1506221130E

AA15CR19

AS (2015) CR 19

2015 ORDINARY SESSION

________________

(Third part)

REPORT

Nineteenth sitting

Monday 22 June 2015 at 11.30 a.m.

In this report:

1. Speeches in English are reported in full.

2. Speeches in other languages are reported using the interpretation and are marked with an asterisk.

3. The text of the amendments is available at the document centre and on the Assembly’s website. Only oral amendments or oral sub-amendments are reproduced in the report of debates.

4. Speeches in German and Italian are reproduced in full in a separate document.

5. Corrections should be handed in at Room 1059A not later than 24 hours after the report has been circulated.

The contents page for this sitting is given at the end of the report.

(Ms Brasseur, President of the Assembly, took the Chair at 11.35 a.m.)

1. Opening of the third part of the 2015 ordinary session

THE PRESIDENT – I declare open the third part of the 2015 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

2. Death of a member

THE PRESIDENT – I regret to have to inform you that one of our members will no longer be with us: our colleague Charles Kennedy, who passed away on 1 June. He will be remembered as a gifted politician, for his eloquence, for his sense of right and wrong and for being a true European. When he took the floor here in the Assembly, he was very outspoken, and we will miss him. I present my condolences and those of the Assembly to his family, to the national delegation and to his political party. I ask you all to rise to observe a minute of silence in memory of Charles Kennedy.

(A minute’s silence was observed.)

3. Address by Ms Brasseur, President of the Assembly

THE PRESIDENT – More than 50 million people were displaced by war and violence in 2014. Two weeks ago, I was told by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, whom I met in Geneva, that in 2015 the number will climb to more than 60 million. That is equivalent to the population of a large European country. Europe is at the forefront of the refugee drama and the mixed migratory flow. The Mediterranean Sea has become a mass grave for thousands of people who have tried to cross into Europe. To that, we must add the tragedy of refugees from Syria and Iraq crossing the border into Turkey not in their thousands or even their hundreds of thousands, but in their millions.

More solidarity and responsibility sharing are needed. The protection of refugees is an international responsibility, and it is sometimes forgotten that when one State takes in a refugee, the international responsibility of other States does not cease. On the contrary, the problem is a global one that must be solved globally, but Europe must also assume its responsibility. Respect for human dignity is a universal, fundamental value. Solidarity vis-à-vis the most vulnerable, who flee war, conflict, poverty and economic hardship, is our responsibility as human beings. Addressing the migration challenge comprehensively is a political necessity.

Last week, I travelled to Turkey with a delegation of 25 members of the Assembly to visit refugee camps and local integration projects on the Syrian border. It was my second visit to the region. I praise the extreme generosity of Turkey and the Turkish people, and the outstanding efforts of the Turkish authorities to provide for the massive flow of refugees. I thank the Turkish delegation, together with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who helped to prepare the mission. Our visit was extremely moving. We were a few hundred metres from the border with Syria, so the war was not in a far-off country. The suffering of individuals was not on a screen or on a piece of paper; it was close enough to touch, hear and see.

We heard stories of the conflict that raged across the border and we heard accounts of great suffering, but we also witnessed dignity, hope, generosity and solidarity. I admire the courage of all the refugees whom we met. I hope that our colleagues who visited the three camps of Elbeyli, Nizip 1 and Nizip 2, as well as the cities of Kilis and Gaziantep, can translate their experience and understanding into a message to their own countries about the need to raise awareness of the situation of refugees in Turkey and the implications for Europe and its response. We must be aware that Turkey has so far spent $6 billion and that the international contribution has been just $400 million. We cannot be proud of our contribution.

Europe is facing not so much a challenge as a phenomenon. The distinction is important because a challenge can be overcome and brought to an end, but while a phenomenon may get easier or more difficult, it will not go away. Indeed, as conflicts drag on and economic difficulties continue, the situation on Europe’s eastern and southern borders will not improve in the near future. We must change our asylum policies and regulations to ensure that all those requiring international protection can access it under the best possible conditions. We must share fairly the responsibility for providing for refugees, so that they can enjoy dignity and have hope for the future and do not become disillusioned, marginalised, angry and frustrated. The education of young refugees is essential to prevent their radicalisation.

At the same time, we must help the countries from where the human flows originate to stabilise their governments and institutions and promote economic development. Politicians – that means us – must break the negative stereotypes and destroy the myths about refugees and migrants. We must value the benefits and opportunities that such people can offer to our societies and recognise our own responsibilities towards them, particularly when populist and xenophobic rhetoric is on the rise. It is important that all democratic political forces, together with civil society, religious communities and the sporting world, speak out against hate and intolerance. That is why I reiterate my proposal to enlarge our No Hate Parliamentary Alliance.

Colleagues, I ask you to return to your national parliaments and stimulate further debate on migration, as I asked in a letter to the speakers of the parliaments of the countries that visited Turkey last week. The proposed current affairs debate on the need for a common European response to migration challenges will be an appropriate opportunity to discuss such issues and come up with concrete proposals. I count on your support for that when we come to the adoption of the draft agenda of this part-session. We can discuss migration, but we must also try to act.

Colleagues, as many of you know, I follow sporting competitions closely and admire the commitment of athletes in their constant desire to progress and excel. I am a strong supporter of the values enshrined in the Olympic Charter, which places sport at the service of humanity’s harmonious development in order to promote a peaceful society and preserve respect for human life. The Council of Europe supports that approach. A week ago, I followed the opening of the first European Games in Baku and I wished great achievements and success on the many athletes from across Europe who went to Azerbaijan to take part. At the same time, I could not help but think about the fates of the many human rights defenders, political activists, journalists and lawyers currently in prison in Azerbaijan. Most of the Council of Europe’s interlocutors and partners are either in prison or in pre-trial detention, convicted or charged with offences such as fraud, tax evasion, organising mass disorder and charges as strange as provoking partners to commit suicide. Respected journalists from newspapers, such as The Guardian in the United Kingdom, and human rights defenders from key organisations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, are not allowed to enter the country. The Baku office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is being closed down. Critical voices are being silenced and political activists put in jail as punishment, as the European Court of Human Rights pointed out in its judgment in the Ilgar Mammadov case, which has so far been ignored by the Azeri authorities.

Is that situation compatible with the ideals of the Olympic Charter and with the values and standards that the Council of Europe defends? In order to stress our views, I wrote to the president of the European Olympic Committees, Patrick Hickey, to draw his attention to the human rights situation. We must be outspoken about the problems, because our mission is to defend the values that underpin the foundations of our Organisation. Our role is to act as critical friends – I emphasise “friends” – meaning openly addressing issues, suggesting improvements and providing support. That is the aim of tomorrow’s debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan. Together with our Azerbaijani colleagues, we must come up with a concrete plan to improve the situation, especially ahead of this autumn’s parliamentary elections. I hope this debate will contribute to improving the situation.

