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The State of Democracy
Doc. 10053
27 January 2004
Motion for a resolution
presented by M.Elo and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
1. The statutory aim of the Council of Europe is to safeguard and realise the principles and ideals which are the common heritage of Europe. Every member state must accept the principles of the rule of law and of the enjoyment by all persons within their jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2. The Council of Europe is today the largest political cooperation organisation in Europe with 45 member states, who all have expressed their commitment to the ideals and principles of rule of law, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms; in fact to the basic principles of democracy. Accession to the Council of Europe is preceded by a demanding scrutiny of the state of democracy and of the national legislation as well as the functioning of the democratic institutions and judicial system. Most new member states and in some cases so-called old member states are subjected to a monitoring process after accession. The post-accession monitoring process has proved to be necessary as the implementation of democratic reforms and its full fledged integration in the administrative, political and judicial systems is not only a matter of reform at the principle level but also reform of judicial and administrative practices and procedures at the operational level.
3. Promoting democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights is the corner stone for maintaining the credibility of the Council of Europe.
4. The state of democracy is not satisfactory in all member countries. The monitoring process as well as other assessments of existing problems have highlighted the main areas of concern. They are ia. a democratic election system which encourages active participation and ensures stable democratic institutions, an independent judicial system free from corruption and a credible law enforcement system, free and independent media as well as the eradication of corruption in all forms. The afore-mentioned problems are not restricted to only so called new democracies but need to be raised and discussed in all our member countries.
5. The Council of Europe has a well established and deserved reputation as an organisation defending the democratic ideals. Today when nearly all European countries are members of the Organisation we need, however, to further develop the evaluation of the state of democracy in our countries.
6. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should introduce a process of periodical reports on the state of democracy in which each country would present updated information of reforms and other measures undertaken. For this purpose, the Assembly should also elaborate a set of criteria for the measuring of the state of democracy and the functioning of democratic institutions in member states (and democratic states in general).
Signed [1]:
Elo, Finland, SOC
Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL
De Puig, Spain, SOC
Dromberg, Finland, EPP/CD
Feric-Vac, Croatia, SOC
Krohn, Finland, SOC
Lindblad, Sweden, EPP/CD
Lintonen, Finland, SOC
Lord Judd, United Kingdom, SOC
Magnusson, Sweden, SOC
Sasi, Finland, EPP/CD
Takkula, Finland, LDR
Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP/CD
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SOC: Socialist Group |