Progress report | Doc. 14455 | 20 January 2018
Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (13 October 2017-21 January 2018)
1. Introduction
At its meeting on 23 November 2017, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the fourth part-session of 2017 (Friday 13 October) to the first Bureau meeting of the first part-session of 2018 (Monday 22 January).
The following chapters include the decisions taken by the Bureau at its meetings of 13 October in Strasbourg, of 23 November in Copenhagen and of 15 December in Paris. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions that were either ratified by the Standing Committee on 24 November or which do not require ratification. Chapter 4 lists the decisions taken on 23 November and 15 December that require ratification through the Progress report at the opening of the first part-session of the Assembly.
An addendum to this report will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 22 January, which will also include decisions to be ratified on the same day. Another addendum will be issued after the Bureau meeting of 26 January. It will include only the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the same day, notably the references and transmissions which will have been approved by the Bureau.
The Bureau will hold its next meetings on Friday 26 January at 8.30 am in Strasbourg and then on 15 March in Paris. The next meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in Paris on 16 March.
2. Activities of the Bureau since the last part-session and decisions not requiring ratification by the Assembly
2.1. Follow-up to Assembly’s Resolutions
2.1.1. Follow-up to the fourth part-session of 2017 (Strasbourg, 9-13 October 2017)
On 13 October, as a follow-up to the current affairs debate on The need for a political solution to the crisis in Catalonia, the Bureau referred the matter to the Monitoring Committee for information.
On 13 October, as a follow-up to Resolution 2182 (2017) on Follow-up to Resolution 1903 (2012): promoting and strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity of Parliamentary Assembly members, the Bureau approved the proposal made by the Secretary General of the Assembly, as follows:
- to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to determine the content and format of declaratory requirements (p. 8.3 and 8.4 of the Resolution);
- to ask the Secretary General of the Assembly to prepare a memorandum amending the Guidelines on the observation of elections by the Parliamentary Assembly (p. 9.5 of the Resolution);
- to ask the Secretary General of the Assembly to prepare a memorandum on the revision of the rules of access to and movement within Council of Europe premises during Assembly sessions (p 11.1 of the Resolution);
- to ask the Secretary General of the Assembly to prepare a model declaration for honorary associates and Honorary Presidents of the Assembly (p. 11.2 and 11.3 of the Resolution);
- to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to prepare guidelines on best practices in fields such as gifts and similar benefits, members’ participation in outside events, members’ travel at the invitation of third parties, etc. (p. 13 of the Resolution);
- to ask the political groups of the Assembly to follow GRECO recommendations related to them.
On 13 October, as a follow-up to Resolution 2183 (2017) on Evaluation of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Parliament of Jordan, the Bureau approved the proposal made by the Secretary General of the Assembly to refer the matter to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report (p. 13 of the Resolution).
As a follow-up to Resolution 2186 (2017) on the Call for a Council of Europe Summit to reaffirm European unity and to defend and promote democratic security in Europe, on 13 October the Bureau approved the proposal made by the Secretary General of the Assembly to ask the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to prepare a report and the Committee of Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to prepare an opinion on the Identity, role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly as a statutory organ of the Council of Europe and a pan-European forum for inter-parliamentary dialogue. (Subsequently, on 15 December, the Bureau decided to set up, under Article 44.4.c. of the Rules of Procedure, an ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on The role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly and approved its terms of reference, composition and timetable as set out in Appendix 1, subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress Report, as referred to in Chapter 4 below.)
On 13 October, as a follow-up to Resolution 2188 (2017) on New threats to the rule of law in Council of Europe member States: selected examples, the Bureau approved the proposal made by the Secretary General of the Assembly to ask the opinions from the Venice Commission as requested in paragraph 10 of the Resolution.
2.2. Standing Committee (Copenhagen, 24 November 2017)
2.2.1. Requests for a current affairs debate
On 23 November 2017, the Bureau:
- took note of the two requests which had been tabled:
- by Mr Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL) and Mr Michele Nicoletti (Italy, SOC), in their respective capacity as Chairpersons of the UEL and the SOC groups, on behalf of their groups, for the Standing Committee to hold a current affairs debate on Defending the acquis of the Council of Europe: the role of the Parliamentary Assembly. Follow-up to Resolution 2186 (2017) and Recommendations 2113 (2017) and 2114 (2017);
- by Mr Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD), in his capacity as Vice-Chairperson of the EPP/CD group, on behalf of his group, for the Standing Committee to hold a current affairs debate on Democracy hacked. How to respond?;
- following a vote, decided to recommend that the Standing Committee hold a current affairs debate on Defending the acquis of the Council of Europe: the role of the Parliamentary Assembly. Follow-up to Resolution 2186 (2017) and Recommendations 2113 (2017) and 2114 (2017), and appointed Mr Michele Nicoletti as the first speaker;
- should the Standing Committee decide to hold the current affairs debate on Democracy hacked. How to respond?, appointed Mr Emanuelis Zingeris as the first speaker.
Having considered these recommendations, the Standing Committee decided on 24 November – following a vote – to hold a current affairs debate on Democracy hacked. How to respond? (see point 3 below).