(The speaker continued in French.)

I must mention one more serious challenge we have been facing for months: the crisis in Ukraine. Despite the cease-fire agreement, hostilities are increasing in the east of Ukraine. The death toll is rising and the number of internally displaced persons is increasing. We must therefore continue to focus on the situation in Ukraine so as to provide the authorities with the most appropriate support.

A number of issues must be addressed. The human rights situation is alarming. In areas affected by the conflict, serious human rights abuses are being reported. Impunity for human rights violations persists; we cannot tolerate any impunity. The safety of journalists has yet to be achieved and violations of international humanitarian law continue on all sides.

The situation in Crimea after its annexation is extremely worrying. Arrests and cases of ill treatment, torture and intimidation against political opponents continue to be reported. The impact of the conflict on the economic and social rights of civilians continues to be dramatic.

We must acknowledge that there has been progress as well. Reforms are moving forward, although at a slower pace than we might want. This morning we were informed by the Ukrainian delegation that the Ukrainian Parliament is due to adopt amendments to the constitution before the summer. They will go through a first reading and the second reading will be in the autumn.

Therefore, we should not give up. We must continue to provide support to Ukraine, not only on the reform front, where the Council of Europe has been very active, but also in addressing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. There are a number of issues where we can, and should, make further progress, such as in identifying missing persons and providing support and assistance to families. Thus, the debate on this issue we will hold later this week is very important.

Of course we well understand the complexity of the challenge. We know all too well that Russia’s role in this crisis is crucial to stopping the war and finding a sustainable solution. I reissue our call to free Ms Savchenko, a member of our Assembly who unfortunately cannot be with us because she is still in pre-trial detention. Therefore, as a follow-up to our January decision, on Wednesday we are going to examine the issue of the credentials of the Russian delegation to the Assembly. When I was informed that two of our members, Mr Bob Walter and Mr Karl-Georg Wellmann, as well as some of our former members were on the Russian blacklist, I immediately contacted the Russian ambassador to obtain further information as to why our colleagues had been banned from entering Russian territory and the consequences of this for the work of the Parliamentary Assembly. We will certainly return to this in the debate.

In conclusion, I will say a few words about our guests this week. I am proud that our Assembly continues to play an important role as a pan-European platform for dialogue and co-operation. This week, we will be receiving two heads of State: Her Excellency Ms Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, whom we will receive at midday, and His Excellency Mr Mladen Ivanić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also have the great privilege of receiving the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, who will address our Assembly tomorrow. I have no doubt these distinguished people will inspire a rich exchange with the Assembly.

The session is now open, so we shall start our work without further ado.

4. Ratification of new credentials

THE PRESIDENT* – The first item on the agenda is the examination of credentials of new members.

The names of the representatives and substitutes are in Document 13823. If no credentials are challenged, the credentials will be ratified.

Are any credentials challenged?

The credentials are ratified. I welcome our new colleagues.

5. Changes in the membership of committees

THE PRESIDENT* – Our next item of business is to consider the changes proposed in the membership of committees. These are set out in document Commissions (2015) 06 and Addendum 1.

Are the proposed changes in the membership of the Assembly’s committees agreed to?

They are agreed to.

6. Proposals for a current affairs debate

THE PRESIDENT* – Before we examine the draft agenda, the Assembly needs to consider the request submitted to the President by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for a current affairs debate on “The need for a common European response to migration challenges”.

At its meeting this morning, the Bureau approved the request.

Does the Assembly agree to this proposal from the Bureau?

The proposal is agreed to.

The current affairs debate will be opened by Mr Reha Denemeç and will take place as the first item of business on Thursday morning.

7. Adoption of the agenda

THE PRESIDENT* – The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda for the third part of the 2015 ordinary session, Document 13793 prov. 2. The draft agenda submitted for the Assembly’s approval was drawn up by the Bureau on 21 May and updated this morning.

I remind you that we have just agreed that the current affairs debate on “The need for a common European response to migration challenges” will be held on Thursday morning.

The Bureau proposes that the report from the committee be considered at 10 o’clock on Thursday 25 June.

Is the draft agenda agreed to?

It is agreed to.

Details of the debates are set out in each sitting’s Organisation of Debates document.

8. Time limits on speeches

THE PRESIDENT* – To enable as many members as possible to speak, the Bureau proposes that speaking time be limited to three minutes throughout the week, except for Friday’s sitting.

Is that agreed?

It is agreed.

9. Adoption of the minutes of proceedings of the Standing Committee

THE PRESIDENT* – The minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee held in Sarajevo on 22 May 2015 have been distributed, Document AS/Per (2015) PV 02.

I invite the Assembly to take note of these minutes.

We now have the honour of hearing an address by Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta. I welcome her. We are one minute ahead of time.

(The speaker continued in English.)

We should wait, because the protocol is that we should neither be too late or too early. I hurried up in order not to be late, and we must now wait for one more minute before welcoming the President of Malta.

10. Address by Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta

THE PRESIDENT – Madam President, it is a true honour for me to welcome you back to the Chamber of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. You served here as a member, like us all, for a number of years, and were very committed to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee. It really is an honour for me to welcome you as a head of State. During your long and distinguished career as a politician and social reformer – I insist on that description – you have proved to be an inspirational role model, and you have shown enormous commitment to our democratic values. Your visit to Strasbourg on the 50th anniversary of Malta’s accession to our Organisation is therefore highly symbolic.

In April, we had the pleasure and honour of welcoming Dr Helena Dalli, Malta’s Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, to the Assembly for the debate on discrimination against transgender people in Europe. I reiterate my congratulations and express my deepest appreciation of Malta’s innovative work on and cutting edge approach to LGBT rights. I hope that all member States can draw experience and expertise from Malta’s work on gender freedom and equality.

I would like to take the opportunity to mention the important work Malta is doing to help refugees and asylum seekers fleeing from violence and persecution. All Council of Europe member States must show greater solidarity and be ready to share greater responsibility, as this phenomenon requires joint action and a common response. I am pleased that the Assembly has just decided to hold a debate later this week on the need for a common European response to the challenges posed by migration. That will also be an opportunity to highlight the efforts being made by countries such as Malta.

Madam President, on behalf of the Assembly, permit me to congratulate the people of Malta and you personally on Malta’s 50 successful years as a member of our Organisation. For 50 years, Malta has been a strong and solid supporter of the promotion of our Organisation’s standards and values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Your presence here today speaks of your strong support for those shared values. I will try now to wish you a happy 50th anniversary in your own language: nawguralek l-isbah xewqat f’gheluq dan il-hamsin sena anniversarju.

