Progress report | Doc. 13945 | 22 January 2016
Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (2 October 2015-24 January 2016)
1. Introduction
At its meeting on 2 October, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the fourth part-session of 2015 (Friday 2 October) to the first Bureau meeting of the first part-session of 2016 (Monday 25 January).
The following chapters include the decisions taken at the Bureau meetings of 2 October in Strasbourg, 26 November in Sofia and 14 December in London. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions that have either already been ratified by the Standing Committee on 27 November or which do not require ratification. Chapter 3 lists the decisions taken on 14 December that require ratification at the opening of the first part-session of the Assembly. An addendum to this report will be issued immediately after the Bureau meeting on 25 January, which will also include, in part, decisions to be ratified on the same day. A second addendum will be issued immediately after the Bureau meeting of 29 January. It will include only the decisions to be ratified by the Assembly on the same day, amongst others the references and transmissions which will have been approved by the Bureau.
Chairing the meeting of 25 January will be my last mission as President of the Assembly. The Bureau will hold its next meetings in Strasbourg on Friday 29 January at 8.30 am then on 3 March in Paris. The next meeting of the Standing Committee will also be held in Paris on 4 March.
2. Activities of the Bureau since the last part-session and decisions not requiring ratification by the Assembly
2.1. Follow-up to the Assembly’s Resolutions
2.1.1. Follow-up to the fourth part-session of 2015 (Strasbourg, 28 September – 2 October)
As follow-up to Resolution 2075 (2015) on The implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the Bureau approved on 2 October the proposal made by the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly to ask the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to prepare a further report on the subject taking into account the latest developments.
2.2. Standing Committee (Sofia, 27 November)
2.2.1. Requests for a current affairs debate (under Rule 53 of the Rules of Procedure)
On 26 November, the Bureau decided to propose to the Standing Committee to hold a current affairs debate on “Combating international terrorism while protecting Council of Europe standards and values” and designated Mr Tiny Kox (Netherlands, UEL) as first speaker.
2.2.2. Draft agenda
On 26 November, the Bureau considered and took note of the draft agenda.
2.2.3. Sofia declaration
On 26 November, the Bureau considered and took note of the draft declaration submitted by Ms Dzhema Grozdanova, Chairperson of the Bulgarian delegation (Appendix 1). On 14 December, it decided to seize the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for a report on “Call for a Council of Europe Summit to defend and promote democratic security in Europe”.
2.2.4. Challenge on procedural grounds of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of the United Kingdom
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the opinion adopted by the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs concluding that the credentials should be ratified, and decided to transmit it to the Assembly for information (Appendix 2).
2.3. First part-session of 2016 (25 – 29 January)
2.3.1. Draft agenda
On 2 October, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft agenda. On 26 November, the Bureau updated it.
2.3.2. Request for debate under urgent procedure
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the proposal, submitted jointly by all political groups, to hold a debate under urgent procedure on “Combating international terrorism while protecting Council of Europe standards and values” during the first part-session of 2016.
2.4. Elections observations
2.4.1. Kyrgyzstan: parliamentary elections (4 October 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee, which was subsequently submitted to the Standing Committee of 27 November.
2.4.2. Belarus: presidential election (11 October 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee, which was subsequently submitted to the Standing Committee of 27 November.
2.4.3. Ukraine: local elections (25 October 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau took note of the press release of the international election observation mission.
2.4.4. Azerbaijan: parliamentary elections (1 November 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee, which was subsequently submitted to the Standing Committee of 27 November.
2.4.5. Turkey: early parliamentary elections (1 November 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the report of the ad hoc committee, which was subsequently submitted to the Standing Committee of 27 November.
2.4.6. Armenia: referendum on constitutional reforms (6 December 2015)
On 26 November, the Bureau decided to observe this referendum; constituted an ad hoc committee consisting of one member per political group and the co-rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee on Armenia; appointed Mr Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC) as its Chairperson, and approved the composition of the ad hoc committee. On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the press release of the electoral observation mission.
2.4.7. Schedule of elections
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the elections calendar for 2016 as presented in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly [AS/Bur (2015) 82].
2.4.8. Meeting of the Chairpersons of ad committees for the observation of elections
On 14 December, the Bureau took note that the next meeting would take place on 27 January 2016, during the first part-session.
2.5. References and transmissions to committees
2.5.1. References to committees
At its meeting on 26 November, the Bureau approved the following references, which were subsequently ratified by the Standing Committee:
- Doc. 13885, motion for a resolution, Follow-up to Resolution 1903 (2012): promoting and strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity of Parliamentary Assembly members: reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for report;
- Doc. 13888, motion for a resolution, Co-operation with the International Criminal Court: towards a concrete and expanded commitment, reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report;
- Doc. 13889, motion for a resolution, Increased income inequalities are a threat to social cohesion, reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report;
- Doc. 13890, motion for a resolution, Protecting refugee women from gender-based violence: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report and to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons for opinion;
- Doc. 13892, motion for a resolution, Gender equality and child maintenance, reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report and to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for opinion;
- Doc. 13893, motion for a resolution, How to encourage the migration of international students across Europe, consultation of the Committees on Culture, Science, Education and Media and Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons on a possible follow-up;
- Doc. 13894, motion for a resolution, Ongoing maternal care for children, transmission to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for information;
- Doc. 13902, motion for a resolution, Blacklisting of elected parliamentarians, counterproductive to parliamentary diplomacy, reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on“Introduction of sanctions against parliamentarians” (Ref. 4051);
- Doc. 13909, motion for a resolution, 25 years of the CPT, achievements and improvements needed, reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report;
- Doc. 13915, request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers, Draft Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (revised), reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 13916, request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers, Draft Protocol amending the European Landscape Convention (CETS No 176), reference to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for report.
