Speech by the President of the
Parliamentary Assembly, Peter Schieder,
on the occasion of the opening of the April part-session
(Strasbourg, 26 April 2004)Dear Colleagues and Friends, I welcome you most heartily to the Second Part of our 2004 Session. I specially welcome those colleagues who are here today for the first time.
All member delegations, without any exception or regard to their size, are now composed of women and men. I am very happy that the change in the Rules of Procedure led to this result. Thank you for your quick action, even if I am sure that the gender equilibrium can be improved even further.
We are heading for a different Europe, and in my view for a stronger, more cohesive Europe. With the enlargement of the European Union, when more Council of Europe member States will have the opportunity to co-operate both at inter-governmental and at supra-national levels, the ‘One Europe’ idea comes a step closer towards political reality.
We welcome the enlargement of the European Union. And we recognise at the same time that our challenges in the Assembly have not changed in any way. For evidence, just look at the Order of Business for the Session before us.
After an interesting period of negotiation, a solution for Monaco to become the 46th member State of our Organisation is on the horizon. We also look for progress in our relations with Belarus, trusting that the political pressure generated by the Assembly’s work will bring about changes that will finally allow this country to join the European fold.
Concerning politically or ethically controversial issues, like euthanasia, biomedicine, the situation in prisons in Europe or the future of our social security systems, the Assembly continues in an outspoken way to attract not only attention to them, but to allow the pros and cons to be weighed and debated.
As your President, I hold in high regard ambition, courage and political creativity, and I continue to react to issues which in my opinion concern the Assembly. Let me give you three examples.
Concerning Cyprus: the ‘Yes’ vote would have been a clear signal for ‘One Europe’. It would have meant the end of division on the island and the start of a time of unity and greater strength. It is clear that we fully respect the result of the referendum and the will of the people of Cyprus. But we cannot hide the fact that we are deeply disappointed that a historic chance has been missed. The Assembly will discuss the situation in an urgent procedure debate.
Concerning Israel: when it comes to defending our most fundamental values and beliefs, we must have the courage to confront our friends and to seek an open and critical dialogue. There is no false choice between principles and friends. Even at the most difficult moments.
With the extra-judicial killing of the Hamas leaders Sheikh Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, whatever their alleged crimes, the Government of Israel showed its disregard for the rule of law. Moreover, are such acts not an open invitation to further violence? This cannot be in Israel’s interest. I appealed to the Israeli Knesset, because it enjoys observer status with our Assembly, to do everything in its power to ensure that the principles of human rights and the rule of law are observed by the Israeli Government in its relations with the Palestinians.
The response by the Israeli Government to my statement was not long in coming, emphasising Israel’s right to self-defence against terrorist organisations, and this was conveyed this morning to the Assembly Bureau.
Concerning Turkey: I reacted to the decision by the Ankara state security Court confirming the conviction of Leyla Zana and three other former parliamentarians and appealed to the Turkish authorities to do everything possible to set them free.
In my opinion, the conviction was to a large extent based on an unjustified interference with the applicants’ freedom to discuss issues of public concern. Not only that, but there was an unjustifiable time taken to have the criminal procedure against them re-opened. You remember our Court’s judgment in 2001 which found the original trial to be unfair.
Clearly, the independence of the judiciary has to be respected, but I must say that the court sentence comes at a particularly delicate moment. We will this week debate a report on Turkey which recommends closing the monitoring procedure because over the last three years Turkey has clearly demonstrated its commitment and ability to fulfil its statutory obligations as a Council of Europe member state.
The Court sentence damages the overall picture we have of Turkey as a country implementing a huge reform package and making progress with regard to respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles.
Let me also give you news on the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, which will be held here in the Assembly Chamber from 17 to 19 May.
There is great interest in this Conference, which shows that the themes we have chosen are timely and relevant for national parliaments. Let me give you a sample of some of the questions that will be addressed:
How much confidence do our citizens really have in democratic State institutions and political parties? In what ways is the public really involved in political life and decision-making? Is there not a growing confidence gap? Do high abstention rates in elections throughout Europe not show a certain lassitude with politics?
On the other hand, electronic interaction is growing. How do Parliaments use new means of communication and their potential?
Can e-democracy and e-voting counterbalance the lack of interest in political life and contribute to a greater transparency of the State and its political actors?
The Conference should also lead to the drawing up of concrete proposals on how we can increase co-operation between the national Parliaments and European Assemblies such as our Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
I think this self-questioning exercise is extremely important not only as we approach a possible Third Summit of Heads of State and Government, and not only because of such recent developments as the motion tabled by a member of the European Parliament proposing to strengthen the transatlantic political dialogue with – I quote – the ultimate aim of establishing an EU–US Transatlantic Assembly. I say this because the outcome of the Conference must show us a clear way forward to strengthening both parliaments and parliamentary cooperation in the wider Europe.
We are heading for a different Europe, for a stronger Europe. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia will join the European Union in five days. In the media, they are currently known as “the accession countries". In the Council of Europe, they are all experienced members, firmly committed to our values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
I wish all the very best to those who enjoyed their European political youth in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and dreamed and fought for a concept of a wider Europe and who will now take up functions in the Commission and the European Parliament. Bear in mind the words Schiller had Marquis Posa say to Don Carlos “Keep true to the dreams of your youth”.