Thank you very much, dear President, and thank you for indulging my pronunciation. You have the floor.

Ms COLEIRO PRECA (President of Malta) – Thank you, Madam President, Mr Secretary General, esteemed members of the Parliamentary Assembly, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour and a pleasure for me to address the Parliamentary Assembly. As Malta’s head of State, it is a privilege to be here to mark the 50th anniversary of Malta’s accession to the Council of Europe. It is also a pleasure to be here because I recall, from my long political career, the memorable moments as one of Malta’s delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly.

The Parliamentary Assembly represents the main political movements in the member States of greater Europe; thus, it is representative of the people of Europe. It is a gathering that functions as the symbol, as well as the mechanism, whereby civil society may truly share in the dialogue taking place in the Council of Europe through locally elected representatives. Such wide-ranging regional representation helps to bring to the fore a European reality that advocates human rights, respect for human dignity, upholding the rule of law and democracy, as well as the fundamental freedoms, as the basic expression of its nature and reason for its existence.

Today, I am proud to share with you a sense of Europe as a reality that pertains not only to Europeans and our geographical region, but to all people of goodwill who firmly share the tenets of democracy and freedom, vested in the all-embracing principle of human rights. Indeed, by adopting the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950, Europe was not only making a statement in line with its inherent social and moral values, but reaching a highly sophisticated mechanism that represents a coherent level of adherence with what is most conducive to change, which ultimately led to the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights in 1959. Malta reaffirms its commitments to the principles and measures set forth at Interlaken, Izmir, Brighton and, most recently, Brussels.

I congratulate the outgoing Belgian presidency on successfully promoting the drafting and adoption of the Brussels Declaration during the high-level conference on the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, our shared responsibility, in March this year. Malta welcomes the conclusions adopted at the end of the 125th session of the Committee of Ministers on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Europe, but we are now looking forward to working with the chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the next six months. In the current context, it is imperative that the human dimension remains central in our discussions and provides the required thrust in conducting the business of the Council of Europe.

As I already mentioned, I am here to share in the commemoration of a momentous occasion for my country. Soon after gaining independence in 1964, Malta became the 18th full member of the Council of Europe. On 29 April 1965, Malta acceded to the Council of Europe. Malta ratified the European Convention on Human Rights on 23 January 1967 and recognised the right of individual petition on 1 May 1987. That very same year, the European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into the Maltese civil code. As a result, the rich case law of the Strasbourg Court became part and parcel of our national human rights heritage. I am pleased to note that Malta participates fully and actively in all the various organs, committees, conferences, seminars, workshops and programmes of the Council of Europe.

I will now dwell on some of my concerns, which I believe are also of concern to many of you. Malta fully supports all initiatives taken by the Council of Europe to strengthen its relations with the Mediterranean region and to assist the region in overcoming the significant challenges it faces as it passes through an era of unparalleled changes in the context of migration and issues relating to radicalism and extremism leading to unprecedented forms of terrorism.

Migration is a global phenomenon that requires global solutions. The most recent tragedies at sea have made us realise the risks faced by migrants crossing the Mediterranean. They have also highlighted the challenges faced by countries such as Malta in responding to these emergencies as being at the forefront of migratory pressures. Within the context of the European Union, Malta along with other front-line member States, called for effective action by the European Union in order to prevent further loss of life at sea and to tackle the root causes of migration in co-operation with the countries of origin and transit. The decisions taken at the highest political level in the European Union on 23 April 2015, as well as the set of actions proposed by the Commission, launched the European agenda on migration. These are timely and encouraging steps in the right direction.

While the need to strengthen operations to save lives at sea is now being addressed more intensely, we need at the same time to work further to address the root causes of migration in closer co-operation with countries of origin and transit in the Mediterranean and in Africa. We need to work harder to bring about an effective, comprehensive and holistic migration policy. Conversely, within the context of the Council of Europe, I note with appreciation that in its examination of Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2059 of 2014, the Committee of Ministers has recognised the mounting pressures on certain Council of Europe member States, including Malta, in coping with the irregular flows of migrants in the Mediterranean sea. Notably, the Committee of Ministers acknowledges that methods of solidarity and responsibility sharing are the way out of this impasse.

Malta believes that an international anti-human smuggling coalition, mandated by the United Nations, should be set up and given a mandate to intervene and to disrupt human traffickers, who are making a profit from the plight of these poor people. Frankly speaking, I personally think that we, as the international community, have been quite passive for much too long in the face of such criminal activity. Now more than ever, passiveness should not be an option. However, we need to keep in mind that no single measure will provide a comprehensive solution to the problem of migration. I reiterate that we need to design a holistic action policy on migration, which is the only way to ensure that people may live decently and enjoy productive lives.

It is said that advocating migrants’ rights is a risky business. I can attest to this, as I often come under attack because I advocate such rights. After all, migrants’ rights are human rights, as embedded in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and a number of European Union regulations and frameworks that uphold human rights. We need to think about ways in which people in peril can be protected and their human rights upheld. We need to think long term so that future generations are spared these tragedies and the loss of life is transformed into respect for diversity and inclusion at all levels.

Education is one asset we need to use as we facilitate education about different cultures that exist beyond our borders. The more we know about each other’s traditions, customs, culture, religions and so on, the more we can understand each other and live in harmony. Education can empower migrants. If education in specific skills is facilitated, migrants can become more empowered and employable. In consultation with migrants themselves, training can be provided in a variety of languages, professions and skills that will ultimately translate into their having more control over their future. By becoming employed, they will relieve the pressure on host States’ financial assistance. Migrants can become an asset to our economies. Hence, this should be considered not as burden sharing, but as opportunity sharing that will impact positively on our depleting workforce in Europe, and subsequently address our concerns regarding the sustainability of our welfare and pension systems.

Our children today are already benefiting from having migrant schoolmates. They can understand, in perhaps the most innocent and honest ways, that their migrant companions are children like them. This instilled sense of inclusion needs to be highlighted and celebrated throughout education systems so that future generations see diversity as an asset that adds value to the society we live in.

States and international and regional organisations need to fulfil their international legal obligations and do their part in tackling migration. Attention needs to be focused on the push factors that are ultimately driving people away from their homelands. Where there is instability, war and conflict to the detriment of innocent people, States need to take concrete action and facilitate reconciliation and peace.

Where the push factors are economic, the international community needs to do more to facilitate trade and development. If the economic situation improves, there will be more prosperity and therefore less incentive to leave. The assistance given needs to empower these countries economically so that their trade and economies can develop and flourish for the benefit of their people and of our peoples. In this context, the concept of South-South co-operation needs to be supported because it provides a viable path to balancing economic growth and equity that can ultimately promote prosperity for all. Encouraging this kind of co-operation will help us to move towards sustainable development that will in time eradicate the extreme poverty, inequality, malnutrition and overall vulnerability that affects millions of migrants today.