2.5.2. Extension of references
On 2 October, the Bureau considered and approved the following extensions of references:
- Doc. 13402, motion for a resolution, Improving children’s access to child-friendly health and social services (Ref. 4027 of 7 March 2014 – validity: 7 March 2016): extension until 15 October 2016;
- Doc. 13316, motion for a recommendation, Involuntary placement and treatment of people with psychosocial disability: need for a new paradigm (Ref. 4005 of 22 November 2013 – validity: 22 November 2015): extension until 15 December 2016;
- Doc. 13317, motion for a resolution, Road safety in Europe as a public health priority (Ref. 4006 of 22 November 2013 – validity: 22 November 2015), extension until 15 December 2016;
- Doc. 13322, motion for a resolution, Defending the acquis of the Council of Europe: preserving 65 years of successful intergovernmental cooperation (Ref. 4009 of 22 November 2013 – validity: 22 November 2015): extension until 31 December 2016;
- Doc. 12998, motion for a resolution, Administrative detention (Reference 3900 of 1 October 2012 – validity: 31 October 2015): extension until 31 December 2016;
- Doc. 12306, motion for a resolution, Accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights: Election of Judges (Reference 3700 of 4 October 2010 – validity: 31 December 2015): extension until 31 December 2016;
- Doc. 13064, motion for a resolution, Human Rights in the North Caucasus: what follow-up to Resolution 1738 (2010)? (Reference 3928 of 21 January 2013 – validity: 31 October 2015): extension until 30 April 2016.
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the following extensions of references:
- Doc. 13340, motion for a resolution, Sport for all: a bridge to equality, integration and social inclusion (Ref. 4015 of 27 January 2014 – validity: 27 January 2016), proposal: extension until 1 July 2016;
- Bureau decision, Evaluation of the Partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council (follow-up to Resolution 1969 (2014)) (Ref. 4025 of 31 January 2014 – validity: 31 January 2016): extension until 30 June 2016.
On 14 December, the Bureau approved the following extensions of references:
- Doc. 13343, motion for a recommendation, Cultural democracy (Ref. 4020 of 27 January 2014 – validity: 27 January 2016): extension until 30 June 2016;
- Doc. 13404, motion for a resolution, Educational and cultural networks of communities living abroad (Ref. 4028 of 7 March 2014 – validity: 7 March 2016): extension until 30 June 2016.
2.6. Issues raised by committees
2.6.1. Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
On 2 October, the Bureau authorised Ms Josette Durrieu (France, SOC), Rapporteur on “Political developments in Iran”, to carry out a fact-finding visit to Iran by the end of 2015, in the framework of the preparation of her report.
2.6.2. Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
On 26 November, the Bureau authorised Ms Gabriela Pecková (Czech Republic, EPP/CD) to participate in the International Summit on Human Gene Editing, to be held on 1-3 December 2015 in Washington.
2.7. Petition for the rights of new-borns surviving their abortion
On 2 October, the Bureau took note of the letter by the Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and decided that the petition was inadmissible.
2.8. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
On 2 October, the Bureau drew up the list of candidates for the CPT in respect of the Russian Federation which it forwarded to the Committee of Ministers and endorsed the recommendation of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to invite the delegation of Malta to submit a new list of candidates.
2.9. Voting for elections during the fourth part-session of 2015
On 26 November, the Bureau took note of the letters by Ms Aleksandra Djurović, Chairperson of the delegation of Serbia as well as of the memorandum on “Voting for elections during Assembly’s 2015 autumn part-session” prepared by the Secretariat. The Bureau decided to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to consider the rules applicable to election procedures in the plenary Assembly, and to disclose to the Chairperson of the delegation of Serbia a copy of the original lists of members who voted in the elections for the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly and for a judge to the European Court of Human Rights held on 29 September 2015.
2.10. Situation in the Republic of Moldova
On 26 November, the Bureau authorised the Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee to carry out a fact-finding visit to Chisinau in December 2015 in order to look into the conditions of pre-trial detention of Mr Vladimir Filat, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, and Mr Grigore Petrenko, former member of the Assembly.
2.11. Resolution 1376 (2004) relating to Cyprus
On 26 November, the Bureau took note that Mr Özdemir Berova would replace Mr Tahsin Ertuğruoğlu as “elected representative of the Turkish Cypriot community” entitled to sit in the Assembly.
2.12. Composition of the Monitoring Committee and the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
2.12.1. Monitoring Committee
On 26 November, on the basis of proposals made respectively by the European Conservatives Group and the Socialist Group, the Bureau nominated Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (United Kingdom, EC), Mr Nigel Evans (United Kingdom, EC) and Ms Manana Kobakhidze (Georgia, SOC), replacing Mr Tedo Japaridze. These nominations were ratified by the Standing Committee on the following day.
