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Resolution 1589 (2007)
Co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly and the Conference of INGOs
1. The Parliamentary Assembly recalls
its long-standing support for civil society organisations as key players
in the new international context. Such organisations, and particularly
international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), play an increasingly
important role in policy and decision-making processes in pluralist democracies.
2. Since 1949, the Assembly has co-operated closely with NGOs
engaged in promoting European integration, defending and developing
human rights and fundamental freedoms, promoting and assisting democratic
transition and good governance, as well as in the Assembly’s other
fields of action.
3. The Assembly notes with satisfaction that co-operation with
a number of INGOs has brought undeniable added value to the work
of the Assembly and its committees.
4. The Assembly has always taken a keen interest in establishing
fair principles and efficient rules governing the relations with
INGOs and was instrumental in the granting and implementation of
a new participatory status for INGOs with the Council of Europe.
5. It welcomes the fact that, in the Action Plan adopted at the
3rd Summit of the Council of Europe (Warsaw, 16 and 17 May 2005),
the member states decided to “enhance the participation of NGOs
in Council of Europe activities as an essential element of civil
society’s contribution to the transparency and accountability of democratic
government”.
6. The Assembly takes pride in the pioneering role of the Council
of Europe in constantly developing civil society representation
through a “quadrilogue”, as an expression of democratic pluralism
of a Europe close to its people.
7. It welcomes the active support of the Conference of INGOs
in strengthening INGOs and civil society in Council of Europe member
states aimed at promoting the Organisation’s core principles and
values.
8. The Assembly recognises and underscores the role played by
INGOs as key partners in raising awareness and contributing to the
signature, ratification and implementation of certain Council of
Europe conventions, as well as to the development of new standard-setting
instruments.
9. It notes with satisfaction that the work programme of the
Conference of INGOs contains several major themes which are closely
related to the priorities of the Assembly. On this basis, it is
convinced that additional steps should be taken with a view to an
enhanced co-operation aimed at further developing citizen participation and
dialogue with civil society.
10. The Assembly intends therefore to intensify its co-operation
with representative and proactive INGOs and with the Conference
of INGOs of the Council of Europe in particular.
11. Consequently, the Assembly:
11.1. invites
the Bureau of the Assembly to:
11.1.1. consider
setting up a platform with INGOs to exchange information, experiences
and know-how on the development of certain issues, policies and
co-operation, with a view to fostering dialogue between parliamentarians
and INGOs;
11.1.2. consider holding an annual meeting to exchange views with
the President of the Conference of INGOs and the presidents of the
different thematic groups of the conference;
11.1.3. consider the possibility of inviting the President of
the Conference of INGOs to address the Assembly or the Standing
Committee in the framework of relevant debates;
11.2. encourages its committees to organise, in the framework
of the above-mentioned platform, multidisciplinary hearings bringing
together parliamentarians and INGOs on topical questions on the work
programmes;
11.3. decides to explore further co-operation with specialised
INGOs during election observation missions, with a view to promoting
an enhanced exchange and co-ordination of information;
11.4. underlines the need to enhance the information flow between
the Conference of INGOs and the Assembly and asks the Bureau to
lay down guidelines to this effect.
12. The Assembly invites the Conference of INGOs, with the support
of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission),
to establish a code of good practice for civil participation including
internal democratic accountability.
13. The Assembly invites the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe to further enhance its co-operation with
the Conference of INGOs.