Migration may also be the result of climate change. Given dwindling access to water, the destruction of forests and rural areas and rising sea levels, migrants must be helped to migrate with dignity. Solutions must not only address the effects of migration or just provide hope; they need to be based on intelligent, cohesive policies that are comprehensive and pinned on human rights. The time has come when we should be looking at the evolving reality in terms of shared opportunities, rather than shared burdens.

It is positive to note that the Council of Europe is further developing its policy towards our neighbouring countries – mainly those in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. The fact that various initiatives have been launched, such as the neighbourhood co-operation instrument, is proof of the added value of the existing relationships between the Council of Europe and those regions. We hope that such co-operation will not only lead to the countries embracing the values upheld by the Council of Europe, but ensure more stability and security within Europe, its neighbourhood and the world in general. Like the Council of Europe, the European Union also closely follows the social, economic and political development of its neighbourhood on its southern and eastern borders through the European Neighbourhood Policy and related programmes, such as the European Endowment for Democracy.

On another note, the recent spate of urban terrorist attacks in Paris, Copenhagen, Tunis and other cities, which have seen the haphazard killing of innocent people, once again highlights the urgent need to devise an adequate and rapid response to counter fully or at least contain this alarming inhuman upsurge. Malta expresses its gratitude to the outgoing Belgian presidency for its initiative focusing on the fight against terrorism announced in the Committee of Ministers meeting in Brussels in May. Malta reiterates its solidarity with other Council of Europe members and neighbours that have been deeply affected by such attacks.

Malta welcomes the adoption of the additional protocol supplementing the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, as it complements other international efforts to prevent terrorist groups from recruiting individuals who then seek to travel to join those groups. Unfortunately, Europe has witnessed a marked increase in the number of nationals seeking to join terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. Why are young people born and bred in our democracies choosing to risk their lives, rather than enjoying the benefits afforded by human rights? What has gone wrong? What has affected their choices in life? Who failed them? Was it our attitudes, prejudice or policies?

We need to ask those questions, we need to analyse and we need to know. We need to address this scourge in the right way. Malta believes that we should not only address the phenomenon through legal instruments, but focus on empowering young people to build on their values and find their scope in life through positive action. We must also note the issues around the return of radicalised fighters, who may have disastrous effects on their home countries.

I am pleased to note that the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, which was established last year in Malta, is providing training to lawmakers, the police, prosecutors, judges, corrections officials and other justice sector stakeholders on how to address terrorism and related transnational criminal activities within a rule of law framework. Given its location, the institute is paying particular attention to supporting countries in transition in the Middle East and North, West and East Africa. Such institutes are crucial in providing training and expertise to States working to develop their justice and security systems and institutions. Such initiatives help contribute to stability and can serve as a regional catalyst in countering terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism.

Malta remains convinced that effective counter-terrorism strategies and the promotion and protection of human rights need to be reinforced and intrinsically linked with development. Malta believes it is necessary to engage more with our partners in neighbouring regions that are negatively affected by terrorist activity. Addressing security threats emanating from terrorist activity within our borders also requires strong co-operation with countries, particularly those in North Africa and the Gulf. Malta has also been playing its part in taking steps to combat terrorism internationally and domestically. The Money Laundering Bill and the additional protocol to combat terrorism are two of the salient measures taken in that direction.

Terrorism is not only evil and ruthless; very often it is devious and cowardly. It can hit and strike anyone, anytime and anywhere. The more innocent the victim, the greater the terror. The greater the bloodshed, the more terrorism delights in its misguided sense of glory. Our immediate concern, however, is to try to get to the root of this scourge on humanity and human values.

Gender equality is a core value of European societies. Nobody in Europe would argue with that, but the time is ripe to shift the emphasis from mere political rhetoric to tangible action. Sustainable progress on gender equality requires the equal participation of women and men in all spheres of public and private life. Progress has been noted in the recent past in tertiary education, for example, but gender gaps remain in a number of vital areas. Although there are others, I can immediately and easily identify at least three major systemic injustices against women: female under-representation in political bodies and leadership roles; discrimination in the labour market, including different pay scales to the disadvantage of women; and violations of bodily integrity.

First, there are still too few women in positions of leadership, not least in the political arena. For a variety of reasons, whether societal, domestic, traditional or even religious, women do not seem to be represented sufficiently in national parliaments. The imbalance can be significant – as high as two out of three in favour of men. Although things seem to be moving in the right direction, the momentum remains rather slow.

Today, women are appreciably present in the labour market. One direct consequence of that positive development is that women have become increasingly financially independent, but we cannot justify feeling comfortable about that. The employment rate of women in Europe in 2013 stood at 62.6%, as against 74.3% for men. Across European Union countries, labour statistics show that women on average still earn a staggering 16% less than men for performing the same job. Equally odd is the fact that studies show that young women find it harder than young men to enter the labour market. The gender gap in the work force in Malta in 2013 stood at 5.1%, which is the second lowest figure in the European Union.

We should not be satisfied with this reality. Women are more likely than men to take up part-time employment, or even interrupt their careers altogether to care for children or a sick or elderly parent. Even worse is pension inequality, which is to the detriment of women, as their pensions can be as much as 39% lower in certain cases. The bottom line is that we need to keep up the momentum by improving upon existing conditions in the labour market. Equal pay for equal work is a fundamental principle of justice, and the existence of a pay gap is a symptom of structural injustice that should be tackled much more forcefully.

I now come to an issue that is close to my heart and for which I have advocated most loudly. Violence against women stands out as one of the most glaring examples of gender inequality and, without doubt, it is one of the most widespread human rights violations in Europe and beyond. Domestic violence, in particular, is today recognised as a grave human rights issue, and authorities have a duty to take the necessary action to prevent and punish this form of abuse. As studies show, one in three women in the European Union experiences physical or sexual violence at some point in her life. It is simply unacceptable to refrain from taking proper action on the flimsy pretext that such abuses are largely hidden and difficult to prove. If truly so, we should stop and ask ourselves: why are there so few convictions in court?

I believe that the answer lies in the final report published last year by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Jagland, following the Vienna ministerial meeting in May 2014, when he reaffirmed that: “The right to justice is an important component of gender equality. Several persistent barriers limit women’s opportunities in this area, including fear, shame, lack of awareness of procedures and assistance, economic dependence, concern for children, impact of austerity measures, lack of trust in the justice system, lengthy criminal proceedings, high attrition, corruption and low conviction rates. The Council of Europe works with member States to address such obstacles and facilitate women’s access to the justice system.”