2.12.2. Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
On 26 November, on the basis of proposals by the European Conservatives Group, the Bureau nominated Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom) replacing Mr James Clappison and Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (United Kingdom) replacing Baroness Judith Wilcox. These nominations were ratified by the Standing Committee on the following day.
2.13. Institutional representation of the Parliamentary Assembly in 2015
On 26 November, the Bureau approved the appointment of Mr Sergiy Vlasenko (Ukraine, EPP/CD) as representative at the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).
2.14. Appointment of Assembly representatives for official activities
On 2 October, the Bureau appointed Mr Piotr Wach (Poland, EPP/CD) to participate in the 90th Rose-Roth Seminar organised by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on 11-13 November 2015 in Chisinau.
2.15. Expenditure of the Parliamentary Assembly for the 2016 financial year
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Assembly.
2.16. Parliamentary co-operation activities – work plan 2016
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Director General of the Secretariat of the Assembly.
2.17. Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the calendar of the 2016 edition of the Prize.
2.18. European Conference of Presidents of Parliament 2016
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the draft programme of the Conference, which would take place on 15-16 September 2016 in Strasbourg.
2.19. Co-operation with the European Parliament and other EU institutions
On 14 December, the Bureau took note of the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly, reflecting the various joint activities and meetings.
2.20. Apportionment of the allocation to political groups for 2016
On 14 December, the Bureau approved the proposal for the apportionment of the allocation.
2.21. Meetings elsewhere than Strasbourg and Paris
During the reference period, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
- the ad hoc Sub-Committee to visit reception facilities for migrants on the island of Kos (Greece) (of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons), to meet on 23-24 October 2015;
- the Sub-Committee on External Relations (of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy), to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12-13 November 2015;
- the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize (of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development) to meet in Vara (Sweden) on 29-30 November 2015.
2.22. Other business
On 14 December, the Bureau authorised Ms Liliane Maury-Pasquier (Switzerland, SOC) to participate in the parliamentary hearing on “The World Drug Problem: Taking Stock and Strengthening the Global Response”, organised jointly by the Inter-parliamentary Union and the United Nations, to be held in New York (United States) on 8-9 February 2016.
3. Activities of the Standing Committee (Sofia, 27 November 2015)
The Standing Committee heard a welcome address by Ms Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the National Assembly, and held an exchange of views with Mr Daniel Mitov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers.
It ratified the credentials of new members of the Assembly submitted by the delegations of France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Turkey and referred the challenged credentials of the delegation of the United Kingdom to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs. It approved the changes in the composition of Assembly committees and took note of the preliminary draft agenda of the first part-session of the Assembly (25-29 January 2016).
The Standing Committee ratified the references proposed by the Bureau which are contained in chapter 2.5.
It held a current affairs debate on “Combatting international terrorism while protecting Council of Europe standards and values”.
It also held an exchange of views with Mr Mykola Gnatovskyy, Chairperson of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), in which Mr Hristo Ivanov, Minister for Justice of Bulgaria, took part.
The Standing Committee adopted a declaration submitted by Ms Dzhema Grozdanova, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Delegation (Appendix 1) and took note of the reports of the ad hoc committees of the Bureau on the:
- “Observation of the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan (4 October 2015)”;
- “Observation of the presidential election in Belarus (11 October 2015)”;
- “Observation of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan (1 November 2015)”;
- “Observation of the early parliamentary elections in Turkey (1 November 2015)”.
Finally, it adopted the following texts on behalf of the Assembly:
- Resolution 2081 (2015) on Access to justice and the Internet: potential and challenge;
- Resolution 2082 (2015) and Recommendation 2082 (2015) on The fate of critically ill detainees in Europe;
- Resolution 2083 (2015) on Chinese migration to Europe: challenges and opportunities;
- Opinion 290 (2015) on Draft Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events;
- Resolution 2084 (2015) on Promoting best practices in tackling violence against women.
4. Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly
4.1. References and transmissions to committees
On 14 December, the Bureau approved the following references, subject to ratification by the Assembly:
- Doc. 13840, motion for a resolution, Democracy and the European Union: no further action;
- Doc. 13900 motion for a resolution, The promotion of social competencies through education for a more cohesive society: transmission to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for information;
- Doc. 13903, motion for a recommendation, Integration of refugees in times of critical pressure: learning from recent experience and examples of best practice, reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report;
- Doc. 13905, motion for a resolution, Jurisdictional immunity of international organisations and rights of their staff: consultation of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on a possible follow-up;
- Doc. 13906, motion for a resolution, Towards a European Earned Citizenship Programme for refugees: transmission to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for information;
- Doc. 13907, motion for a resolution, The political rights of persons with disabilities: a democratic issue: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
- Doc. 13908, motion for a resolution, Gender inequality in migrant access to education and employment: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media to be taken into account in the preparation of the report on "Access to school and education for all children" (Ref. 4053);
- Doc. 13910, motion for a recommendation, Freedom of movement as a means of protecting human rights: transmission to the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development for information.
4.2. Election observation
4.2.1. “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”: early parliamentary elections (24 April 2016)
On 14 December, the Bureau decided, subject to receiving an invitation, to observe these elections and constituted an ad hoc committee for this purpose composed of 20 members (EPP/CD: 8; SOC: 7, ALDE: 2, EC: 2, UEL: 1 - in accordance with the D’Hondt system) and the co-rapporteurs on post-monitoring dialogue. It also authorised a pre-electoral mission.
