Progress report | Doc. 15318 Add. 1 | 19 June 2021
Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (19 April-16 June 2021)
Bureau of the Assembly
1. Decisions of the Bureau of 18 June 2021 requiring ratification by the Assembly
1.1. Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in 2021
The Bureau took note of the candidatures for Vice-Presidents of the Assembly in respect of Italy and the Netherlands.
1.2. References and transmissions to committees
The Bureau considered and approved the following references:
- Doc. 15277, Motion for a resolution, Social inclusion of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons through sport: reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons for report;
- Doc. 15287, Motion for a resolution, The impact of Covid-19 on the health of Roma minorities: no further action;
- Doc. 15289, Motion for a resolution, Transnational repression as a growing threat to the rule of law and human rights: transmission to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for consultation;
- Doc. 15290, Motion for a resolution, The role of men and boys in stopping gender-based violence: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
- Doc. 15291, Motion for a resolution, Promoting inclusive participation in parliamentary and political life: reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;
- Doc. 15299, Motion for a resolution, Building the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN): reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 15300, Motion for a resolution, Promoting online education and research across national borders: reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;
- Doc. 15316, Request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers, Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence: reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report.
1.3. Resolution 2094 (2016) on the situation in Kosovo* 
and
the role of the Council of Europe
The Bureau took note of the letter by the President of the Assembly of Kosovo informing the President of the Assembly of the names of the members of the delegation of the Assembly of Kosovo for the 2021 ordinary session, and approved the list of the delegation subject to ratification by the Assembly through the Progress report:
Members:
- Ms Saranda Bogujevci, Self-Determination Movement, Chairperson of the delegation
- Mr Arben Gashi, Democratic League of Kosovo
- Mr Slavko Simič, Serb List
Substitutes:
- Ms Vlora Dumoshi, Democratic League of Kosovo
- Ms Time Kadrijaj, Alliance for the future of Kosovo
- Mr Enis Kervan, Parliamentary Group “Multiethnic”
1.4. Composition of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
The Bureau, on the basis of a proposal by the EC/DA group, appointed Mr Erkin Gadirli (Azerbaijan) as a member, for ratification by the Assembly.
The Assembly is invited to ratify these Bureau decisions.
2. Other decisions by the Bureau
2.1. Follow-up to the Standing Committee (videoconference, 28 May 2021)
The Bureau approved the follow-up proposal made by the Secretary General of the Assembly, as regards:
- Current affairs debate on The urgent need to relaunch the Middle East peace process and prevent a resurgence of violence: to refer this issue to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy to be taken into account in the preparation of its report on Recent developments in Libya and in the Middle East: what consequences for Europe?
2.2. Third part-session of 2021 (Strasbourg, 21-24 June)
2.2.1. Request for a current affairs debate
The Bureau took note of the request tabled by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, that the Assembly hold a current affairs debate on The need for an effective solidarity mechanism between European countries to relieve migratory pressure on front line countries, and to invite Mr Panagiotis Mitarachi, Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece, to participate in the debate, and decided to recommend to the Assemby to hold this debate, and appointed Mr Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC) as the first speaker in this debate.
2.2.2. Request for a debate under urgent procedure
The Bureau took note of the request tabled by Mr Emanuelis Zingeris, Head of the delegation of Lithuania, and 19 members of the Assembly, to hold a debate under the urgent procedure on Endless terror of Belarusian authorities is a great threat to all Europe and decided to transform it into a request for a current affairs debate and to change its title into The situation in Belarus: a threat to the whole of Europe, to recommend to the Assembly to hold this current affairs debate, and appointed Mr Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) as the first speaker in this debate.
2.2.3. Draft agenda
The Bureau updated the draft agenda. Taking into account the agenda of the third part-session, as well as the high number of registered speakers, it invited the rapporteurs of the Assembly to shorten the presentation of their reports in the Plenary to a total of 10 minutes (including their replies)
2.2.4. Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights
- Election of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Croatia: the Bureau took note of the report drawn up by the Committee on the Election of Judges following interviews with candidates for the post of a judge to the Court in respect of Croatia (Doc. 15318 Add. 2).
- Election of a judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the Russian Federation: the Bureau considered and agreed to the request by the Chairperson of the Committee on the Election of Judges to postpone the consideration of the report drawn up by the committee as regards the candidates for the post of a judge to the Court in respect of the Russian Federation to its next meeting on 24 June 2021 (Doc. 15318 Add. 3).
2.3. Organisation of the committee meetings as of 1st September 2021
Taking into account the evolution of the exceptional circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bureau decided that committee meetings should be held in a hybrid manner (combined remote and in-person participation of members) or fully in-person, in Strasbourg or in Paris, sanitary conditions permitting.
2.4. Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee (19 April-20 June 2021) (Rapporteur: Ms Petra BAYR (Austria, SOC)
The Bureau approved the Progress report (Doc.15318).
2.5. Elections observation
2.5.1. Republic of Moldova: early parliamentary elections (11 July 2021)
The Bureau took note of the statement of the pre-electoral delegation and approved the updated list of members of the ad hoc committee.
2.5.2. Bulgaria: early parliamentary elections (11 July 2021)
The Bureau approved the updated list of members of the ad hoc committee.
2.6. Communications
The Bureau took note of the communications by the President of the Assembly, the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and held an exchange of views with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2.7. European Conference of Presidents of Parliament 2021
The Bureau took note of the information provided.
2.8. Issues raised by committees
2.8.1. Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination
The Bureau decided to authorise Ms Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC), rapporteur on Combating antisemitism in Europe, to participate in the 7th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, to be held in Jerusalem, on 13-15 July 2021.
2.9. Meetings elsewhere than Strasbourg and Paris
The Bureau authorised the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development to hold the Europe Prize presentation ceremony in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, on 23-24 September 2021.