Where possible, Malta has sought to fill the gaps where domestic abuse still persists by adopting prevention, protection, prosecution and co-ordinated policies. In this respect, I am proud to have been responsible, as the then Minister, for starting the parliamentary process for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence by presenting the first reading of the relevant Bill in the Maltese Parliament. The Istanbul Convention, as the convention is more popularly referred to, represents the first legal instrument in Europe to provide a comprehensive set of legally binding standards. It is therefore with great satisfaction that I note that our expert from Malta, Dr Marceline Naudi, was elected to the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence on 4 May 2015.

Gender issues, of course, go much further than violence against women. Gender stereotyping and sexism also hinder gender equality. Sexist attitudes hold back the advancement of women and limit the development of both sexes. It is most encouraging to note that the Council of Europe promotes the training of a broad range of professionals with the aim of raising the general awareness of gender equality and addressing stereotyping.

Like other harmful practices, female genital mutilation locks women and girls into a value system that is both unequal and detrimental to development and harmful to society as a whole. FGM has a profound lifelong impact on health and well-being, and can even lead to death, and Malta is committed to fighting this violation of human rights and children’s rights. As a member of the European Union, Malta has been fighting FGM on various fronts as part of a global strategy to promote gender equality. Malta urges all countries to prohibit and punish FGM and to undertake appropriate action to change the social norms underpinning it by putting it high on the agenda.

That last reflection – on training and general awareness – also applies to LGBTIQ, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersex and questioning, people and their civil rights. Unfortunately, a number of people in Europe and beyond continue to be stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. Instances still prevail where these individuals are being deprived of their rights to education, health care, housing or work. Some are harassed by the police or left unprotected when attacked by extremists. Also, some of their representative organisations are denied registration or refused a permit to hold peaceful meetings and demonstrations.

We therefore believe there is a need to promote policies and share good practices with respect to LGBTIQ human rights by raising awareness and creating greater recognition on this issue. It is also important to increase the visibility of the Council of Europe standards in this area through the Internet and social media. Malta enacted the Civil Unions Act in April 2014, which grants to same-sex and different-sex couples the possibility of entering into civil unions. Couples in civil unions enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and obligations as married couples, including the right to apply for joint adoption. So far, almost 50 couples have been regulated under this Act.

Furthermore, the protection afforded to trans, genderqueer and intersex persons in Malta is of the highest standard in the world. Indeed, gender identity is included in the provisions stipulating anti-discrimination in the constitution of Malta. Additionally, following the enactment of the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act in April 2015, all persons in Malta have the right to their gender identity and the right to their bodily integrity and physical autonomy secured by law. This new legislation ensures that all population groups in Malta enjoy equal rights in all aspects of life.

I would like to speak about another important issue that deters human beings from reaching their full potential and often hinders them from their rightful participation in our democracies. Shamefully, poverty is increasing throughout Europe. When I addressed a conference on poverty in Brussels last autumn, I noted that the overall figure for absolute and relative poverty in the European Union alone stood at 80 million. There was hope that the figure would reduce substantially by 2020, according to a European Union strategy meant to combat this scourge, but at that conference, outgoing European Union Commission President Barroso told us in no uncertain terms that, rather than moving forward, Europe had been moving backwards in this regard.

I am under no illusion that poverty can be readily solved, given the society in which we live, the policies that inform it and the economic interests that drive these policies. Poverty is not only a matter of individual, family or community choice or deficiency; it is rooted in political, social and economic injustices. Policymakers are mostly driven by overarching economic strategies that often serve the people who devise them. Nonetheless, these strategies also condition people’s lives, and the various social systems that govern them.

We cannot afford to be complacent on poverty. This terrible situation is not acceptable. A purportedly social Europe needs to intensify its efforts to tackle this situation head on. The issue of the long-term unemployed, and now the issue of the working poor, has been on Europe’s agenda for a while. We need to revisit and revise some of the strategies used to combat those problems and explore their strengths and limitations.

I consider it a matter of urgency for the social partners to come together to discuss the issue of a social wage. Whatever avenue Europe decides to follow, tackling poverty should be at the top of its priorities. Poverty obstructs people from enjoying their rights and freedoms. Poverty impedes people from participating in a democracy. Poverty threatens the rule of law in our countries. Poverty hinders justice.

Malta is also party to various international covenants and has signed numerous conventions that bolster its position in protecting and promoting human rights. The Maltese Government has, over the years, also taken various legislative initiatives aimed at further safeguarding the implementation of particular human rights by instituting new legislation addressing various human rights aspects. Malta will continue to uphold the fundamental values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its subsequent covenants. These values are deeply enshrined in the building blocks of Maltese society, starting in the constitution and going all the way to the various bodies acting for the protection and promotion of human rights in all their facets.

As head of State, I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that Malta will further its implementation of human rights instruments and widen their reach, with a view to ensuring universal respect for and protection of human rights. The constant interaction among the three pillars of the Council of Europe – namely, human rights, democracy and the rule of law – gives coherence and renewed strength to its whole system.

The Council of Europe’s real strength also stems from its exalted goals and working methods, which are a blend of idealism and pragmatism. The achievements of the Council of Europe have been significant. Every now and then, individuals have a chance to take a look back in order to learn from the past. As far as the Council of Europe is concerned, if we were to take a look back we would see how much progress has been made for the good of all. Malta is a vibrant example in this regard, and today I have proudly shared some thoughts with you. May we all succeed in continuing our endeavours to bring about the necessary changes that will continue to make a difference in our peoples’ lives, so as to ensure that Europe will be a truly and effective model that upholds the values and freedoms that give humankind the dignity that all of us deserve, whoever we might be. Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT – Thank you very much. Perhaps I may make one comment on your very courageous approach. You are the head of State of a small country with a very strong voice. I thank you again. Colleagues would now like to ask you some questions. I call first Ms Rawert, who will speak on behalf of the Socialist Group.

Ms RAWERT (Germany)* – We are all very critical regarding the tragedy that is unfolding in the Mediterranean, and we are all suffering from it. As we know, Europe has many good intentions and would like to see more transfers between small and large countries as well as between north and south and east and west. What results are you expecting from the Europe-Africa Summit to be held in Malta in the autumn in terms of developing sustainable relations between European countries and African partner countries to address issues of migration and refugees?

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – Thank you for your important question. You are right: we have to be results-driven, otherwise we will continue to pile one report on another and speak at cross-purposes. I would like this summit at least to start the process of establishing a comprehensive, holistic approach on migration. We also need to start to educate our people about the fact that migration is our past and our present and that it will be our future. We cannot continue to handle migration on a management-by-crisis basis. The issue has become such a high priority because of the spectacularly tragic situation in which hundreds of people are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an issue of concern not only for our region but for the whole international community. I am really looking forward to at least the start of a comprehensive, holistic approach.