2.2.2. Draft agenda
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda.
2.2.3. Follow-up
On 15 December 2017, as a follow-up to the current affairs debate held by the Standing Committee on Democracy hacked. How to respond?, the Bureau decided to ask the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to prepare a report on Democracy hacked? How to respond?, subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress report as referred to in Chapter 4.2 below.
2.3. First part-session of 2018 (22-26 January)
2.3.1. Draft agenda
On 13 October, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft agenda, which it subsequently updated on 23 November. On 15 December, the Bureau drew up the draft agenda.
2.3.2. Requests for debates under urgent procedure
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of:
- the request tabled by Mr Talip Küçükcan (Turkey, EC) and 20 members of the Assembly for the Assembly to hold a debate under urgent procedure on Rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and xenophobia in Europe: a threat to European values;
- the request tabled by Mr Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), Chairperson of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, on behalf of the Committee, for the Assembly to hold a debate under urgent procedure on The Israeli-Palestinian peace process: the role of the Council of Europe;
- the request tabled by Mr Talip Küçükcan (Turkey, EC) and 20 members of the Assembly for the Assembly to hold a debate under urgent procedure on Energising the Israeli-Palestinian peace process: contribution of the Council of Europe.
2.4. Communications
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the communication by the President of the Assembly.
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the communications by the President and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2.5. Joint Committee (Strasbourg, 12 October 2017)
On 13 October, the Bureau agreed on the follow-up to be given to the meeting, namely:
- as regards the calendar for the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: agreed that the current calendar should be shortened and instructed the Secretary General of the Assembly to draft a memorandum proposing changes to the Regulations, to be considered at its next meeting;
- as regards the follow-up to be given to Resolution 2186 (2017) on Call for a Council of Europe Summit to reaffirm European unity and to defend and promote democratic security in Europe: decided to discuss the matter further and asked the President of the Assembly to liaise with the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers to this end.
2.6. Honorary President
On 23 November, the Bureau decided to grant the title of Honorary President to Mr Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Assembly 2012-2014.
2.7. Independent external investigation body on the allegations of corruption within the Assembly
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the letters by Sir Nicolas Bratza, President of the independent external investigation body; decided to extend the terms of reference of the independent external investigation body until 15 April 2018; and took note of the decision of the Secretary General of the Assembly to ask the Committee of Ministers to transfer 20,000 euro from the Assembly budget to the special account of the investigation body.
2.8. Acknowledgement of a new political group (Free Democrats Group)
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the memorandum and the conclusions provided by the President of the Assembly and the Secretary General of the Assembly as regards the authenticity of the signatures and the validity of the consent of the members of the FDG group who had resigned from the EC group; confirmed that the numbers of members in political groups of the Assembly on 30 June 2017 were the following: EPP/CD: 181; SOC: 174; EC: 88; ALDE: 67; UEL: 34; and decided to close the discussion concerning the establishment of the FDG group.
2.9. Resolution 2182 (2017) on Follow-up to Resolution 1903 (2012): promoting and strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity of Parliamentary Assembly members
On 23 November, the Bureau:
- took note of the memorandum by Ms Liliane Maury Pasquier (Switzerland, SOC), Chairperson of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs, setting out the content and format of declaratory requirements;
- asked the Committee to reconsider its decision concerning declaratory requirements of financial interests;
- took note of the memorandum by the Secretary General of the Assembly setting out the model sworn declaration for honorary associates and Honorary Presidents of the Assembly to be sent to former members of the Assembly holding the title of honorary associate of the Parliamentary Assembly or Honorary President of the Assembly, in line with the Assembly’s decision;
- set a deadline of six months for the former members of the Assembly concerned to return their signed sworn declaration;
- decided that, at the expiry of this deadline, failure to make a declaration or a refusal to sign such a declaration will ipso facto lead to the withdrawal of the title of honorary associate/Honorary President.
2.10. Outgoing President: interpretation of Rule 20.3 of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Rules of Procedure
On 13 October, as regards the Immediate Past President, the Bureau decided to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs whether Rule 20.3 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure could be applied to the past Acting President.
On 23 November, the Bureau:
- took note of the interpretation provided by the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs, according to which ‘only a President who has been duly elected by the Assembly can be considered to be an outgoing President of the Assembly’;
- decided to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to prepare a report on Amending Rule 20.3 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure on the status of the immediate past President of the Assembly.
2.11. Election observations
2.11.1. Presidential election in Kyrgyzstan (15 October 2017)
On 23 November, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee.
2.11.2. Participation of non-registered members in election observation
On 23 November, the Bureau:
- took note of a letter by Ms Nicole Trisse (France, NR) on the participation of non-registered members in election observation;
- decided to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to consider the issue of rights of non-registered (not belonging to any political group) members of the Assembly in the framework of the ongoing report on Amending Rule 19 of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure on political groups (Rapporteur: Mr Egidijus Vareikis, Lithuania, EPP/CD);
- decided to return to the matter of participation of non-registered members of the Assembly in election observation missions in the framework of the ongoing revision of Guidelines on election observation.