4.3. Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
On 14 December, the Bureau approved the revised Regulations (Appendix 3), subject to ratification by the Assembly; it decided that they would apply as of the 2016 edition of the Prize.
The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.
5. Gender equality in the functioning
of the Assembly 
Analysis
Endorsing a proposal made by the former Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men at its meeting in Strasbourg on 15 April 2011, the Bureau decided to publish figures on the gender breakdown of Assembly positions and to produce an annual report on progress in achieving gender equality in the functioning of the Assembly.
In 2015, women continued to be underrepresented in all Assembly and Committee positions, even if there has been improvement in some areas.
As regards overall Assembly membership, in 2015 women represented 35% of the total, which is slightly better than in the previous year. They were slightly better represented amongst substitutes (35%) than amongst representatives (33%).
In 2015, all national delegations complied with the requirement set out in Rule 6.2.a of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, according to which ‘(…) National delegations should include members of the under-represented sex at least in the same percentage as in their parliaments and, at a very minimum, one member of the under-represented sex appointed as representative’.
I held the Assembly’s main leadership position in 2015: for the second time in Assembly’s history a woman was elected President in 2014 and my mandate continues until January 2016. The percentage of women as Vice-Presidents slightly increased from 22% in 2014 to 24% in 2015. Women’s representation in the Bureau also increased (from 25% to 29%) while it remained the same in the Presidential Committee (14%).
As regards the Committee Chairmanships, the number of women as Chairpersons decreased: 50% in 2014 to 37% in 2015. Also the overall percentage of women in Committees’ Bureau decreased from 37% in 2014 to 33% in 2015.
As regards the composition of Committees, women were slightly
better represented as both alternates (38%) and full members (36%)
compared to the previous year. The overall proportion of women slightly
increased: in 2015 they represented 35% as opposed to 32% in 2014.
Women Rapporteurs for opinion whose opinion was presented in plenary
session during the year decreased from 35% in 2014 to 21% in 2015,
whereas the percentage of women Rapporteurs for report remained
stable at 29% in 2014 and 2015. The Committee on Honouring of Obligations
and Commitments by Member States (Monitoring Committee) and the
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
did not appoint any women rapporteurs . Furthermore, there
were no women members of the Bureau of these two committees in 2015.
It should be recalled that, when appointing Rapporteurs, committees
should take into account gender amongst other criteria, in accordance with
Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly.
|
OVERVIEW ASSEMBLY |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
||||
|
President |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Presidents |
14 |
5 |
19 |
78% |
76% |
22% |
24% |
|
Presidential Committee |
6 |
1 |
7 |
86% |
86% |
14% |
14% |
|
Assembly Bureau |
27 |
11 |
38 |
75% |
71% |
25% |
29% |
|
COMMITTEES |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
58 |
27 |
85 |
68% |
68% |
32% |
32% |
|
Alternates |
57 |
21 |
78 |
76% |
73% |
24% |
27% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
67% |
33% |
33% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
4 |
1 |
5 |
73% |
80% |
27% |
20% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
57 |
28 |
85 |
71% |
67% |
29% |
33% |
|
Alternates |
57 |
21 |
78 |
65% |
73% |
35% |
27% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
67% |
33% |
33% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
11 |
1 |
12 |
100% |
92% |
0% |
8% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
4 |
1 |
5 |
67% |
80% |
33% |
20% |
|
Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights |
2015 |
2015 |
|||||
|
Members |
15 |
9 |
6 |
60% |
40% |
||
|
Alternates |
13 |
9 |
4 |
69% |
31% |
||
|
Chairperson |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
0% |
||
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0% |
100% |
||
|
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
52 |
32 |
84 |
63% |
62% |
37% |
38% |
|
Alternates |
46 |
30 |
76 |
70% |
61% |
30% |
39% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
3 |
0 |
3 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
2 |
4 |
6 |
75% |
33% |
25% |
67% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
3 |
1 |
4 |
67% |
75% |
33% |
25% |
|
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
56 |
29 |
85 |
66% |
66% |
34% |
34% |
|
Alternates |
42 |
32 |
74 |
62% |
57% |
38% |
43% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
33% |
100% |
67% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
8 |
1 |
9 |
58% |
89% |
42% |
11% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
58 |
27 |
85 |
71% |
68% |
29% |
32% |
|
Alternates |
45 |
30 |
75 |
66% |
60% |
34% |
40% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100% |
0% |
0% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
1 |
1 |
2 |
67% |
50% |
33% |
50% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
8 |
2 |
10 |
67% |
80% |
33% |
20% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
2 |
0 |
2 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
36 |
46 |
82 |
41% |
44% |
59% |
56% |
|
Alternates |
35 |
37 |
72 |
47% |
49% |
53% |
51% |
|
Chairperson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
67% |
33% |
33% |
67% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
3 |
5 |
8 |
57% |
37% |
43% |
63% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
Committee on Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States (Monitoring Committee) |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
57 |
23 |
80 |
75% |
71% |
25% |
29% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
3 |
0 |
3 |
67% |
100% |
33% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
12 |
0 |
12 |
71% |
100% |
29% |
0% |
|
Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Members |
17 |
7 |
24 |
80% |
71% |
20% |
29% |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0% |
100% |
100% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
67% |
100% |
33% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
4 |
0 |
4 |
50% |
100% |
50% |
0% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
2 |
0 |
2 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
OVERVIEW COMMITTEES |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
||||
|
Members |
404 |
226 |
630 |
68% |
64% |
32% |
36% |
|
Alternates |
291 |
175 |
466 |
65% |
62% |
35% |
38% |
|
Committees’ Chairpersons |
5 |
3 |
8 |
50% |
63% |
50% |
37% |
|
Committees’ Vice-Chairpersons |
16 |
8 |
24 |
63% |
67% |
37% |
33% |
|
Rapporteurs for report |
52 |
21 |
73 |
71% |
71% |
29% |
29% |
|
Rapporteurs for opinion |
11 |
3 |
14 |
65% |
79% |
35% |
21% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN, SUB-COMMITTEES, BUREAUX |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Committees |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
1 |
2 |
67% |
50% |
33% |
50% |
|
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
1 |
2 |
67% |
50% |
33% |
50% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
2 |
3 |
100% |
33% |
0% |
67% |
|
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
1 |
3 |
75% |
67% |
25% |
33% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
67% |
33% |
33% |
|
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
67% |
100% |
33% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
2 |
0 |
2 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
1 |
0 |
1 |
100% |
100% |
0% |
0% |
|
Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0% |
33% |
100% |
67% |
|
Vice-Chairpersons of Sub-Committees |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0% |
0% |
100% |
100% |
|
OVERVIEW – SUB-COMMITTEES |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
||||
|
Sub-Committee Chairpersons |
9 |
4 |
13 |
67% |
69% |
33% |
31% |
|
Sub-Committee Vice-Chairpersons |
7 |
6 |
13 |
60% |
54% |
40% |
46% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (Representatives and Substitutes) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
38% |
|
Andorra |
4 |
1 |
3 |
25% |
75% |
|
Armenia |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
38% |
|
Austria |
12 |
7 |
5 |
58% |
42% |
|
Azerbaijan |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Belgium |
14 |
9 |
5 |
64% |
36% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
Bulgaria |
12 |
10 |
2 |
83% |
17% |
|
Croatia |
12 |
10 |
2 |
83% |
17% |
|
Cyprus |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
Czech Republic |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Denmark |
14 |
7 |
7 |
50% |
50% |
|
Estonia |
10 |
7 |
3 |
70% |
30% |
|
Finland |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
France |
10 |
4 |
6 |
40% |
60% |
|
Georgia |
36 |
22 |
14 |
61% |
39% |
|
Germany |
10 |
6 |
4 |
60% |
40% |
|
Greece |
36 |
20 |
16 |
56% |
44% |
|
Hungary |
14 |
4 |
10 |
29% |
71% |
|
Iceland |
14 |
10 |
4 |
71% |
29% |
|
Ireland |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
38% |
|
Italy |
36 |
18 |
18 |
50% |
50% |
|
Latvia |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Liechtenstein |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Lithuania |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
38% |
|
Luxembourg |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Malta |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
| Republic of Moldova |
8 |
5 |
3 |
63% |
37% |
|
Monaco |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Montenegro |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Netherlands |
14 |
9 |
5 |
64% |
36% |
|
Norway |
10 |
6 |
4 |
60% |
40% |
|
Poland |
24 |
20 |
4 |
83% |
17% |
|
Portugal |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Romania |
20 |
16 |
4 |
80% |
20% |
|
Russian Federation |
36 |
30 |
6 |
83% |
17% |
|
San Marino |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Serbia |
14 |
5 |
9 |
36% |
64% |
|
Slovak Republic |
10 |
6 |
4 |
60% |
40% |
|
Slovenia |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Spain |
23 |
17 |
6 |
74% |
26% |
|
Sweden |
12 |
4 |
8 |
33% |
67% |
|
Switzerland |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Turkey |
30 |
23 |
7 |
77% |
23% |
|
Ukraine |
24 |
18 |
6 |
75% |
25% |
|
United Kingdom |
36 |
25 |
11 |
69% |
31% |
|
Total |
641 |
417 |
224 |
65% |
35% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS (REPRESENTATIVES ONLY) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (representatives) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Andorra |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0% |
100% |
|
Armenia |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Austria |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Azerbaijan |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Belgium |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Bulgaria |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Croatia |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Cyprus |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Czech Republic |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Denmark |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Estonia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Finland |
5 |
1 |
4 |
20% |
80% |
|
France |
18 |
11 |
7 |
61% |
39% |
|
Georgia |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Germany |
18 |
11 |
7 |
61% |
39% |
|
Greece |
7 |
2 |
5 |
29% |
71% |
|
Hungary |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Iceland |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Ireland |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Italy |
18 |
8 |
10 |
44% |
56% |
|
Latvia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Liechtenstein |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Lithuania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Luxembourg |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Malta |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Republic of Moldova |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Monaco |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Montenegro |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Netherlands |
7 |
6 |
1 |
86% |
14% |
|
Norway |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Poland |
12 |
11 |
1 |
92% |
8% |
|
Portugal |
7 |
5 |
2 |
71% |
29% |
|
Romania |
10 |
8 |
2 |
80% |
20% |
|
Russian Federation |
18 |
15 |
3 |
83% |
17% |
|