Migration is a multifaceted challenge and perhaps there needs to be a change in the discourse. We have talked so much about migrants being a burden on Europe. If we really analyse the situation, however, we see that migrants can be an opportunity and an asset to many of our countries whose work forces are becoming depleted. It could help ease our anxieties about the sustainability of our own welfare and pension systems. I am looking for this summit to provide an opportunity to consider universal human rights. These rights are not the divine right only of European or advanced countries; they are universal rights. They belong to migrants from Africa as well as to migrants fleeing persecution in conflict zones or from war, poverty and even the effects of climate change. I would like to see that approach come out of the meeting.

THE PRESIDENT – The next speaker is Ms Quintanilla, who speaks on behalf of the Group of the European People’s Party.

Ms QUINTANILLA (Spain)* – Madam President, I congratulate you: you and your country were one of the first to sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention, which is promoted by the Council of Europe and obliges all countries to fight against gender violence. Nevertheless, the figures on the participation of women in society in your country – in parliament, on company boards and in the world of labour – are still very low compared with those for other member States of the Council of Europe. What measures do you intend to take through your government to ensure that more women are involved at the decision-making level in parliament, company boardrooms and the world of labour? As you said, equality of labour is a fundamental human and social right.

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – Thank you for your question. A couple of years ago, an initiative was started to bring more women into the labour market. We now have universal nursery schools, accessible – because they are free – to everyone, and there has even been an initiative to provide breakfast at school to facilitate and encourage women joining the labour market. Compared with their European Union counterparts, Maltese women in the labour market were unfortunately often at the end of the classification in this regard; hence these important initiatives were taken to encourage Maltese women to enter the labour market. We have already seen progress. Obviously we have not reached the optimum situation, but the process has been initiated and hopefully, within a few years, all women who would like to be in the labour market will have all the facilities in place to do so. With regard to the pay gap, although, again, it is very low when compared with our European Union counterparts, we obviously need to keep working to bring it down to nothing. If we can manage that, we can be satisfied. In the long run, with regard to women’s representation on public authorities and boards, we have a national commission that seeks to promote equality in Malta, but much, much more needs to be done.

THE PRESIDENT – I call Lady Eccles, who will ask a question on behalf of the European Conservatives Group.

Lady ECCLES (United Kingdom) – This might come as a rather unusual topic, but during their annual journey between Africa and Europe, large numbers of wild birds fly across Malta. My understanding is that shooting to kill these vulnerable birds can be regarded as a sport. Could you please comment on what is being done to protect these remarkable creatures?

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – There are very strict rules in place, and the executive is very vigilant about anybody breaking those rules. There has been a referendum in Malta, which was won by the people who hunt such birds, albeit obviously within a legal framework. We are very clear about this: there is a clear legal framework, and there is also a vigilant executive on this matter. In fact, the season, which is very short – not more than 15 or 20 days – has been curtailed due to some situations.

THE PRESIDENT – I call Mr Malik Azmani, who will ask a question on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

Mr AZMANI (Netherlands) – I thank the President of Malta, on behalf of ALDE, for giving her views to this Assembly, especially on the big challenge of migration. As the southern border of the European Union, Malta deals with a high influx of migrants. In the European migration agenda, there is a proposal on the need mechanism on reallocation for only Italy and Greece. What is your – or Malta’s – feeling about that?

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – Malta is very much active in saving lives with Italy, Greece and now even some other member States of the European Union. Since last year, due to the response of the Mare Nostrum programme run by our Italian colleagues, Malta has not had such a great influx of migrants, but obviously a lot of work has been done to try to save people, so a lot of resources have been dedicated to saving people from the sea. In the event of Malta receiving a big influx of migrants, I am sure that that would be regarded as it has for Italy and Greece.

THE PRESIDENT – The last speaker from the political groups is Mr Tiny Kox, who will ask a question on behalf of the Group of the Unified European Left.

Mr KOX (Netherlands) – Madam President, as a former member of this Assembly, you are very well aware of the importance of upholding the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights and the authority of our Court. However, we see ever growing pressure from big member States, such as the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom, on the European Convention on Human Rights and the authority of the European Court of Human Rights. We also see that the European Union is now reluctant to do what it has promised and accede to the Convention. What could and should smaller countries such as Malta and my country, the Netherlands, do to protect the European Convention and the authority of the Court? Can I hear some words from you on this very important issue for this Assembly?

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – I will answer in the way that I understand the question, so I hope I understood it correctly. I think that issues such as human rights should not only be left for groups of countries; each and every country has a direct responsibility to do what it can, because if we disown that responsibility, we are really being irresponsible. I believe that countries such as the Netherlands and Malta still have that individual responsibility to do their utmost, not just in a group – I hope I understood the question correctly, because I am not really sure I did.

THE PRESIDENT – We have to be flexible in our procedures, so could you please repeat your question, Mr Kox?

Mr KOX (Netherlands) – The question was this. When some countries are putting pressure on the Convention-based system, would it not be good and wise if other member States acted to protect the Convention and the Court? If we leave it to the big member States to put pressure on the system, the results might be negative, so is there a role for the smaller countries, or should we leave it to the bigger countries?

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – Yes, of course, there undoubtedly is. I think small countries like ours should lead by example.

Mr DÍAZ TEJERA (Spain)* – I thank you, Madam President, for that very inclusive address, because we have heard a discourse whereby millions of people are to be excluded from our prosperous societies. Yours was an inclusive statement, which I very much welcome. You are caught in a very difficult situation. Up until now, people have been talking about these issues in terms of migration and asylum seekers, but until we can change the rules of trade and the balance of power between rich and poor countries, what do you think can be done to bring about this change? We have to build hope in the countries of origin of those people who, in desperation, have to flee and find a way out for themselves and their families.

Ms COLEIRO PRECA – I believe that each and every one of us has to be courageous. We have to speak up. Talking of migration does not make us popular; I am not very popular in my country when I speak of migration, but I want to speak of realities. If I believe in human rights, democracy and the rule of law, I have to stand up and speak.

We cannot be egoistic about migration because the issue has always existed. Many of the populations of our countries have been migrants. Just looking at our surnames in Malta—and, I am sure, in each and every country in Europe—would reflect a kaleidoscope of nationalities. My father’s name is Portuguese and my husband’s name is Italian, but I am born and bred Maltese. Migration is an issue of the past, present and future. We need to be brave, even if we are not popular. We need to come together, voice realities and educate our people to understand that we cannot build walls around us or close borders so that there is no more migration. Continuing a certain type of discourse that some use would be putting our heads in the sand, like an ostrich.

