Resolution 1554 (2007)

Conflict of interest

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 24 May 2007 (see Doc. 11259, report of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities, rapporteur: Mr Greenway).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly underlines that transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of effective good governance and democracy at national and international level.

2. Public confidence in the way parliamentarians discharge their duties depends to a large extent on the presumption that they will not deal with matters in parliament in which they have a conflicting professional or personal interest. This applies also, mutatis mutandis, to international parliamentary institutions.

3. Therefore, before being appointed rapporteur in a committee, a member of the Parliamentary Assembly should disclose any professional, personal, financial or economic interest which might be considered relevant or conflicting with the subject of the report or with the country concerned by the report.

4. The Assembly also considers that members should be encouraged to make oral ad hoc declarations before speaking in plenary or in committee on a subject in which they have such interests. This would allow other members and the public not only to be informed of any conflicting interests but also be aware of the members’ experience in relation to the matter.

5. In the case where a rapporteur fails to declare any relevant or conflicting professional, personal, financial or economic interest, or makes an untruthful declaration, the relevant committee should have the right to remove the person.

6. The Assembly considers that it is appropriate to include these points in the Rules of Procedure and the complementary texts to the rules and consequently decides to:

6.1. insert in the Rules of Procedure a new Rule 12 worded as follows:

“Rule 12

Transparency and declaration of interest of members

12. The provisions governing Assembly members’ declaration of interest shall be attached to these Rules of Procedure as a complementary text.”

6.2. insert in the complementary texts to the Rules of Procedure the following provisions:

“Application of Rule 12 of the Rules of Procedure – Transparency and members’ declaration of interest (see Resolution 1554 (2007))

Article 1

1.1. All candidates for rapporteurship shall make an oral declaration of any professional, personal, financial or economic interests which might be considered relevant or conflicting with the subject of the report or with the country concerned by the report at the time of appointment in committee.

1.2. This declaration shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Article 2

2.1. Before speaking in committee or in plenary session on a subject on which they have a professional, personal, financial or economic interest which might be considered relevant or conflicting, members are encouraged to make ad hoc declarations of interest.

2.2. This not only serves transparency and is relevant for other members; it also makes colleagues and the general public aware of the members’ experience on the subject concerned.

Article 3

3. Committees shall have the right to remove a rapporteur who failed to declare such interests or who made an untruthful declaration.”

7. The Assembly decides that these new provisions shall enter into force on the first day of its October 2007 part-session.