San Marino |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Serbia |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Slovak Republic |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Spain |
12 |
10 |
2 |
83% |
17% |
|
Sweden |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Switzerland |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Turkey |
18 |
14 |
4 |
78% |
22% |
|
Ukraine |
12 |
8 |
4 |
67% |
33% |
|
United Kingdom |
18 |
14 |
4 |
78% |
22% |
|
Total |
323 |
216 |
107 |
67% |
33% |
|
GENDER BREAKDOWN – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS (SUBSTITUTES ONLY) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
National Delegations (substitutes) |
Total |
Men |
Women |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
|
Albania |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Andorra |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Armenia |
4 |
3 |
1 |
75% |
25% |
|
Austria |
6 |
3 |
3 |
50% |
50% |
|
Azerbaijan |
6 |
4 |
2 |
67% |
33% |
|
Belgium |
7 |
3 |
4 |
43% |
57% |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Bulgaria |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Croatia |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Cyprus |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Czech Republic |
7 |
4 |
3 |
57% |
43% |
|
Denmark |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Estonia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Finland |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
France |
18 |
11 |
7 |
61% |
39% |
|
Georgia |
5 |
2 |
3 |
40% |
60% |
|
Germany |
18 |
13 |
5 |
72% |
28% |
|
Greece |
7 |
2 |
5 |
29% |
71% |
|
Hungary |
7 |
4 |
3 |
57% |
43% |
|
Iceland |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Ireland |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Italy |
18 |
10 |
8 |
56% |
44% |
|
Latvia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Liechtenstein |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50% |
50% |
|
Lithuania |
4 |
2 |
2 |
50% |
50% |
|
Luxembourg |
3 |
2 |
1 |
67% |
33% |
|
Malta |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Republic of Moldova |
5 |
4 |
1 |
80% |
20% |
|
Monaco |
2 |
2 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Montenegro |
3 |
1 |
2 |
33% |
67% |
|
Netherlands |
7 |
5 |
2 |
71% |
29% |
|
Norway |
5 |
3 |
2 |
60% |
40% |
|
Poland |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Portugal |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
Romania |
10 |
8 |
2 |
80% |
20% |
|
Russian Federation |
18 |
15 |
3 |
83% |
17% |
|
San Marino |
2 |
2 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Serbia |
7 |
2 |
5 |
29% |
71% |
|
Slovak Republic |
5 |
2 |
3 |
40% |
60% |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Spain |
11 |
8 |
3 |
73% |
27% |
|
Sweden |
6 |
1 |
5 |
17% |
83% |
|
Switzerland |
6 |
5 |
1 |
83% |
17% |
|
"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" |
3 |
3 |
0 |
100% |
0% |
|
Turkey |
12 |
9 |
3 |
75% |
25% |
|
Ukraine |
12 |
10 |
2 |
83% |
17% |
|
United Kingdom |
18 |
11 |
7 |
61% |
39% |
|
Total |
315 |
205 |
110 |
65% |
35% |
|
OVERVIEW – NATIONAL DELEGATIONS |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Delegations |
Men |
Women |
Total |
Percentage of men |
Percentage of women |
||
|
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
||||
|
Total |
417 |
224 |
641 |
66% |
65% |
34% |
35% |
|
Representatives |
216 |
107 |
323 |
68% |
67% |
32% |
33% |
|
Substitutes |
205 |
110 |
315 |
65% |
65% |
35% |
35% |
Appendix 1 –
Declaration adopted by the Standing Committee on 27 November 2015
(open)AS/Per (2015) 08
27 November 2015
The Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Sofia today, recalls the aim of the Council of Europe’s founding fathers who, in the aftermath of the horror of the Second World War, established this Organisation in order to “achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage”. As Article 3 of the Organisation’s Statute expressly spells out, its members have to collaborate sincerely and effectively in the realisation of precisely this aim.
Paying tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the Assembly wishes to underline the important role its signature played in bringing to an end the Cold War. It recognises this agreement as a testament to what is possible when States make a concerted effort to set aside differences and strive for common understanding.
The Assembly is indeed convinced that the numerous political challenges Europe is facing today, both within and around its borders, call for a common response on the basis of shared principles and values, dialogue, trust and solidarity. In these critical moments, Council of Europe member States should focus on what unites them rather than what divides them, and avoid raising new walls and drawing dividing lines.
For this purpose and recognising the key role the Council of Europe can play in defending and promoting democratic security, the Parliamentary Assembly calls for a Summit of Heads of State and Government in order for the member States to reaffirm, at the highest political level, their commitment to the common values and principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law upheld by the Organisation.
Appendix 2 – Challenge on procedural grounds of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of the United Kingdom
(open)AS/Pro (2015) 22
11 December 2015
Report prepared
by the Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Haluk KOÇ (Turkey, Socialist
Group)
A. Opinion
to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
B. Explanatory memorandum
1. Procedure
had
been excluded from the new delegation, following the direct intervention
of the Prime Minister, for having failed to toe the government line
in a vote in the House of Commons. Mr Gross justified his initiative
by the need to defend the prerogatives of the UK Parliament against
any unwarranted interference by the Prime Minister in the parliamentary
process. In accordance with Rule 7.2, the Standing Committee referred
the credentials to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities
and Institutional Affairs.
- was consistent with the principles set out in Article 25 of the Statute of the Council of Europe taken
- together with Rule 6 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, and
- was consistent with the principles contained in Rule 7.1 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.