Migration is not just an issue for the Mediterranean. For example, there is a different sort of migration to Spain. Different flows of migrants go to each and every country of Europe, so it is a multifaceted challenge, but we need to look at it as a challenge and an opportunity. Globalisation has brought all this and will continue to bring all this. Globalisation has resulted in more and more people looking to address their quality of life by moving. Even we Europeans have very qualified young people who go from one country to another to improve their situation and get a better quality of life. The aspirations of young Europeans are the aspirations of any other young person, wherever he or she was born. Migration is not just a national or a regional issue, but an international one. We should be brave and speak about realities to educate our people. We might not be so popular but, in the end, we would be vindicated because the process would be good for them.

THE PRESIDENT – Thank you very much. Unfortunately, I have to interrupt the list of speakers because we have to close the sitting. On behalf of us all, I thank you, Madam President, for your very strong commitment and voice. You are a strong voice of a small country. I have one regret – that you left the Assembly. You could have been more than an added value to our work. You gave us courage and we admire your courage. Thank you once again for everything you do, and good luck. We are proud that you are a former member of our Assembly.

11. Next public business

THE PRESIDENT – The Assembly will hold its next public sitting this afternoon at 3 p.m. with the agenda that was approved this morning.

The sitting is closed.

(The sitting was closed at 1.05 p.m.)

CONTENTS

1. Opening of the third part of the 2015 ordinary session

2. Death of a member

3. Address by Ms Anne Brasseur, President of the Assembly

4. Ratification of new credentials

5. Changes in the membership of committees

6. Proposals for a current affairs debate

7. Adoption of the agenda

8. Time limits on speeches

9. Adoption of the minutes of proceedings of the Standing Committee

10. Address by Ms Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta

Questions:

Ms Rawert (Germany), Ms Quintanilla (Spain), Lady Eccles (United Kingdom), Mr Azmani (Netherlands), Mr Kox (Netherlands) and Mr Díaz Tejera (Spain)

11. Next public business

Appendix I

Representatives or Substitutes who signed the Attendance Register in accordance with Rule 11.2 of the Rules of Procedure. The names of Substitutes who replaced absent Representatives are printed in small letters. The names of those who were absent or apologised for absence are followed by an asterisk