2.11.3. Schedule of elections
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the elections calendar for 2018 as presented in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly.
2.12. Procedure for considering motions for resolutions and recommendations and its possible improvement
At its meeting on 13 October, the Bureau instructed the Secretary General of the Assembly to draft a memorandum on the procedure applied by the Assembly when considering motions for resolutions and recommendations and its possible improvement, to be considered at its next meeting.
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the memorandum by the Secretary General of the Assembly and referred the matter to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report. The reference was subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee on the following day as referred to in Chapter 2.13 below.
2.13. References and transmissions to committees
2.13.1. References and transmissions
At its meeting on 23 November, the Bureau approved the following references and transmissions, which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee:
Doc. 14413, motion for a resolution, A legal status for “climate refugees”: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report
Doc. 14417, motion for a resolution, Missing refugee and migrant children in Europe: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report
Doc. 14218, Motion for a resolution, Strengthening the link between popular sports events and cultural heritage: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report
Doc. 14439, motion for a resolution, New challenges in the fight against organised crime and money laundering – the need to improve international co-operation: reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report
Doc. 14440, motion for a resolution, Sergei Magnitsky and beyond – fighting impunity by targeted sanctions: reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report
Bureau decision, Amending Rule 20.3 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure on the status of the immediate past President of the Assembly: reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report
Bureau decision, Procedure for considering motions for resolutions and recommendations and its possible improvement: reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report
2.13.2. Modification of references
At its meeting on 23 November, the Bureau approved the following modifications of references, which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee:
Doc. 14295, motion for a resolution, Sergei Magnitsky and beyond – fighting impunity by targeted sanctions (Ref. 4294 of 30 May 2017): no further action
Doc. 14308, motion for a resolution, Endocrine disrupting chemicals in water (Ref. 4899 of 30 June 2017): no further action
Doc. 14311, motion for a resolution, Enhancing co-operation between Council of Europe member States to meet new challenges in the fight against organised crime and money laundering (Ref. 4302 of 30 June 2017): no further action.
2.13.3. Extension of references
On 13 October, the Bureau approved the following extension of a reference:
Doc. 13892, motion for a resolution, Gender equality and child maintenance, Ref. 1462 of 27 November 2015 – validity: 27 November 2017: extension until 31 March 2018.
On 23 November, the Bureau approved the following extension of a reference:
Doc. 13620, motion for a resolution, Effective representation and participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of opposition parliamentarians in the member States (Ref. 4091 of 17 November 2014 – validity: 30 November 2017: extension until 30 June 2018.
On 15 December, the Bureau approved the following extensions of references:
Doc. 13965, motion for a resolution, Compatibility of Sharia law with the European Convention on Human Rights: can States Parties to the Convention be signatories of the “Cairo Declaration”? (Ref. 4188 of 4 March 2016 – validity: 4 March 2018): extension until 30 June 2018
Bureau decision, Evaluation of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic (Ref. 4045 of 17 April 2014 – validity: 31 December 2017): extension until 31 December 2019
Bureau decision, How can inappropriate restrictions on NGO activities in Europe be prevented? (Ref. 4205 of 22 April 2016 – validity: 22 April 2018): extension until 30 September 2018
Bureau decision, The crash of Polish Air Force Tu-154 transporting the Polish delegation on 10 April 2010 on the Russian Federation’s territory (Ref. 4103 of 26 January 2015 – validity: 31 January 2018): extension until 31 July 2018.
2.14. Issues raised by committees
2.14.1. Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
On 13 October, the Bureau took note of the letter by the Chairperson of the Committee on the follow-up to be given to the current affairs debate on European values under threat: addressing rising xenophobia, antisemitism and islamophobia in Europe.
2.14.2. Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
On 13 October, the Bureau took note of the letter by the Chairperson of the Committee and authorised Mr Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE) to take part in meetings of the Working group on death penalty, in the Minsk region (Belarus), from 22 to 26 November 2017.
2.15. Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
On 23 November, the Bureau was informed of the list of candidates to the post of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights transmitted to the Assembly by the Ministers’ Deputies, consisting of Mr Goran Klemenčič (presented by Slovenia), Mr Pierre-Yves Le Borgn’ (presented by France), and Ms Dunja Mijatović (presented by Bosnia and Herzegovina).
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of and declassified the report drawn up by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights on the hearing of the candidates to the post of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, which is transmitted to the members of the Assembly through the appendix 2 of the present Progress report (published already on 18 December 2017 as Doc 14455, Add 3).
2.16. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
On 13 October, the Bureau took note of the letter by the Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights; took note of the situation related to the seats in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain which would remain vacant as from 19 December 2017; and drew up the lists of candidates in respect of Malta, Turkey and the United Kingdom, to be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers.
2.17. Composition of the Monitoring Committee, the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights
2.17.1. Monitoring Committee
On 23 November, on the basis of a proposal by the EPP/CD Group, the Bureau nominated Ms Arpine Hovhannisyan (Armenia) and Ms Aleksandra Tomić (Serbia), subject to ratification by the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee ratified these nominations on the following day.
