Doc. 11000
5 July 2006

Need to modify the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly in order to promote its external relations

Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr Severin and others

On 26 June 2006, the Assembly adopted Resolution 1506 (2006) on External Relations of the Council of Europe.

Several paragraphs of this Resolution call for modifications of the Rules of Procedure.

In particular, in paragraph 24, the Assembly deems it necessary to review the Rule of 60 of its Rules of Procedure related to Observer status, so as to enhance the role played by Observers and allow their better involvement in activities of the Assembly and its Committees, by, inter alia, granting to members of Observer delegations the right to

- table and sign motions for recommendations and resolutions;

- be appointed as observer members of general and ad hoc committees;

- participate in election observation missions;

- become members of political groups.

In paragraph 25, the Assembly considers that the paragraphs of its Rules of Procedure concerned with Special Guests (Rule 59) should be amended to extend eligibility for this status to parliaments of non-European states.

In paragraph 26, the Assembly believes that it needs a specific committee (or sub-committee) that would, on the basis of clearly defined terms of reference, closely follow international developments and make proposals for a coherent and effective external action.

The Assembly resolves to ask the relevant Committee to prepare amendments to the Rules of Procedure as suggested in Resolution 1506 (2006).

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

SEVERIN, Adrian, Romania, SOC

ALIGRUDIĆ, Miloš, Serbia, EPP/CD

ATEŞ, Abdülkadir, Turkey, SOC

AUSTIN, John, United Kingdom, SOC

BREEN, Patrick, Ireland, EPP/CD

de PUIG, Lluís Maria, Spain, SOC

de ZULUETA, Tana, Italy, SOC

ELO, Mikko, Finland, SOC

GARDETTO, Jean-Charles, Monaco, EPP/CD

GROSS, Andreas, Switzerland, SOC

IVANOV, Ivan, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

IWIŃSKI, Tadeusz, Poland, SOC

LINDBLAD, Göran, Sweden, EPP/CD

LOUTFI, Younal, Bulgaria, ALDE

MARGELOV, Mikhail, Russian Federation, EDG

OHLSSON, Carina, Sweden, SOC

PLATVOET, Leo, Netherlands, UEL

RAKHANSKY, Anatoliy, Ukraine, UEL

SCHIEDER, Peter, Austria, SOC

SEYIDOV, Samad, Azerbaijan, EDG

UMAKHANOV, Ilyas, Russian Federation, EDG

WODARG, Wolfgang, Germany, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group