Pedro AGRAMUNT

Alexey Ivanovich ALEKSANDROV*

Brigitte ALLAIN*

Jean-Charles ALLAVENA*

Werner AMON/ Edgar Mayer

Luise AMTSBERG/Frithjof Schmidt

Athanasia ANAGNOSTOPOULOU

Liv Holm ANDERSEN*

Lord Donald ANDERSON

Paride ANDREOLI

Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA/Anne Louhelainen

Ben-Oni ARDELEAN*

Khadija ARIB

Volodymyr ARIEV

Egemen BAĞIŞ

Theodora BAKOYANNIS*

David BAKRADZE

Gérard BAPT/Geneviève Gosselin-Fleury

Doris BARNETT

José Manuel BARREIRO/Agustín Conde

Deniz BAYKAL*

Marieluise BECK*

Ondřej BENEŠIK/Gabriela Pecková

José María BENEYTO*

Levan BERDZENISHVILI

Deborah BERGAMINI*

Sali BERISHA*

Anna Maria BERNINI/ Claudio Fazzone

Maria Teresa BERTUZZI*

Andris BĒRZINŠ/Nellija Kleinberga

Gülsün BİLGEHAN

Brian BINLEY*

Ľuboš BLAHA/Darina Gabániová

Philippe BLANCHART*

Maryvonne BLONDIN*

Jean-Marie BOCKEL/Jacques Legendre

Olga BORZOVA*

Mladen BOSIĆ

António BRAGA*

Anne BRASSEUR

Alessandro BRATTI*

Piet De BRUYN*

Beata BUBLEWICZ*

Gerold BÜCHEL

André BUGNON

Natalia BURYKINA*

Nunzia CATALFO

Elena CENTEMERO*

Irakli CHIKOVANI*

Vannino CHITI*

Christopher CHOPE*

Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN

Henryk CIOCH/Helena Hatka

James CLAPPISON

Igor CORMAN*

Telmo CORREIA

Paolo CORSINI

Carlos COSTA NEVES*

Celeste COSTANTINO*

Yves CRUCHTEN*

Zsolt CSENGER-ZALÁN

Katalin CSÖBÖR

Joseph DEBONO GRECH*

Reha DENEMEÇ

Alain DESTEXHE*

Manlio DI STEFANO*

Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA

Peter van DIJK

Şaban DİŞLİ

Sergio DIVINA*

Aleksandra DJUROVIĆ*

Namik DOKLE*

Elvira DROBINSKI-WEIß/Mechthild Rawert

Daphné DUMERY/Petra De Sutter

Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE*

Nicole DURANTON

Josette DURRIEU

Mustafa DZHEMILIEV/Andrii Lopushanskyi

Mikuláš DZURINDA*

Lady Diana ECCLES

Tülin ERKAL KARA

Franz Leonhard EßL/Christine Muttonen

Joseph FENECH ADAMI

Cătălin Daniel FENECHIU

Vyacheslav FETISOV*

Doris FIALA*

Daniela FILIPIOVÁ/Miroslav Antl

Ute FINCKH-KRÄMER*

Axel E. FISCHER

Gvozden Srećko FLEGO

Bernard FOURNIER

Hans FRANKEN

Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO

Martin FRONC

Sir Roger GALE

Adele GAMBARO

Karl GARÐARSSON

Iryna GERASHCHENKO*

Tina GHASEMI/Boriana Åberg

Valeriu GHILETCHI

Francesco Maria GIRO

Pavol GOGA

Carlos Alberto GONÇALVES*

Alina Ștefania GORGHIU/Viorel Riceard Badea

Svetlana GORYACHEVA*

Sandro GOZI*

Fred de GRAAF/Marit Maij

François GROSDIDIER*

Andreas GROSS

Dzhema GROZDANOVA

Mehmet Kasim GÜLPINAR*

Gergely GULYÁS*

Jonas GUNNARSSON

Nazmi GÜR*

Antonio GUTIÉRREZ

Maria GUZENINA

Márton GYÖNGYÖSI*

Sabir HAJIYEV

Hannes HANSO*

Alfred HEER

Michael HENNRICH*

Martin HENRIKSEN*

Françoise HETTO-GAASCH*

Oleksii HONCHARENKO

Jim HOOD*

Arpine HOVHANNISYAN*

Anette HÜBINGER

Johannes HÜBNER

Andrej HUNKO*

Ali HUSEYNLI/Sahiba Gafarova

Rafael HUSEYNOV

Vitaly IGNATENKO*

Florin IORDACHE

Tadeusz IWIŃSKI

Denis JACQUAT

Gediminas JAKAVONIS

Gordan JANDROKOVIĆ

Tedo JAPARIDZE*

Michael Aastrup JENSEN*

Frank J. JENSSEN/Kåre Simensen

Florina-Ruxandra JIPA*

Ögmundur JÓNASSON

Aleksandar JOVIČIĆ/Stefana Miladinović

Josip JURATOVIC*

Anne KALMARI

Mustafa KARADAYI*

Marietta KARAMANLI*

Niklas KARLSSON

Andreja KATIČ*

Vasiliki KATRIVANOU

Ioanneta KAVVADIA

Danail KIRILOV*

Bogdan KLICH*

Manana KOBAKHIDZE*

Haluk KOÇ

Igor KOLMAN

Željko KOMŠIĆ

Unnur Brá KONRÁÐSDÓTTIR*

Ksenija KORENJAK KRAMAR*

Attila KORODI

Alev KORUN/Andreas Schieder

Rom KOSTŘICA/Marek Černoch

Elvira KOVÁCS

Tiny KOX

Borjana KRIŠTO

Julia KRONLID

Eerik-Niiles KROSS/Andres Herkel

Marek KRZĄKAŁA/Ryszard Terlecki

Athina KYRIAKIDOU

Serhiy LABAZIUK*

Inese LAIZĀNE

Olof LAVESSON

Pierre-Yves LE BORGN'

Jean-Yves LE DÉAUT*

Igor LEBEDEV*

Valentina LESKAJ*

Terry LEYDEN

Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE

Georgii LOGVYNSKYI

François LONCLE*

George LOUKAIDES

Yuliya L'OVOCHKINA*

Jacob LUND*

Trine Pertou MACH*

Philippe MAHOUX/Dirk Van Der Maelen

Thierry MARIANI

Soňa MARKOVÁ/Pavel Holík

Milica MARKOVIĆ*

Meritxell MATEU PI

Ana MATO

Frano MATUŠIĆ

Liliane MAURY PASQUIER

Michael McNAMARA*

Sir Alan MEALE

Ermira MEHMETI DEVAJA

Evangelos MEIMARAKIS*

Ivan MELNIKOV*

Ana Catarina MENDES*

Attila MESTERHÁZY

Jean-Claude MIGNON*

Philipp MIßFELDER

Olivia MITCHELL

Igor MOROZOV*

João Bosco MOTA AMARAL

Arkadiusz MULARCZYK

Melita MULIĆ

Oľga NACHTMANNOVÁ

Hermine NAGHDALYAN*

Piotr NAIMSKI

Sergey NARYSHKIN*

Marian NEACȘU*

Andrei NEGUTA

Zsolt NÉMETH*

Miroslav NENUTIL

Baroness Emma NICHOLSON*

Michele NICOLETTI

Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI

Julia OBERMEIER*

Marija OBRADOVIĆ

Žarko OBRADOVIĆ

Judith OEHRI

Carina OHLSSON

Joseph O'REILLY

Maciej ORZECHOWSKI/Andrzej Jaworski

Sandra OSBORNE*

Tom PACKALÉN

José Ignacio PALACIOS/Jordi Xuclà

Liliana PALIHOVICI

Judith PALLARÉS CORTÉS

Ganira PASHAYEVA

Florin Costin PÂSLARU

Waldemar PAWLAK*

Jaana PELKONEN/Olli-Poika Parviainen

Vladimir PLIGIN*

Cezar Florin PREDA

John PRESCOTT*

Gabino PUCHE

Alexey PUSHKOV*

Carmen QUINTANILLA

Mailis REPS*

Andrea RIGONI*

François ROCHEBLOINE*

Soraya RODRÍGUEZ

Alexander ROMANOVICH*

Maria de Belém ROSEIRA*

René ROUQUET

Rovshan RZAYEV*

Àlex SÁEZ*

Vincenzo SANTANGELO*

Milena SANTERINI*

Nadiia SAVCHENKO/Boryslav Bereza

Deborah SCHEMBRI*

Stefan SCHENNACH

Ingjerd SCHOU

Frank SCHWABE*

Urs SCHWALLER/Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter

Salvador SEDÓ

Predrag SEKULIĆ

Ömer SELVİ

Aleksandar SENIĆ

Senad ŠEPIĆ

Samad SEYIDOV*

Jim SHERIDAN*

Bernd SIEBERT*

Valeri SIMEONOV

Andrej ŠIRCELJ

Arturas SKARDŽIUS

Leonid SLUTSKY*

Serhiy SOBOLEV

Olena SOTNYK*

Lorella STEFANELLI/Gerardo Giovagnoli

Yanaki STOILOV

Karin STRENZ

Ionuț-Marian STROE

Valeriy SUDARENKOV*

Krzysztof SZCZERSKI*

Damien THIÉRY

Lord John E. TOMLINSON

Antoni TRENCHEV*

Goran TUPONJA

Ahmet Kutalmiş TÜRKEŞ*

Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ*

Theodora TZAKRI

Ilyas UMAKHANOV*

Dana VÁHALOVÁ

Snorre Serigstad VALEN/ Tore Hagebakken

Petrit VASILI*

Imre VEJKEY*

Stefaan VERCAMER

Birutė VĖSAITĖ

Dimitris VITSAS

Vladimir VORONIN/Violeta Ivanov

Viktor VOVK

Klaas de VRIES

Nataša VUČKOVIĆ

Draginja VUKSANOVIĆ*

Piotr WACH

Robert WALTER*

Dame Angela WATKINSON*

Tom WATSON*

Karl-Georg WELLMANN*

Katrin WERNER*

Morten WOLD

Bas van 't WOUT/Malik Azmani

Gisela WURM

Maciej WYDRZYŃSKI

Leonid YEMETS*

Tobias ZECH

Kristýna ZELIENKOVÁ

Sergey ZHELEZNYAK*

Marie-Jo ZIMMERMANN*

Emanuelis ZINGERIS/Egidijus Vareikis

Guennady ZIUGANOV*

Naira ZOHRABYAN

Levon ZOURABIAN

Vacant Seat, Cyprus*

Vacant Seat, ‘‘The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’’/Vladimir Gjorchev

Vacant Seat, Turkey*

Vacant Seat, United Kingdom/Lord Richard Balfe

ALSO PRESENT

Representatives and Substitutes not authorised to vote

Rózsa HOFFMANN

Kerstin LUNDGREN

Observers

Eloy CANTU SEGOVIA

Aleida ALAVEZ RUIZ

Héctor LARIOS CÓRDOVA

Jorge Iván VILLALOBOS SEÁÑEZ

Partners for democracy

Hanane ABOULFATH

Ms Najat AL-ASTAL

Mohammed AMEUR

Mohammed Mehdi BENSAID

Nezha EL OUAFI

Bernard SABELLA