On 23 November, on the basis of a proposal by the SOC Group, the Bureau nominated Ms Angela Smith (United Kingdom) instead of Dame Rosie Winterton (United Kingdom), subject to ratification by the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee ratified this nomination on the following day.
2.18. 2017 World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 8-10 November)
On 13 October, the Bureau took note of the programme and approved the final composition of the ad hoc committee of the Bureau to participate in the Forum as set out in Appendix 3.
2.19. Expenditure of the Parliamentary Assembly for the 2018 financial year
On 15 December, the Bureau:
- took note of the memorandum by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly;
- took note of the decision by the Turkish Government to withdraw from the status of major contributor to the budget of the Council of Europe as from 1 January 2018;
- asked the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to prepare a report modifying the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure with a view to removing Turkish from the list of working languages of the Assembly;
- asked the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly to enquire with the Turkish Parliament whether it might wish to return to the previous practice of covering the cost of Turkish interpretation in the Assembly.
2.20. Parliamentary co-operation activities – work plan 2018
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the memorandum on parliamentary co-operation activities prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly.
2.21. Co-operation with the European Parliament and other EU institutions
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly, reflecting the various joint activities and meetings.
2.22. Apportionment of the allocation to political groups for 2018
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly and approved the proposal for the apportionment of the allocation.
2.23. Meetings elsewhere than Strasbourg and Paris
On 13 October, the Bureau authorised the Sub-committee on the Rights of Minorities of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination to meet in Bucharest on 21 November 2017, and the Sub-committee on external relations of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27-28 November 2017.
On 23 November, the Bureau authorised the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination to meet in Copenhagen on 1-2 March 2018.
On 15 December, the Bureau authorised:
- the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to meet in Athens on 22 May 2018;
- the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons to meet in Amman (Jordan) in March 2018 for two days (exact dates to be confirmed and subject to the availability of funds);
- the Sub-committee on Co-operation with non-European countries of origin and transit of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons and the Parliamentary Network on Diaspora Policies to meet in Rabat (Morocco) in February 2018 (exact dates to be confirmed);
- the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development to meet in Lisbon on 17-18 September 2018.
2.24. European Conference of Presidents of Parliament 2018 (Ankara, 13-14 September)
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Assembly; took note of the two themes of the Conference agreed by the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, namely:
- theme 1: Tackling terrorism: the role and responsibility of national parliaments
- theme 2: Encountering hate speech, racism and xenophobia: challenges for national parliaments;
and decided to ask the Turkish Parliament to provide a list of the already invited Parliaments in time for the next Bureau meeting.
2.25. 2018 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the calendar of the 2018 edition of the Prize.
2.26. Other business
On 13 October, as regards the Non-execution of the judgment in the case of “Ilgar Mammadov v. Azerbaijan”, the Bureau approved a statement as set out in Appendix 4 calling for opening the procedure foreseen under Article 46.4 of the European Convention on Human Rights as a result of the continuous non-execution by Azerbaijan of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ilgar Mammadov.
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the decision of the Presidential Committee to invite four representatives of the Russian Parliament to an exchange of views on the recent report of Mr Michele Nicoletti and the texts adopted by the Assembly on Call for a Council of Europe Summit to reaffirm European unity and to defend and promote democratic security in Europe (Resolution 2186 (2017) and Recommendation 2113 (2017)); and took note that this exchange of views would take place in Paris on 14 December 2017.
On 15 December, the Bureau was informed of the meeting between the Presidential Committee and the representatives of the Russian Federation Parliament (finally, five of them were present), which had taken place on 14 December 2017.
On 15 December, the Bureau took note of the request by Mr Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) to facilitate his fact-finding visit to the Russian Federation in the context of the preparation of his report on The need to shed light on the background of the murder of Boris Nemtsov.
3. Activities of the Standing Committee (Copenhagen, 24 November 2017)
The Standing Committee heard a welcome address by Ms Pia Kjærsgaard, Speaker of the Folketing and held exchanges of views with Ms Ulla Tørnæs, Minister for Development Co-operation, representing the Danish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and with Mr George Tsereteli, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The Standing Committee ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly submitted by the delegations of France, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia and the United Kingdom and a change in the Spanish delegation. It approved changes in the composition of Assembly committees.
The Standing Committee took note of the draft agenda of the first part-session of the Assembly (22-26 January 2018). It ratified the references which are contained in chapter 2.13. of the present report.
The Standing Committee held a current affairs debate on “Democracy hacked. How to respond?”.
It took note of the report of the Ad hoc Committees of the Bureau on the “Observation of the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan (15 October 2017)”.
The Standing Committee held an exchange of views and took note of the information report “Towards a democratic approach to the issues of self-determination and secession” of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
The Standing Committee adopted the following texts on behalf of the Assembly:
- Opinion 296 (2017) on the Draft Protocol amending the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108) and its explanatory report;
- Recommendation 2117 (2017), Child-friendly age assessment for unaccompanied migrant children;
- Resolution 2193 (2017), The relations of the Council of Europe with Kazakhstan;
- Resolution 2194 (2017), Cross-border parental responsibility conflicts;
- Resolution 2195 (2017), Child-friendly age assessment for unaccompanied migrant children.
