23 November 2009 – Paris (France)

Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs

Military waste and the environment

The committee is organising a hearing on military waste and the environment, with a view to preparing a report on the subject by Latchezar Toshev (Bulgaria, EPP/CD).  There will be a second hearing on the topic of geothermal energy, in connection with a report being prepared by René Rouquet (France, SOC).  The committee is also to adopt the report by Francine John-Calame (Switzerland, SOC) on biodiversity and climate change and will discuss follow-up to Recommendation 1885 (2009) on the additional protocol to the ECHR on the right to a healthy environment.  Other items on the agenda are: reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, and forests as the future of our planet.

Draft agenda

23-24 November 2009 – Brussels (Belgium)

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights

Christos Pourgourides (Cyprus, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, will make a fact-finding visit to Rome as part of the preparation of his report on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. During his visit, he is expected to meet the Deputy President of the Court of Cassation, the Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation, a member of the Judicial Service Commission and representatives of the Justice and Interior Ministries.

23-24 November 2009 – Moscow (Russian Federation)

Security of energy supplies in the Black Sea region

Valeriy Sudarenkov (Russian Federation, SOC) will take part in the 34th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), where issues will include the development of international transport corridors and guaranteeing the security of energy supplies of the member countries of the BSEC and Europe.

23-25 November 2009 – Budapest (Hungary)

Official visit by PACE President to Hungary

PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig will be making an official visit to Hungary. He is scheduled to hold meetings with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry, and with the State Secretary, Head of the Foreign Affairs’ Office. President de Puig will also hold talks with the members of the Hungarian delegation to PACE and will visit the European Youth Centre in Budapest.

24-26 November 2009 – Kyiv (Ukraine)

Ad hoc Committee for the Observation of the Presidential election in Ukraine

Pre-electoral mission to Ukraine

An eight-member, cross-party delegation from the PACE, led by Mátyás Eörsi (Hungary, ALDE), will carry out a pre-electoral mission to Kyiv, ahead of the presidential election in Ukraine on 17 January 2010, to assess the electoral framework and campaign so far. The delegation intends to meet candidates, including Volodymyr Lytvyn, Yuliya Tymoshenko, Viktor Yanukovich and Viktor Yushchenko. It will also meet the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, election officials and representatives of civil society and the media.

The delegation will give a press conference at 4 p.m. on Thursday 26 November in the Verkhovna Rada (to be confirmed).

25-26 November 2009 – London (United Kingdom)

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population

Assisted voluntary return for migrants

Özlem Türköne (Turkey, EPP/CD) will make a fact-finding visit to London for the preparation of her report on voluntary return policies and programmes for irregular migrants.  Talks are planned with representatives of the UK Border Agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM UK) and with NGOs working with irregular migrants and asylum seekers.

27 November 2009 – Paris (France)

Committee on Economic Affairs and Development

Combating economic crime in times of crisis

Agenda highlights include: the European civil aviation industry confronted with the crisis; protecting innovation and consumers in Europe; the strategy, governance and functioning of the Council of Europe Development Bank; the need to combat economic crime in times of economic crisis; enhancing Europe’s energy security through greater use of liquefied natural gas; wealth, welfare and wellbeing: how to reconcile them in a changing Europe?

Draft agenda