2. The credentials of the UK parliamentary delegation submitted for ratification by the Standing Committee on 27 November 2015
2.1. The applicable statutory provisions and rules
“a. The Consultative (Parliamentary) Assembly shall consist of Representatives of each Member [State], elected by its Parliament from among the members thereof, or appointed from among the members of that Parliament, in such manner as it shall decide, subject, however, to the right of each Member [State] to make any additional appointments necessary when the Parliament is not in session and has not laid down the procedure to be followed in that case.”
2.2. The credentials of the UK delegation sent on 18 November 2015
, the procedure for appointing the UK
delegation to the Assembly is governed by the following arrangements:
- the procedure adopted is based entirely on custom and practice: there is no formal written procedure, no provision in the rules of the Houses of Parliament and no specific set of regulations governing the composition of the parliamentary delegation;
- the number of seats to which each party is entitled as well as the distribution of seats between parties in the delegation are determined by party agreement;
- the method for appointing delegation members is determined by each party: nominations are made by the party whips, except in the Labour Party, which holds internal elections to choose its representatives; in the case of the Conservative Party, the decision falls to the party leader;
- the Prime Minister formally appoints the delegation, whose composition is announced by way of a written statement to both Houses; the list represents no more than the assembling of the nominations made by the parties;
- the Speaker of the House of Commons, who is the competent authority within the meaning of Rule 6.1 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, submits the delegation credentials to the President of the Assembly.
2.3. The debate in the House of Commons on the procedure for appointing the new UK delegation
- The first exchange took place on 3 November 2015 after Christopher Chope had put an oral question asking the Leader of the House of Commons to make a statement about the rationale that had been applied in determining which members should be reappointed to the parliamentary delegation. Mr Chope pointed out that the three members excluded from the new delegation had been sanctioned for having voted in favour of a free and fair referendum with a strict 28-day “purdah period”, as recommended by the Council of Europe Venice Commission and the independent UK Electoral Commission. He criticised the fact that the members of the delegation had been chosen by the government, and not by Parliament, saying that such a process constituted “unwarranted interference by the UK Government in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly”.
- The second exchange took place on 4 November 2015 following a point of order raised by Paul Flynn, a Labour member of the House of Commons and of the outgoing delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly, in which he said that the composition of the delegation should not simply be a matter for prime ministerial diktat, but a matter that MPs can debate and vote on. The Speaker of the House of Commons replied that he had not (yet) send the credentials of the UK delegation and that it was his responsibility “to be assured of the propriety of the process involved” but not “to assess the merits or demerits of the individual prospective candidates for membership of the delegation”.
- On 16 November 2015, the House of Commons considered a Backbench Business Motion on the membership of the UK delegation to the PACE to the effect that the method for nominating the parliamentary delegation be changed and aligned with the procedure used for nominating committee members. Following the debate, this motion was rejected without a vote, following the rejection by a large majority of a compromise amendment.
and not just
the whips, and that the list of members was formally adopted by
a vote of all the members. 3. Compliance of the procedure for appointing the UK delegation with the provisions of the Statute of the Council of Europe and the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure
3.1. A precedent: challenging of the credentials of the UK delegation in 1992
In its report, the Committee on Rules of Procedure noted that the
appointments had been made by the Executive Government “apparently
without the United Kingdom parliament having at any time specifically
fixed (…) a procedure to that end”, but that the parliament’s tradition
over many centuries of acting by convention and unwritten procedures
– insofar as the procedure followed in practice had been approved
by the national parliament and despite the fact that it was “at
variance with a strict interpretation of Article 25 of the Statute”
– was not in itself a ground for rejecting the credentials. The
committee concluded that Article 25 of the Statute authorised the
appointment (as distinct from the election) of a national delegation
under procedures decided by the national parliament even though the
Assembly considered elections to be more closely in line with the
spirit of Article 25. However,
these resolutions do not specify what exactly these procedures are! 3.2. Positions of the Assembly to promote respect for pluralist democracy in the representation of parliaments in national delegations
and more specifically Article 6.3:
“Parliaments’ decisions on appointments must respect national procedural
rules and be, on the whole, fair, that is, honest, impartial, just,
equitable, non-discriminatory. The national
procedural rules should also be in accordance with the Council of
Europe’s fundamental values (rule of law, respect for human rights
and pluralistic democracy).”3.3. Precedents in the Parliamentary Assembly concerning challenges to credentials based on Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure
It is this position
that is reflected in several recent Assembly decisions:
- In April 2013, the still unratified credentials of a member of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, Mr Andriy Shevchenko, had been challenged on procedural grounds, based on the fact that he was replacing, in the Ukrainian delegation, Mr Sergiy Vlasenko, who had been deprived of his national parliamentary mandate under a judicial decision which may have been politically motivated. Taking the view that the appointment of Mr Shevchenko did not violate the principle of the fair representation of political parties or groups, as both members of parliament belonged to the same group in the Verkhovna Rada, the Assembly ratified the credentials.
- In January 2010, the Committee was asked to take a position on the challenge, on procedural grounds, to the still unratified credentials of the Armenian parliamentary delegation, relating to the alleged under-representation of opposition parties or groups. The challenge claimed that the Armenian parliament had “manipulated its internal rules in order to exclude a member of the EPP group”. The Committee concluded that the credentials should be ratified, insofar as the list of delegation members ensured a fair representation of the political groups in the Armenian National Assembly and included a representative and substitute belonging to the opposition.