The Standing Committee decided to hold its next meetings on 16 March 2018, in Paris, and on 1 June 2018, in Zagreb.
4. Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly
4.1. Calendar for the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
On 23 November, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly and approved the new calendar for the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (Appendix 5), subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress report.
4.2. References and transmissions to committees
On 15 December, the Bureau approved the following references and transmissions, subject to ratification by the Assembly:
Doc. 14419, motion for a resolution, Anonymous donation of gametes: balancing the rights of parents, donors and offspring: reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report
Doc. 14427, motion for a resolution, Stop hate speech and acts of hatred in sport: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report
Doc. 14429, motion for a resolution, Violence and discrimination against religious minorities in refugee camps across Europe: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report
Doc. 14364, motion for a resolution, The implications of Brexit for migration: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report
Doc. 14441, motion for a resolution, Investment migration: trends, advantages, standards: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for consultation
Bureau decision, Democracy hacked? How to respond?: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report
Bureau decision, The activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2018-2019: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report
Bureau decision, To modify the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure with a view to removing Turkish from the list of working languages of the Assembly: reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report
4.3. Ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on The role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly
On 15 December, the Bureau decided to set up, under Article 44.4.c. of the Rules of Procedure, an ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on The role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly and approved its terms of reference, composition and timetable as set out in Appendix 1, subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress Report.
The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.
5. Gender equality
in the functioning of the Assembly 
|
OVERVIEW ASSEMBLY |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
President |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100% |
0% |
0% |
100% |
|
Vice-Presidents |
11 |
8 |
19 |
56% |
58% |
44% |
42% |
|
Presidential Committee |
6 |
2 |
8 |
100% |
75% |
0% |
25% |
|
Assembly Bureau |
21 |
16 |
37 |
59% |
57% |
41% |
43% |
|
COMMITTEES |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy |
|||||||
|
Members |
52 |
29 |
81 |
64% |
64% |
36% |
36% |
|
Alternates |
54 |
24 |
78 |
69% |
69% |
31% |
31% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
67% |
33% |
33% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
9 |
1 |
10 |
75% |
90% |
25% |
10% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
2 |
2 |
4 |
100% |
50% |
0% |
50% |
|
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights |
|||||||
|
Members |
62 |
19 |
81 |
73% |
77% |
27% |
23% |
|
Alternates |
57 |
19 |
76 |
75% |
75% |
25% |
25% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100% |
0% |
0% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
10 |
1 |
11 |
43% |
91% |
57% |
9% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
4 |
1 |
5 |
100% |
80% |
0% |
20% |
|
Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights |
|||||||
|
Members |
11 |
7 |
18 |
58% |
61% |
42% |
39% |
|
Alternates |
9 |
1 |
10 |
82% |
90% |
18% |
10% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
3 |
0 |
3 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development |
|||||||
|
Members |
42 |
38 |
80 |
58% |
53% |
42% |
47% |
|
Alternates |
38 |
32 |
70 |
55% |
54% |
45% |
46% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0% |
100% |
100% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
67% |
100% |
33% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
5 |
3 |
8 |
36% |
63% |
64% |
38% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
2 |
1 |
3 |
50% |
67% |
50% |
33% |
|
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons |
|||||||
|
Members |
42 |
36 |
78 |
56% |
54% |
44% |
46% |
|
Alternates |
45 |
27 |
72 |
59% |
63% |
41% |
37% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
33% |
33% |
67% |
67% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
5 |
3 |
8 |
36% |
63% |
62% |
38% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100% |
0% |
0% |
100% |
|
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media |
|||||||
|
Members |
52 |
29 |
81 |
72% |
64% |
28% |
36% |
|
Alternates |
56 |
18 |
74 |
65% |
76% |
35% |
24% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
50% |
100% |
50% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
5 |
3 |
8 |
67% |
63% |
33% |
38% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
3 |
0 |
3 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination |
|||||||
|
Members |
42 |
37 |
79 |
44% |
53% |
56% |
47% |
|
Alternates |
37 |
34 |
71 |
54% |
52% |
46% |
48% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0% |
33% |
100% |
67% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
2 |
4 |
6 |
33% |
33% |
67% |
67% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
2 |
2 |
25% |
0% |
75% |
100% |
|
Committee on Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States (Monitoring Committee) |
|||||||
|
Members |
41 |
29 |
70 |
67% |
59% |
33% |
41% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
67% |
100% |
33% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
11 |
2 |
13 |
0% |
85% |
100% |
15% |
|
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs |
|||||||
|
Members |
19 |
7 |
26 |
71% |
73% |
29% |
27% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
67% |
33% |
33% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
5 |
1 |
6 |
33% |
83% |
67% |
17% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
0% |
|
OVERVIEW COMMITTEES |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
Members |
182 |
121 |
303 |
62% |
60% |
38% |
40% |
|
Alternates |
199 |
99 |
298 |
65% |
67% |
35% |
33% |
|
Committees’ Chairpersons |
5 |
4 |
9 |
56% |
56% |
44% |
44% |
|
Committees’ Vice-Chairpersons |
17 |
6 |
23 |
58% |
74% |
22% |
26% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
52 |
15 |
67 |
45% |
78% |
55% |
22% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
11 |
10 |
21 |
69% |
52% |
31% |
48% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN, SUB-COMMITTEES, BUREAUX |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Committees |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
1 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
50% |
50% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
2 |
1 |
3 |
33% |
67% |
67% |
33% |
|
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
50% |
67% |
50% |
33% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0% |
100% |
100% |
0% |
|
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
3 |
4 |
50% |
25% |
50% |
75% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
3 |
1 |
4 |
100% |
75% |
0% |
25% |
|
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
50% |
67% |
50% |
33% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
67% |
33% |
33% |
67% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0% |
67% |
100% |
33% |
|
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
33% |
67% |
67% |
33% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
1 |
2 |
100% |
50% |
0% |
50% |
|
Monitoring Committee |
|||||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
- |
100% |
- |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
0 |
1 |
- |
100% |
- |
0% |
|
OVERVIEW – SUB-COMMITTEES |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
10 |
9 |
19 |
50% |
53% |
50% |
47% |
|
Sub-Committee Vice-Chairpersons |
13 |
4 |
17 |
50% |
76% |
50% |
24% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (Representatives and Substitutes) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
37% |
|
Andorra |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Armenia |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
37% |
|
Austria |
12 |
7 |
5 |
59% |
41% |
|
Azerbaijan |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Belgium |
14 |
9 |
5 |
64% |
36% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
Bulgaria |
12 |
8 |
4 |
67% |
33% |
|
Croatia |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
Cyprus |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Czech Republic |
14 |
7 |
7 |
50% |
50% |
|
Denmark |
10 |
6 |
4 |
60% |
40% |
|
Estonia |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Finland |
10 |
4 |
6 |
40% |
60% |
|
France |
36 |
22 |
14 |
61% |
39% |
|
Georgia |
10 |
5 |
5 |
50% |
50% |
|
Germany |
36 |
20 |
16 |
56% |
44% |
|
Greece |
14 |
8 |
6 |
57% |
43% |
|
Hungary |
14 |
10 |
4 |
71% |
29% |
|
Iceland |
6 |
2 |
4 |
34% |
36% |
|
Ireland |
8 |
6 |
2 |
75% |
25% |
|
Italy |
36 |
19 |
17 |
53% |
47% |
|
Latvia |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Liechtenstein |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Lithuania |
8 |
6 |
2 |
75% |
25% |
|
Luxembourg |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Malta |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Republic of Moldova |
9 |
6 |
3 |
67% |
33% |
|
Monaco |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Montenegro |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Netherlands |
13 |
7 |
6 |
54% |
46% |
|
Norway |
10 |
5 |
5 |
50% |
50% |
|
Poland |
24 |
18 |
6 |
75% |
25% |
|
Portugal |
14 |
8 |
6 |
57% |
43% |
|
Romania |
19 |
14 |
5 |
74% |
26% |
|
San Marino |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Serbia |
14 |
6 |
8 |
43% |
57% |
|
Slovak Republic |
10 |
8 |
2 |
80% |
20% |
|
Slovenia |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Spain |
24 |
15 |
9 |
63% |
37% |
|
Sweden |
12 |
5 |
7 |
42% |
58% |
|
Switzerland |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Turkey |
36 |
26 |
10 |
72% |
28% |
|
Ukraine |
23 |
19 |
4 |
83% |
17% |
|
United Kingdom |
36 |
25 |
11 |
70% |
30% |
|
Total |
601 |
381 |
220 |
63% |
37% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS (REPRESENTATIVES ONLY) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (representatives) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Andorra |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Armenia |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Austria |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Azerbaijan |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Belgium |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Bulgaria |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Croatia |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Cyprus |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Czech Republic |
7 |
4 |
3 |
57% |
43% |
|
Denmark |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Estonia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Finland |
5 |
1 |
4 |
20% |
80% |
|
France |
18 |
10 |
8 |
56% |
44% |
|
Georgia |
5 |
2 |
3 |
40% |
60% |
|
Germany |
18 |
7 |
11 |
44% |
56% |
|
Greece |
7 |
2 |
5 |
29% |
71% |
|
Hungary |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Iceland |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Ireland |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Italy |
18 |
9 |
9 |
50% |
50% |
|
Latvia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Liechtenstein |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Lithuania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Luxembourg |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Malta |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Republic of Moldova |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Monaco |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Montenegro |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Netherlands |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Norway |
5 |
2 |
3 |
40% |
60% |
|
Poland |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Portugal |
7 |
5 |
2 |
71% |
29% |
|
Romania |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
San Marino |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Serbia |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Slovak Republic |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Spain |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Sweden |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Switzerland |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Turkey |
18 |
12 |
6 |
67% |
33% |
|
Ukraine |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
United Kingdom |
18 |
11 |
7 |
61% |
39% |
|
Total |
303 |
182 |
121 |
60% |
40% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS (SUBSTITUTES ONLY) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (substitutes) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Andorra |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Armenia |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Austria |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Azerbaijan |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Belgium |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Bulgaria |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Croatia |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Cyprus |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Czech Republic |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Denmark |
