Report | Doc. 12175 | 26 February 2010
Reinforcing the effectiveness of Council of Europe treaty law
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Summary
The Council of Europe plays a major role in setting standards in the human rights field and in developing international law. The pan-European conventional acquis it has developed lays the foundations for a Europe without dividing lines.
The Council of Europe member states must renew their commitment vis-à-vis this normative corpus, whose importance and undeniable added value are recalled in the report.
To this end, the number of ratifications of treaties – particularly the more basic conventions – must increase. Furthermore, existing treaties must be re-examined and updated as appropriate (or indeed, in extreme cases, abrogated).
The report also calls into question the increasing use of so-called “disconnection clauses”, and invites the Committee of Ministers to regulate this practice more strictly.
A. Draft resolution
(open)Appendix to Resolution … (2010) – Core Council of Europe treaties
(open)Human rights (including minority rights)
- Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 5)
- Protocol No. 1 (ETS No. 9 – protection of property)
- Protocol No. 4 (ETS No. 46 – freedom of movement, prohibition of expulsion of nationals and prohibition of collective expulsion of aliens)
- Protocol No. 6 (ETS No. 114 – abolition of the death penalty)
- Protocol No. 7 (ETS No. 117 – various: immigration legislation, criminal law and equality)
- Protocol No. 12 (ETS No. 177 – general prohibition of all forms of discrimination)
- Protocol No. 13 (ETS No. 187 – abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances)
- Protocol No. 14 (CETS No. 194 – reform of the Court)
- European Social Charter/European Social Charter (revised) (ETS No. 35 and ETS No. 163)
- Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter (ETS No. 128 – additional rights)
- Protocol amending the European Social Charter (ETS No. 142 – reform of the supervisory machinery) (not yet in force)
- Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter (ETS No. 158 – providing for a system of collective complaints)
- European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ETS No. 126) and its amending protocols
- Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108)
- European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ETS No. 148)
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ETS No. 157)
- Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No. 197)
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No. 201)
Legal co-operation in criminal matters/Combating terrorism
- European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24)
- Additional Protocol (ETS No. 86 – prohibition of extradition for political offences and further reference to the ne bis in idem principle)
- Second Additional Protocol (ETS No. 98 – further provisions)
- European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (ETS No. 30)
- Additional Protocol (ETS No. 99 – redefines the provisions of the Convention)
- Second Additional Protocol (ETS No. 182 – cross-border crime and data protection)
- European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (ETS No. 90)
- Amending Protocol (ETS No. 190 – limiting the exceptions to the treaty’s provisions)
- Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 173)
- Additional Protocol (ETS No. 191 – extending its scope to persons exercising quasi-judicial functions)
- Civil Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 174)
- Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185)
- Additional Protocol (ETS No. 189 – criminalisation of racist acts)
- Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196)
- Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198)
B. Draft recommendation
(open)C. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Prescott, rapporteur
(open)1. Introduction
2. The Council of Europe as architect of the European legal area
3. The Council of Europe’s “core” treaties
Human rights (including minority rights) 1. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 5): ratified by all the member states a. Protocol No. 1 (ETS No. 9 – protection of property): not ratified by Monaco and Switzerland b. Protocol No. 4 (ETS No. 46 – freedom of movement, prohibition of expulsion of nationals and prohibition of collective expulsion of aliens): not ratified by Greece, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom c. Protocol No. 6 (ETS No. 114 – abolition of the death penalty): not ratified by Russia d. Protocol No. 7 (ETS No. 117 – various: immigration legislation, criminal law and equality): not signed by United Kingdom, not ratified by Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Turkey e. Protocol No. 12 (ETS No. 177 – general prohibition of all forms of discrimination): only 17 ratifications f. Protocol No. 13 (ETS No. 187 – abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances): not signed by Azerbaijan and Russia, not ratified by Armenia, Italy, Latvia and Poland g. Protocol No. 14 (CETS No. 194 – reform of the Court): not ratified by Russia 2. European Social Charter (ESC) / European Social Charter (revised) (ETS No. 35 and ETS No. 163): Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Switzerland have not ratified either a. Additional Protocol to the ESC (ETS No. 128 – additional rights): only 13 ratifications of the 27 that have ratified the ESC b. Protocol amending the ESC (ETS No. 142 – reform of the supervisory machinery) (not yet in force): only 23 ratifications c. Additional Protocol to the ESC (ETS No. 158 – providing for a system of collective complaints): only 12 ratifications 3. European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ETS No. 126) and its amending protocols: ratified by all the member states 4. Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108): 41 ratifications, 3 signatures not followed by ratification 5. European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ETS No. 148): only 24 ratifications 6. Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ETS No. 157): not ratified by Andorra, Belgium, France, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Monaco and Turkey 7. Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No. 197): 15 ratifications, 26 signatures not followed by ratification 8. Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No. 201): 3 ratifications, 35 signatures not followed by ratification |
Legal co-operation in criminal matters/Combating terrorism 9. European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24): ratified by all the member states a. Additional protocol (ETS No. 86 – prohibition of extradition for political offences and further reference to the ne bis in idem principle): not ratified by Germany, Austria, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, San Marino and Turkey b. Second additional protocol (ETS No. 98 – further provisions): not ratified by Andorra, France, Greece, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and San Marino 10. European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (ETS No. 30): ratified by all the member states a. Additional Protocol (ETS No. 99 – redefines the provisions of the Convention): not ratified by Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland b. Second additional Protocol (ETS No. 182 – cross-border crime and data protection): 19 ratifications, 17 signatures not followed by ratification 11. European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (ETS No. 90): not ratified by Andorra a. Amending protocol (ETS No. 190 – limiting the exceptions to the treaty’s provisions): 29 ratifications, 17 signatures not followed by ratification 12. Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 173): not ratified by Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Spain a. Additional Protocol (ETS No. 191 – extending its scope to persons exercising quasi-judicial functions): 25 ratifications, 10 signatures not followed by ratification 13. Civil Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 174): not ratified by 14 member states 14. Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185): 26 ratifications, 20 signatures not followed by ratification a. Additional Protocol (ETS No. 189 – criminalisation of racist acts): 15 ratifications, 19 signatures not followed by ratification 15. Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196): 22 ratifications, 21 signatures not followed by ratification 16. Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198): 11 ratifications, 18 signatures not followed by ratification |
4. Fresh impetus for the ratification process
5. Declarations, reservations and disconnection clauses
6. Possible obsolete or inappropriate treaties
7. Conclusions and recommendations
***
Reporting committee: Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Reference to committee: Doc. 11425, Reference 3395 of 21 January 2008
Draft resolution and draft recommendation unanimously adopted by the committee on 26 January 2010
Members of the committee: Mr Christos Pourgourides (Chairperson), Mr Christopher Chope, Mr Christoph Strässer, Mr Serhiy Holovaty (Vice-Chairpersons), Ms Marieluise Beck, Ms Marie-Louise Bemelmans-Videc, Mr Petru Călian, Mr Erol Aslan Cebeci, Ms Ingrida Circene, Ms Ann Clwyd (alternate: Mr John Prescott), Mr Agustín Conde Bajén, Mr Telmo Correia, Mr Joe Costello, Mr ArcadioDíaz Tejera, Ms Lydie Err, Mr Renato Farina, Mr Valeriy Fedorov, Mr Joseph Fenech Adami, Ms Mirjana Ferić-Vac, Mr György Frunda, Mr Jean-Charles Gardetto, Mr József Gedei, Ms Svetlana Goryacheva, Mr Neven Gosović, Ms Carina Hägg, Mr Holger Haibach (alternate: Ms Anette Hübinger), Ms Gultakin Hajibayli, Mr Johannes Hübner, Mr Michel Hunault, Mr Rafael Huseynov, Mr Shpetim Idrizi, Mr Aliosman Imamov, Mr Želiko Ivanji, Ms Kateřina Jacques, Mr Mogens Jensen, Mr András Kelemen, Ms Kateřina Konečná, Mr Franz Eduard Kühnel, Ms Darja Lavtižar-Bebler, Mr Pietro Marcenaro, Ms Milica Marković, Mr Dick Marty, Ms Ermira Mehmeti Devaja, Ms Chiora Taktakishvili (alternate: Mr Akaki Minashvili), Mr Philippe Monfils, Mr Felix Müri, Mr Philippe Nachbar (alternate: Mr Yves Pozzo di Borgo), Mr Adrian Năstase, Ms Anna Ntalara, Ms Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir, Mr Valery Parfenov, Mr Peter Pelegrini (alternate: Mr József Berényi), Ms Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin, Mr Valeriy Pysarenko, Mr Janusz Rachoń, Ms Mailis Reps (alternate: Mr Aleksei Lotman), Ms Marie-Line Reynaud, Mr François Rochebloine, Mr Paul Rowen, Mr Armen Rustamyan, Mr Kimmo Sasi, Ms Marina Schuster, Mr Yanaki Stoilov, Mr Fiorenzo Stolfi, Lord John Tomlinson, Mr Tuğrul Türkeş, Ms Özlem Türköne, Mr Viktor Tykhonov (alternate: Mr Ivan Popescu), Mr yvind Vaksdal, Mr Giuseppe Valentino, Mr Hugo Vandenberghe, Mr Egidijus Vareikis, Mr Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Mr Luigi Vitali, Mr Klaas de Vries, Ms Nataša Vučković, Mr Dimitry Vyatkin, Mr Marek Wikiński, Ms Renate Wohlwend, Mr Jordi Xuclà i Costa
NB: The names of the members who took part in the meeting are printed in bold
Secretariat of the committee: Mr Drzemczewski, Mr Schirmer, Ms Szklanna, Ms Heurtin