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22 May 1992
Doc. 6625
1403-20/5/92-2-E
Report
on the International Institute for Democracy
(Rapporteur: Mr de PUIG, Spain, Socialist)
Summary
Since its creation in 1989 as a private law association, the International Institute for Democracy has provided useful assistance to Europe's emerging democracies.
However, its structure is no longer adequate to face ever-increasing demands. In view of the Institute's origin and present membership, its tasks could be best accomplished if it were brought, in a different form, into the framework of the Strasbourg Conference on Parliamentary Democracy.
I. DRAFT RESOLUTION
1. The Assembly considers that the International Institute for Democracy, set up as a private association in 1989 under French civil law, through its various activities has provided useful assistance to Europe's emerging democracies.
2. The fragility of its structure and its lack of sufficient funding have, however, prevented the Institute from fully carrying out its assigned tasks, for which there is an ever-increasing demand.
3. Despite the emergence of other institutions with similar objectives, notably within the CSCE, the Assembly considers that the Institute's world-wide mandate gives it a geographical basis which is sufficiently distinctive to warrant its further development. Co-operation with regional institutions should be strongly promoted, also to avoid duplication of effort.
4. The Assembly is of the opinion that, in view of the Institute's origin and present membership, its tasks could be best accomplished if it were brought, in a different form, into the framework of the Strasbourg Conference on Parliamentary Democracy.
5. The Assembly further proposes that the existing private law association be transformed into a non-governmental organisation to support the Institute in its new form.
6. The Assembly therefore calls upon the Steering Committee of the Strasbourg Conference to take the necessary steps with the Governing Body of the Institute in order to:
i. bring it within the structure of the Strasbourg Conference,
ii. prepare a draft interparliamentary agreement on its functioning and financing.
II. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
by Mr de Puig
C O N T E N T S
Paragraphs
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1
II. CURRENT SET UP ....................................... 2 - 5
III. MANDATE .............................................. 6 - 7
IV. ACTIVITIES ........................................... 8 - 12
V. PROBLEMS ............................................. 13 - 15
VI. PROPOSALS ............................................ 16 - 17
VII. CONCLUSIONS .......................................... 18
Pages
APPENDIX I
Contributions 1991 ......................................... 7
- Membership fees .......................................... 7
- Ad hoc contributions ..................................... 7
APPENDIX II
- Composition of the Governing Body of the Institute ....... 8
- Activities 1990-1991 ..................................... 9 - 10
- Activities 1992 .......................................... 11
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The initiative to set up the International Institute for Democracy was taken at the 2nd Strasbourg Conference on Parliamentary Democracy in September 1987. In Spring 1988, the Steering Committee agreed on the principle and approved the statutes which were registred at the Strasbourg District Court in 1989.
II. CURRENT SET-UP
2. The Institute is a private association governed by the French Civil Code. Its organs are the general meeting, meeting at least once a year, generally during the autumn part-session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, and the governing body, elected among the members of the Institute. The President of the Parliamentary Assembly is ex-officio Chairman of the Institute's governing body.
3. Membership of the Institute is open to the national parliaments and associations operating in the field of democracy. Up to now 20 parliaments have adhered to the Institute, as has "The Center for Democracy" (Washington) and the "Centre d'information civique" (Paris). A list of member parliaments and their contributions is set out in Appendix I. Moreover the Canadian International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development decided, in 1991, to give a substantial grant.
4. The Institute's budget for 1991 amounted to 900 000 FF. In addition, material assistance was received from the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament. Contributions cover staff cost and current expenditure. An indicative scale of contribution has been worked out, but some parliaments are only paying a symbolic fee of 1 000 FF. Fund raising is necessary for the organisation of specific activities.
5. The Institute employs a full-time executive secretary, assisted by a part-time secretary. Support is given by a scientific adviser from the local Strasbourg Law Faculty.
III. MANDATE
6. The Institute's main role is to encourage co-operation on a world-wide scale between governmental, non-governmental and interparliamentary organisations, as well as between national parliaments, with a view to promoting and strengthening democracy.