5 |
2 |
3 |
40% |
60% |
|
Estonia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Finland |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
France |
18 |
12 |
6 |
67% |
33% |
|
Georgia |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Germany |
18 |
13 |
5 |
72% |
28% |
|
Greece |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Hungary |
7 |
4 |
3 |
57% |
43% |
|
Iceland |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Ireland |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Italy |
18 |
10 |
8 |
56% |
44% |
|
Latvia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Liechtenstein |
3 |
2 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Lithuania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Luxembourg |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Malta |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Republic of Moldova |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Monaco |
2 |
2 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Montenegro |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Netherlands |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Norway |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Poland |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Portugal |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Romania |
9 |
7 |
2 |
78% |
22% |
|
San Marino |
2 |
2 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Serbia |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Slovak Republic |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Spain |
12 |
6 |
6 |
50% |
50% |
|
Sweden |
6 |
1 |
5 |
17% |
83% |
|
Switzerland |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
1 |
1 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Turkey |
18 |
14 |
4 |
78% |
22% |
|
Ukraine |
11 |
10 |
1 |
91% |
9% |
|
United Kingdom |
18 |
14 |
4 |
78% |
22% |
|
Total |
298 |
199 |
99 |
67% |
33% |
|
OVERVIEW – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Delegations |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2016 |
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
||||
|
Total |
381 |
220 |
601 |
61% |
64% |
39% |
36 % |
|
Representatives |
182 |
121 |
303 |
59% |
60% |
41% |
40% |
|
Substitutes |
199 |
99 |
298 |
62% |
67% |
38% |
33% |
Appendix 1 – Ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on The role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly
(open)The Bureau of the Assembly decides, subject to ratification by the Assembly through its Progress Report, under Article 44.4.c. of the Rules of Procedure to set up an ad hoc Committee of the Bureau on The role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly with the following terms of reference, composition and timetable.
1. Terms of reference
To make proposals to the Bureau of the Assembly on the implementation of paragraphs 16-18 of Resolution 2186 (2017) on Call for a Council of Europe summit to reaffirm European unity and to defend and promote democratic security in Europe. The ad hoc committee will notably have a twofold task:
- to reflect on, and if possible prepare, proposals aimed at harmonising the rules governing participation and representation of member States in both statutory organs, while fully respecting the autonomy of the two bodies;
- to prepare proposals as regards the role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly as a statutory organ of the Council of Europe and a pan-European forum for interparliamentary dialogue which aims at having an impact in all Council of Europe member States.
The ad hoc committee will carry out its work in the two official languages (English and French). Its report, once presented to the Bureau, will provide useful input into the report under preparation by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy on the Identity, role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly as a statutory organ of the Council of Europe and a pan-European forum for interparliamentary dialogue.
2. Composition
Since Resolution 2186 (2017) states that “For this process to be credible and fruitful, the whole Assembly and every single member State should do their utmost to ensure that all member States of the Organisation will be fully represented in the process on both the parliamentary and intergovernmental sides in strict compliance with their respective obligations and resolutions” (paragraph 17), the ad hoc committee will be composed of:
- The President of the Assembly;
- The Chairpersons of Political Groups or, in their absence, a member representing the group concerned;
- The Chairpersons of national delegations or, in their absence, a member of the delegation duly designated;
- The Chairpersons of the general committees listed in Rule 44.1. of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly or, in their absence, one of the vice-chairpersons of the committee concerned;
- The Rapporteur of the Committee of Political Affairs and Democracy on Identity, role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly as a statutory organ of the Council of Europe and a pan-European forum for interparliamentary dialogue as well as the Rapporteur for opinion of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs on this subject.
3. Timetable
The ad hoc committee should present its report to the Bureau, at the latest, at its December 2018 meeting.
Appendix 2 – Report by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights on the Election ofthe Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
(open)1. The Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights met in Paris on 12 December 2017at 2 pm in order to hold a hearing of the candidates to the post of Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
2. The list of candidates was transmitted to the Assembly
by the Committee of Ministers on 23 November 2017 . It contained the following names
in alphabetical order:
- Mr Goran KLEMENČIČ (Slovenia)
- Mr Pierre-Yves LE BORGN’ (France)
- Ms Dunja MIJATOVIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
3. The Sub-Committee interviewed the three candidates, in the above order. It granted each of the candidates a thirty-minute interview. The Sub-Committee then discussed its impressions of the candidates in the light of their applications, the presentations they made of their candidatures and the answers they gave to members' questions.
