE)
- Mr / M. Mehmet AKALIN,
Türkiye
- Mr / M. Nikolla CAMAJ, Montenegro / Monténégro
- Ms / Mme Yevheniia KRAVCHUK,
Ukraine
- Ms / Mme Lucia PLAVÁKOVÁ, Slovak
Republic / République slovaque *
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
/ Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
Co-rapporteur.e.s AS/MON (ex officio)
- Mr / M. Pablo HISPÁN,
Spain, EPP/CD / Espagne, PPE/DC *
- Ms / Mme Oana MURARIU, Romania,
ALDE / Roumanie, ADLE *
* Pre-electoral mission / Mission préélectorale
** Subject to receiving the declaration of interest / sous
réserve de recevoir la déclaration d’intérêts
One seat was allocated by the SOC group to ALDE / Un siège
a été attribué par le groupe SOC au groupe ADLE
Appendix 2 – Revised list of members of
the ad hoc committee for the observation of the early parliamentary
elections in Serbia (25 October 2026)
Chairperson /
Président: Mr / M. Piero FASSINO, Italy / Italie
Vice-Chairperson / Vice-président: Mr /
M. Dominik OBERHOFER, Austria / Autriche
Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group
/ Groupe des socialistes, démocrates et verts (SOC)
- Mr / M. Denis BEGIC,
Sweden / Suède
- Mr / M. Piero FASSINO, Italy / Italie *
- Mr / M. Per Vidar KJØLMOEN, Norway / Norvège
- Ms / Mme Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA,
North Macedonia / Macédoine du Nord
- Ms / Mme Wanda NOWICKA, Poland
/ Pologne
- Ms / Mme Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER,
Austria / Autriche
- Mr / M. Namik TAN, Türkiye
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Mr / M. Roberto SPERANZA,
Italy / Italie
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)
/ Groupe du Parti populaire européen (PPE/DC)
- Mr / Mr / M. Pablo HISPÁN,
Spain / Espagne **
- Ms / Mme Albana VOKSHI, Albania /
Albanie* **
- ZZ
- ZZ
- ZZ
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Mr / M. Márton HAJDU,
Hungary / Hongrie **
- Mr / M. Tilman KUBAN, Germany / Allemagne **
- Mr / M. Jan Philip LIBICKI, Poland / Pologne **
- Mr / M. Cristian-Augustin NICULESCU-ȚÂGÂRLAȘ
Romania / Roumanie **
- Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS, Greece / Grèce **
European Conservatives, Patriots &
Affiliates (ECPA) / Conservateurs européens, Patriotes et Affiliés (CEPA)
- Ms / Mme Cristina
Gabriella DUMITRESCU, Romania / Roumanie *
- ZZ
- ZZ
- ZZ
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe (ALDE) / Alliance des démocrates et des libéraux pour l’Europe
(ADLE)
- Mr / M. Mehmet AKALIN,
Türkiye
- Mr / M. Dominik OBERHOFER, Austria / Autriche *
- Ms / Mme Lucia PLAVÁKOVÁ, Slovak
Republik / République slovaque
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Ms / Mme Sena
Nur ÇELİK KANAT, Türkiye
- Ms / Mme Liliana TANGUY, France
Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)
/ Groupe pour la gauche unitaire européenne (GUE)
- Ms / Mme Semra
ÇAĞLAR GÖKALP, Türkiye *
Substitutes / Suppléant·es
- Mr / M. George LOUCAIDES,
Cyprus / Chypre **
Co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee
(ex-officio) / Co-rapporteur·es de la commission de suivi (membres
de droit)
- Mr / M. Yunus EMRE,
Türkiye, SOC *
- Ms / Mme Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden
/ Suède, ECPA / CEPA *
* Pre-electoral mission / mission
pré-électorale
** Subject to receiving the declaration of interest / sous réserve de recevoir la déclaration d’intérêts
Appendix 3 – Revised list of members of
the ad hoc Committee of the Bureau to participate in the World Forum
for Democracy, Strasbourg, 2-3 November 2026
Chairperson / Président·e: ZZ…
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
/ Commission des questions politiques et de la démocratie
- Ms / Mme Sena
Nur ÇELİK KANAT (Türkiye, NR / NI)
- ZZ…
- ZZ…
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
/ Commission des questions juridiques et des droits de l'homme
- Ms / Mme Louise
MOREL (France, ALDE / ADLE)
- Ms / Mme Lesia VASYLENKO (Ukraine,
ALDE / ADLE)
- Mr / M. Emanuelis ZINGERIS (Lithuania, EPP/CD, Lituanie,
PPE/DC)
Committee on the Honouring of Obligations
and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring
Committee) / Commission pour le respect des obligations et engagements
des Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe (commission de suivi)
- Mr / M. Piero FASSINO
(Italy / Italie, SOC)
- Mr / M. Ricardo CARVALHO (Portugal, EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
- Ms / Mme Albana VOKSHI (Albania,
EPP/CD, Albanie, PPE/DC)
- Mr / M. Pablo HISPAN (Spain, EPP/CD, Espagne, PPE/DC)
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and
Sustainable Development / Commission des questions sociales, de
la santé, et du développement durable
- Mr / M. Georgios STAMATIS
(Greece, EPP/CD / Grèce, PPE/DC)
- ZZ…
- ZZ…
Committee on Migration, International
Protection and Economic Co-operation / Commission des migrations,
de la protection internationale et de la coopération économique
- Ms / Mme Albana
VOKSHI (Albania, EPP/CD, Albanie, PPE/DC)
- ZZ…
Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media / Commission de la culture, de la science, de l’éducation
et des médias
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
/ Commission sur l'égalité et la non-discrimination
- Mr / M. Francesco VERDUCCI
(Italy / Italie, SOC)
- Baroness Lyn BROWN (United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni, SOC)
- ZZ…
Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities
/ Commission du Règlement, de l’éthique et des immunités
- Mr / M. Yunus EMRE (Türkiye,
SOC)
- Ms / Mme Victoria TIBLOM (Sweden,
ECPA / Suède, CEPA)
- ZZ…
Special committee on the New Democratic
Pact / Commission spéciale sur le Nouveau Pacte Démocratique
- Sir Christopher CHOPE
(United Kingdom, ECPA / Royaume-Uni, CEPA)
- Mr / M. Pablo HISPÁN (Spain, EPP/CD / Espagne, PPE/DC)
- Ms / Mme Yelyzaveta YASKO (Ukraine,
EPP/CD / PPE/DC)