7. The Institute has the following tasks:
. establishing contacts with national and international foundations and institutions, both public and private and collecting information on their composition, aims and activities;
. serving as a clearing house for the dissemination of information on the current efforts of various organisations and institutions involved in promoting democracy;
. promoting research into parliamentary democracy in co-operation with universities and acting as a documentation centre on parliamentary democracy;
. issuing newsletters on efforts to promote pluralistic democracy all over the world;
. organising seminars on parliamentary practice and procedure for parliamentarians and staff members of parliaments in newly emerging democracies.
IV. ACTIVITIES
8. During the first year of its existence, the Institute has undertaken following activities. On 1 October 1990, to mark its inauguration, a Round Table was organised on "Democracy and Political Pluralism".
9. Several issues of the newsletter "Democracy" have been published so far, and in co-operation with the Washington Center for Democracy, the "Library for Democracy" project was carried out. This consisted in making books on the theory and the functioning of democracy available to political parties, trade-unions, students and youth groups in Central and Eastern Europe.
10. In May 1991, a Seminar on "The Council of Europe, the European Community and their parliamentary democracies" was organised for parliamentarians of four Central and East European countries. In July 1991, a training Seminar on "Parliamentary procedure and practice in democracy" was held for the staff members of parliaments from Central and Eastern Europe. Assistance was received from the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and several national parliaments. In addition, the Congressional Research Service of the US Congress through its special task force on the development of parliamentary institutions in Eastern Europe contributed.
11. Furthermore the Institute prepared an inventory of activities in the field of minority rights for a colloquy organised in November 1991 in Paris by the Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
12. For 1992, the Institute envisages to hold in Strasbourg another multilateral seminar on parliamentary procedure and practice for officials of Central and East European parliaments. In addition, training seminars for staff of parliament in Central and East European capitals are foreseen. A conference on legislation in the field of minority rights is planned for the autumn of 1992.
V. PROBLEMS
13. The demands made on the Institute have far exceeded the expectations of 1989. As a result of momentous change on the continent, very considerable needs have to be met in Central and Eastern Europe. The Institute's funding is clearly not commensurate with these challenges. Its limited resources do not allow adequate staffing and as a result, the Institute is unable to cope with the many tasks it has to fulfil.
14. As a result, several of the Institute's original tasks, particularly the data-gathering and its clearing-house functions cannot be carried out satisfactorily.
15. The separation of tasks between the Institute, the Strasbourg Conference and its member parliaments is not always clear at the moment. This may lead to duplication of effort or could pose a real problem of competence. The Institute's private law character reduces its prestige and hampers its development. A new potential competitor has recently appeared in the form of the CSCE Warsaw Office on Free Elections, especially since the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSCE decided at their meeting in Prague, on 30 and 31 January 1992, to rename it and expand its mandate to become an "Office for democratic institutions and human rights".
VI. PROPOSALS
16. In view of the Institute's origin and present composition, it would appear advisable to bring the Institute into the framework of the Strasbourg Conference. The existing private law association could be changed into a non- governmental organisation whose aim would be to support the Institute in its new form. A similar organisation has already been created by Sir Geoffrey Finsberg in the United Kingdom and such initiatives should also be promoted elsewhere.
17. The advantages of this solution would be the following:
. legally, the Institute would become part of the Strasbourg Conference which is a de facto international institution and in which the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and national parliaments co-operate;
. financially, the Institute budget could be shared as in the Strasbourg Conference, by its three groups of members which would certainly give the Institute a sounder financial basis. This could be achieved by way of an interparliamentary agreement;
. politically, the Institute would be placed under the responsibility of the Steering Committee of the Strasbourg Conference, to avoid duplication of efforts;
. administratively, the Institute would be placed under the responsibility of the Secretary of the Conference, the Clerk of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This would probably permit a more satisfactory solution concerning the staff's status to be found within the framework of the Council of Europe;
. concerning the seat of the Institute, this could be more easily maintained at the headquarters of the Council of Europe.
