For debate in the Standing Committee — see Rule 15 of the Rules of Procedure

Doc. 9863

9 July 2003

Change of name of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography to Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population

Report

Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities

Rapporteur : M. Akçam, Turkey, EPP/CD

Summary

The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography decided to change its name to Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population. As this requires a change of Rule 43.1.5. of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, the present report was prepared.

I.       Draft resolution

1.        The Parliamentary Assembly recalls Resolution 144 (1958) on the establishment of a Committee on Population and Refugees and Resolution 685 (1979) on the title and membership of the Committee on Population and Refugees according to which it decided to name this Committee “Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography”.

2.        The Assembly notes that the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, after various discussions, considered that the word “demography” in its title was somewhat misleading and did not reflect anymore its real interest and concerns. Consequently, the Committee decided that the word “demography” should be replaced by “population”.

3.        The Assembly is aware of the Committee’s concern to reflect properly its real activities in a more transparent manner thus changing the word “demography” to “population”. Another argument for the change of its title is that the Committee’s counterparts in the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe as well as in the United Nations are called respectively “European Population Committee” and “Committee on Population”.

4.        The Assembly also notes that the proposed new name has no consequence on the terms of reference of the committee and that it is therefore not necessary to modify Resolution 1235 (2000) on the terms of reference of Assembly committees (implementation of Resolution 1220 (2000)).

5.        Consequently the Assembly decides

II.       Explanatory memorandum by the rapporteur

1.        On 31 March 2003, the Bureau of the Assembly referred to the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities the request from the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography to change its title (see Appendix 1).

2.        The Committee was first appointed as a general committee in 1958. A Committee on Population had already been constituted on 11 December 1951 and been dissolved on 25 October 1956. It was originally named the Committee on Population and Refugees. In 1979 (Resolution 685), the Committee was given its present title.

3.        As is shown by the various discussions held in the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, the word “demography” in its title does not anymore reflect properly its real interest and concerns, and is more interpreted with theoretical research and statistical studies. Furthermore, it is important for that Committee that its title refers to dynamic relations between different categories of people within society.

4.        The Committee therefore decided, at its meeting on 30 January 2003, to address the Bureau of the Assembly with a view to modify the Committee’s name, in replacing the word “demography” by “population”. The Committee underlined in its request that the word “population” responded better to member states’ concerns about migrants and refugees. Furthermore, it better reflects the Committee’s participation in the work of the intergovernmental committees of the Council of Europe, in particular with the European Population Committee, and with the UN Committee on Population

5.        The proposal to change the name of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography to Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population seems therefore justified and will present a better visibility of the Committee’s work in future.

6.       The proposed new name does not imply any change of the terms of reference of the Committee and there is no need to modify Resolution 1235 (2000) on terms of reference of Assembly committees (implementation of Resolution 1220 (2000)).

7.        Consequently, the draft resolution contained in this report proposes that both Rule 43 par. 1.5. of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and the complementary texts to the Rules which mention the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography (see e.g. pp. 154 of the Rules of Procedure, 2002 edition) be changed.

8.       The new provisions should enter into force on their adoption.

APPENDIX

Parliamentary Assembly

Assemblée parlementaire

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography

Commission des migrations, des réfugiés et de la démographie

The Chairman

25 March 2003

Dear President,

At its meeting on 18 December 2002, the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography held an exchange of views on its mandate and title. The Secretariat was instructed to invite the members to express their opinion on a possible modification of the Committee’s name in writing. The discussion was continued at the meeting on 30 January 2003, and in conclusion, the members authorised me to address the Bureau of the Assembly with a view to modify the Committee's name.

Many members, including myself, have expressed the opinion that the word “demography” in the Committee’s title is somewhat misleading and does not reflect properly its real interest and concerns. It could be replaced by the word “population” which seems to be more adequate.

Indeed, the notion “demography” has got a strong academic connotation and falls rather into the area of theoretical research and statistical studies. On the other hand, “population” considered in the context of “migration” and “refugees” refers to dynamic relations between different categories of people within societies thus better falling into the terms of reference of this Committee.

Not incidentally, one of the counterparts of the parliamentary committee in the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe is called “European Population Committee”. This is also true for the relevant committee in the United Nations which is called the “Committee on Population”.

In consequence, on behalf of the Committee on Migration, Refugee and Demography, I request you to raise this question at the Bureau of the Assembly, and, possibly initiate the procedure of the modification of the Committee’s name to "Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population".

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Tadeusz IWIŃSKI

Mr Peter SCHIEDER

President of the Parliamentary Assembly

of the Council of Europe

67075 STRASBOURG

Committee responsible for the report : Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities

Reference to committee: Bureau of the Assembly’s decision of 31 March 2003 (Rule 65.2 of the Rules of Procedure)

Draft resolution adopted by the committee on 25 June 2003

Members of the committee : Mr Holovaty, (Chairperson), MM. Vis, Olteanu, Mrs Posada (Alternate: Barquero Vazquez), (Vice-Chairpersons), MM. Akçam, Aliyev, Mrs Auken, MM. Bernik, Budišin, Calmes, Ceder, Collavini, Mrs Doktorowicz, MM. Dule, Flajolet, Frankenhauser (Alternate: Deittert), Gedei, Gligorić, Gonzi, Himmer, Höfer, Janssen van Raaij, Jung Armand, Kaikkonen, Kroupa, Lydeka, Magnusson, (Alternate: Einarsson), Maissen, Malins (Alternate: Bruce), Mrs Mintas-Hodak, MM. Miššík, Monsen, Occhetto, Pentchev, Pereira Coelho, Mrs Pericleous-Papadopoulos, Mrs Pétursdóttir, MM. Riccardi, Salaridze, Sharandin, Stepaniuc, Taliadouros, Wright, Zernovski

N.B. The names of members who took part in the vote are printed in italics.

Secretary of the committee: Mr Heinrich.