4. On this basis, the Sub-Committee, whilst considering that all three candidates were fully qualified to fulfill the requirements of the office of Commissioner for Human Rights, established the following order of preference amongst the candidates, with a large majority in favour of the first candidate:
Appendix 3 – List of members of the Ad Hoc Committee designated to participate in the 2017 World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 8-10 November)
(open)Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
- Ms Thorhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC)
- Mr Deniz Baykal (Turkey, SOC)
- Lord George Foulkes (United Kingdom, SOC)
- Mr Bogdan Klich (Poland, EPP/CD
- Mr Michele Nicoletti (Italy, SOC)
- Mr Luis Alberto Orellana (Italy, SOC)
- Mr Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE)
- Mr Krzysztof Truskolaski (Poland, ALDE)
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
- Ms Eka Beselia (Georgia, SOC)
- Ms Anne Brasseur (Luxembourg, ALDE)
- Mr Boriss Cilevičs (Latvia, SOC)
- Mr Raphaël Comte (Switzerland, ALDE)
- Mr Sergio Divina (Italy, FDG)
- Mr Samvel Farmanyan (Armenia, EPP/CD)
- Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC)
- Mr Aleksander Pociej (Poland, EPP/CD)
Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)
- Mr Cezar Florin Preda (Romania, EPP/CD)
- Mr Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC)
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
- Ms Jennifer De Temmerman (France, NR)
- Mr İlhan Kesici (Turkey, SOC)
- Mr Ertuğrul Kürkçü (Turkey, UEL)
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media
- Mr Volodymyr Ariev (Ukraine, EPP/CD)
- Mr Roland Rino Büchel (Switzerland, ALDE)
- Mr José Cepeda (Spain, SOC)
- Mr Paolo Corsini (Italy, SOC)
- Mr Claudio Fazzone (Italy, EPP/CD)
- Ms Adele Gambaro (Italy, FDG)
- Mr Francesco Giro (Italy, EPP/CD)
- Ms Rózsa Hoffmann (Hungary, EPP/CD)
- Mr Rafael Huseynov (Azerbaijan, ALDE)
- Ms Judith Pallarés (Andorra, ALDE)
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
- Mr Goran Beus Richembergh (Croatia, ADLE)
- Ms Gülsün Bilgehan (Turkey, SOC)
- Ms Elena Centemero (Italy, EPP/CD)
- Mr Jean-Pierre Grin (Switzerland, ADLE)
- Ms Alice-Mary Higgins (Ireland, SOC)
- Ms Elvira Kovács (Serbia, EPP/CD)
- Mr Florian Kronbichler (Italy, SOC)
- Ms Cristina-Mădălina Prună (Romania, NR)
- Mr Sasa Magazinović (Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC)
- Ms Dovilė Šakalienė (Lithuania, ALDE)
- Ms Milena Santerini (Italy, SOC)
- Ms Maria Edera Spadoni (Italy, NR)
- Mr Damien Thiéry (Belgium, ALDE)
- Ms Gisela Wurm (Austria, SOC)
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
- Ms Milica Marković (Bosnia and Herzegovina, FDG)
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
- Mr Serhii Kiral (Ukraine, EC)
Appendix 4 – Press release
(open)Call for referral of Mammadov case to the Strasbourg Court ‘as soon as possible’ on question of whether Azerbaijan has failed to abide by the judgment
Strasbourg, 13.10.2017 – In view of the continuous non-execution by Azerbaijan of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ilgar Mammadov vs. Azerbaijan, the Bureau of the Assembly calls on High Contracting Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights to apply, as soon as possible, the procedure foreseen under Article 46.4 of the Convention.
Appendix 5 – New calendar for the election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
(open)For a mandate beginning on 1 October of year n:
- September n-1: after informal discussions between the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Chair of the Committee of Ministers (CM). PACE, through its Bureau, confirms the date of the election (June of year n);
- October n-1: the CM fixes the timetable and calls for candidatures to be received before 10 January n. The Chair of the CM writes to his/her colleagues asking for suitable candidates and drawing attention to the "Juncker criteria" and to the gender equality aspects;
- 10 January n: deadline for member states to propose candidates;
- January n: consultation with PACE through the Joint Committee on all proposed candidates;
- March n: interviews of candidates by CM, drawing up of the recommendation and subsequent transmission to PACE;
- Before June n: interviews by the Assembly of the candidates included in the recommendation;
- June n: election by PACE;
- 1 October n: start of the mandate of the new Secretary General.
If only one candidate appears in the recommendation:
- a discussion during the April n PACE part-session to seek agreement in the Joint Committee on the submission of only one candidate in the CM recommendation;
- if agreement is reached in the Joint Committee, subsequent transmission of recommendation to PACE;
- June n: interviews and election by PACE;
- 1 October n: start of the mandate of the new Secretary General.
If the CM considers that no candidates are suitable to appear in the recommendation or if no agreement is reached in the Joint Committee on the submission of only one candidature in the recommendation:
- April n: renewed call for candidates within a deadline of maximum six weeks;
- June n: new consultation in Joint Committee on candidatures proposed by member states,
- July n: interview of candidatures by CM, drawing up of the recommendation and subsequent transmission to PACE;
- End September/October n: interviews and election by PACE;
- 1 October or no later than three weeks after the day of election by PACE: start of the mandate of the new Secretary General.