TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly
Synopsis No 2001/029
9 March 2001
The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Paris on 5 and 6 March 2001 with Mr Jansson in the Chair, as regards:
- European Code of Police Ethics (Rapporteur: Mr McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC): considered, amended and adopted a draft opinion presented by the Rapporteur;
- Adapting the European Convention on Human Rights to current needs: the introduction of new rights into the Convention (Rapporteur: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR): considered an introductory memorandum presented by the Rapporteur; and invited its members to transmit their written proposals to the Rapporteur before the June 2001 part-session;
- Structures, procedures and means of the European Court of Human Right (Rapporteur: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR): considered an introductory memorandum presented by the Rapporteur; and decided to continue its consideration of the matter after having held an exchange of views with the Irish Ambassador, Chairperson of the Delegates' Working Group, and with the President of the Court;
- Sub-Committee on the election of the Judges to the European Court of Human Rights: constituted the Sub-Committee as follows:
Socialist Group
Titular members:
Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY Andorra
Jerzy JASKIERNIA Poland
Kevin McNAMARA United Kingdom
Angelo LAURICELLA Italy
Jean-Pierre MICHEL France
Alternate members:
Boriss CILEVICS Latvia
Erik JURGENS Netherlands
Lionel OLTEANU Romania
Tayyibe GÜLEK Turkey
Group of the European People's Party
Titular members:
Ivan IVANOV Bulgaria
Vasyl KOSTYTSKY Ukraine
Michael SPINDELEGGER Austria
Renate WOHLWEND Liechtenstein
Alternate members:
Manuel URIARTE Spain
Stavros DIMAS Greece
Thomas ENRIGHT Ireland
Tomasz WOJCIK Poland
Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group
Titular members:
Ignasi GUARDANS Spain
Lili NABHOLZ-HAIDEGGER Switzerland
Alternate members:
Anneli JÄÄTTEENMÄKI Finland
Georges CLERFAYT Belgium
Valeriu STOICA Romania
Nickolay FYODOROV Russia
European Democratic Group
Titular members:
Cadet AKCALI Turkey
Per Stag MOELLER Denmark
Alternate members:
Mahomet Ali IRTEMÇELIK Turkey
Lord ROTHERWICK United Kingdom
Group of the Unified European Left
Titular member:
Magi MIKAELSSON Sweden
Alternate member:
Boris MALTSEV Russia
- Follow-up to Resolution 1240 (2001): Conflict in the Chechen Republic (Rapporteur: Mr Bindig, Germany, SOC): decided to propose the following members for nomination to the Bureau's ad hoc Committee: Mr Bindig (Germany, SOC), Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger (Switzerland, LDR), Mr Spindelegger (Austria, EPP/CD);
- Political prisoners in Azerbaijan (Rapporteur: Mr Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR): heard a statement by the Rapporteur; and asked its Chairperson to write a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the matter;
- Transplantation of organs and tissues of human origin (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Asciak, Malta, EPP/CD): considered an introductory memorandum presented by the Rapporteur; and decided to continue its consideration of the matter at its next meeting;
- Protection of the human genome by the Council of Europe (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Asciak, Malta, EPP/CD): considered and adopted a draft opinion presented by the Rapporteur;
- Human rights in Kosovo (Rapporteur: Mr Akçali, Turkey, EDG): decided to propose to the Bureau that this matter be debated at the April 2001 part-session; and authorised its Rapporteur to go to Kosovo (subject to the agreement of the Bureau);
- Legal situation of Roma/Gypsies in Council of Europe member States (Rapporteur: Mr Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC): held a hearing on the matter with the participation of:
- Mrs Josephine Verspaget, Chairperson of the Council of Europe Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies
- Mrs Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Director of Social Affairs and Health of the Council of Europe
- Mr Nicolae Gheorghe, Special Advisor on Roma questions (OSCE/ODIHR/CPRSI)
- Mrs Livia Plaks, Executive Director of the Project on Ethnic Relations (USA)
- Appointment of rapporteurs:
i. Prevention of recidivism in crimes against minors: Mr Shaklein (Russia, UEL)
ii. Violation of the human rights of the Bulgarian national minority in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Mr Solé Tura (Spain, SOC)
iii. Draft European Convention for the Protection of the Audiovisual Heritage and draft Protocol on the Protection of Television Productions: Mr McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC) (subject to reference by the Bureau)
iv. Draft Convention on information and legal co-operation concerning "Information Society Services: Mr Monteiro (Portugal, SOC) (subject to reference by the Bureau)
- Hearing on cyber-crime organised by the European Commission (Brussels, 7 March 2001): authorised Mr Tallo (Estonia, SOC) to represent the Committee;
- Former embassies of the Baltic States on the territory of some Council of Europe member States: heard a statement by Mr Stankevic (Lithuania, LDR);
- New Russian law on religion (Rapporteur: Mr McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur and took note that his visit to Russia had been postponed;
- European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) (Rapporteur: Mr McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC): appointed its Rapporteur to represent it at the forthcoming ECRI meeting (13-16 March 2001);
- Sub-Committee on Human Rights: appointed Mr Tallo (Estonia, SOC) and, upon a proposal by the members concerned, inversed the order of the Swiss titular and alternate members as follows: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger (Switzerland, LDR) titular member and Mr Marty (Switzerland, LDR) alternate member;
- Situation in Palestine (Rapporteur for opinion: Mr Lintner, Germany, EPP/CD): asked its Rapporteur to represent it at the hearing of the Political Affairs Committee on «Oslo and beyond – what are the future prospects for peace in the Middle East?» (Paris, 12 March 2001); decided to ask the Bureau's authorisation for its Rapporteur for opinion to attend the meeting of the Sub-Committee on the Middle East, of the Political Affairs Committee, to take place in Israel and in the territories under the control of the Palestinian National Authority from 19 to 24 March 2001;
- Hearing on the financing of political parties (Paris, 13 March 2001): asked its Rapporteur on corruption, Mr Bartumeu Cassany (Andorra, SOC), to represent it at the hearing organised by the Political Affairs Committee;
- held a hearing on cyber-crime with the participation of:
Mr Marc Verwilghen, Minister of Justice of Belgium
Mr Guy de Vel, Director General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe
Mr Bruce McConnell, President of McConnell International (United States of America)
Mr Stefano Rodotà, President of the Italian Commission for Privacy
Mr Fred Eisner, A/B/M/ Consultancy (Netherlands)
Mr George Papapavlou, European Commission
Mrs Kate Williams, University of Wales (United Kingdom)
Mr Philippe Quéau, Director of the «Information Society» Division, UNESCO
Mr Lauri Rechardt, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
Mrs Béatrice Métraux, Institut suisse de droit comparé
- Next meetings:
Plenary Committee:
· Paris, Friday 6 April 2001 at 9 h 30 (National Assembly)
· Strasbourg, during the April 2001 part-session
· The Hague (Netherlands), Monday 10 September 2001 (subject to the authorisation of the Bureau)
Sub-Committee on Human Rights:
· Strasbourg, during the April 2001 part-session
· Salzburg (Austria), 30-31 May 2001
Allard A. Plate, Danielle Coin, David Cupina