- Previously, in January 2009, the Assembly had considered the challenge to the credentials of the Albanian delegation, on the ground that a member belonging to the delegation in the 2008 Session had been removed for 2009. The Committee on Rules of Procedure had considered that the procedure for appointing the delegation did comply with the rules of procedure of the Albanian delegation and that the Assembly could ratify the delegation’s credentials.
4. Conclusions
However, the committee expects the House
of Commons to continue to consider this issue with the utmost diligence
within the competent committee(s), and notes that it has already
referred the matter to the Public Administration and Constitutional
Affairs Committee. it
is not for the Committee on Rules of Procedure to become involved
in party politics when verifying the credentials of delegations.
This is why it is not the committee’s role to take a position on
the merits of the decision not to reappoint three members of the
outgoing delegation, insofar as such a decision has no effect on
the balance of political representation in the new delegation.
- among the principles to assess whether political parties or groups are fairly represented in national delegations, laid down in Resolution 1798 (2011), is the commitment to ensure that “Parliaments’ decisions on appointments must respect national procedural rules (…) [which] should also be in accordance with the Council of Europe’s fundamental values (rule of law, respect for human rights and pluralistic democracy)”;
- the objection raised in the challenge to credentials, and by several members of the House of Commons, to the effect that the procedure for appointing members of the delegation is not fully democratic in that it excludes any decision by the House of Commons itself and enables the Prime Minister to possibly interfere in this process, is a serious one;
- the requirement for legal certainty means guaranteeing transparent, clear and stable procedures, whose application does not depend on political circumstances; the procedure for appointing delegations must be clearly laid down by the House of Commons in order to ensure that the parliamentary process is free from all suspicion of interference by the Prime Minister.
Appendix 3 –
Regulations of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize
(open)Article 1: The Prize
The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize shall be awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation every year in order to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights. The Prize shall be awarded in memory of Václav Havel, playwright, fighter against totalitarianism, leader of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Czechoslovak and Czech President, and an enduring symbol of opposition to despotism.
Article 2: Nature
The Prize shall consist of a sum of sixty thousand euros, which may be subject to periodic adjustment, a trophy and a diploma commending the Prizewinner(s)’ outstanding contribution to the cause of human rights.
Article 3: Eligibility
Individuals or non-governmental institutions who or which are active in the defence of human rights may be eligible for consideration. Current members of the Parliamentary Assembly and deceased individuals are not eligible.
Article 4: Nominations
4.1. Nominations for the Prize must reach the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly before 30 April each year. They shall be signed by at least five sponsors, other than the nominee, on the special form appended to these Regulations.
4.2. Nominations shall provide details of the nominee’s action(s) in the defence of human rights and specify the reasons why the nominee’s action(s) can be considered to be outstanding. All relevant supporting documents shall be provided.
4.3. Nominations may be submitted in one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe: English or French.
Article 5: Selection Panel
5.1. A Selection Panel comprising the President of the Assembly or a person designated by him/her, and six independent persons with recognised moral standing in the field of human rights shall examine the nominations, submit a shortlist of three nominees to the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly for information and, subsequently, designate the Prizewinner(s) for the year in question (see also Articles 6 and 7 below).
5.2. The six independent experts referred to in the preceding paragraph shall not be current members of the Assembly. Three members shall be appointed by the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly and three members by the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation. The six independent experts shall be appointed for a two-year period, renewable twice.
5.3. The Selection Panel shall be chaired by the President of the Assembly or the person designated by him/her.
Article 6: Decision on the Prizewinner(s)
6.1. The Selection Panel shall decide on any issue of conflict of interest involving its members.
6.2. The Selection Panel shall, in a first sitting, draw up a shortlist of three nominees. The names of these nominees shall subsequently be made public by the President of the Assembly.
6.3. In the event that, the Selection Panel considers that none of the nominations put forward is sufficiently outstanding, it shall inform the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation accordingly.
6.4. In a second sitting, the Panel shall designate the Prizewinner out of the shortlist. This decision shall be taken by an absolute majority of the votes cast, the day before the opening of the Fourth part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
6.5. If the Panel considers more nominations to be of equal merit, more than one Prizewinner may be designated to equally share the Prize.
6.6. The name of the Prizewinner shall be announced by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly in plenary, during the opening of the Fourth part-session of the Assembly.
6.7. The calendar of events shall be as follows:
a. 30 April: deadline for submission of nominees for the Prize;
b. end of August/beginning of September: first meeting of the Selection Panel (Prague); selection of a shortlist of three nominees;
c. Sunday before the Fourth part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly: second meeting of the Selection Panel (Strasbourg), selection of the Prizewinner(s) from the shortlist.
Article 7: Award Ceremony
7.1. The Prize shall be awarded at a ceremony which shall take place in Strasbourg on the Monday of the Fourth part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
7.2. The former Czech First Lady, Ms Dagmar Havlova, shall be invited to honour the ceremony with her presence.
7.3. The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly shall approve the arrangements for the ceremony.
Article 8: Conference in honour of Prizewinner
The Václav Havel Library shall organise, at a later date, an international conference in Prague in honour of the Prizewinner(s).