VII. CONCLUSIONS
18. The Strasbourg Conference on Parliamentary Democracy aims to establish closer ties between pluralist democracies worldwide and foster the development of democratic parliamentary institutions. Thus, its geographical scope exceeds that of CSCE, in spite of the latter's enlargement. The CSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights consequently has a more limited mandate than the International Institute for Democracy. Although co-operation between the two bodies would certainly need to be promoted (the Warsaw Office has been directed to develop co-operation in particular with the Council of Europe), it appears that the International Institute's proven capabilities amply justify giving it a more solid foundation.
APPENDIX I
Contributions 1991
Membership fees
Belgium - Senate 10 000 FF
Cyprus 2 500 FF
Denmark 16 000 FF
Finland 13 000 FF
France - National Assembly 62 500 FF
Greece 13 000 FF
Iceland 1 000 FF
Italy - Senate 62 500 FF
Liechtenstein 1 000 FF
Malta 1 000 FF
Netherlands - Second Chamber 25 750 FF
Norway 13 000 FF
Portugal 10 000 FF
San Marino 5 000 FF
Spain - Cortes 24 900 FF
Switzerland 22 000 FF
Turkey 15 000 FF
"Centre d'Information civique", Paris 5 000 FF
TOTAL Membership fees 303 150 FF
Ad hoc contributions
Belgium Senate - July seminar 9 000 FF
Center for Democracy - Library project 4 013,61 FF
European Co-operation Fund 115 905,25 FF
Library of US Congress 104 170,29 FF
International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development 126 882,50 FF
Liechtenstein - July Seminar 10 000 FF
TOTAL ad hoc contributions 369 971,65 FF
APPENDIX II
The Governing Body of the Institute is composed as follows:
Chairman: Mr Miguel Angel Martinez
Vice-Chairperson: Mrs Marcelle Lentz-Cornette
Mr David Martin
Treasurer: Mr Louis Jung
Secretary: Mr Pieter Stoffelen
Deputy Secretary: Mr Allen Weinstein
Members: Mr Ronald Edwards
Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
Staff
Executive Secretary: Mrs Enie Waechter
Scientific adviser: Mrs Florence Rohmer
Assistant: Mrs Dawn Martin
Members
Australia - has not paid 1991 contribution
Belgium
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Greece
Iceland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden - has not paid 1991 contribution
Switzerland
Turkey
Meetings
10 May 1990, Strasbourg
30 June 1990, Innsbruck
3 October 1990, Strasbourg
31 January 1991 Strasbourg
24 April 1991, Strasbourg
17 September 1991, Strasbourg
5 February 1992, Strasbourg
Activities 1990-1991
1. Round Table
A Round Table on democracy and political pluralism was organised on 1 October 1990 to mark the inauguration of the Institute.
Publication: a bilingual transcript.
2. Clearing House
The clearing house function has become gradually operational in 1990. It includes a data base comprising information on NGOs, foundations and institutes world wide.
Publication: Clearing House Review - a bilingual bimonthly review of current activities and events.
3. Newsletter "Democracy"
"Democracy" is published for every part session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Newsletter publication dates:
No. 5 - January 1991
No. 6 - April 1991
No. 7 - September 1991
No. 8 - January 1992
No. 9 is due to be published in May 1992
4. Library for Democracy
In co-operation with "The Center For Democracy" in Washington, the Institute carried out the European part of the "Library for Democracy" project. It consisted of compiling a list of book titles on the theory and the functioning of democracy in order to prepare packages of 35 different books and to make them available to political parties, trade unions, students and youth groups in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as two larger packages of 150 books each for the National Parliament library and a university library outside the capital. The first target country was Bulgaria.
5. Seminar on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure
In a joint venture with the East-West Parliamentary Practice Project and the International Centre for European Training, the Institute organised from 22 to 26 May 1991 a seminar in Strasbourg on "The Council of Europe, the European Community and their parliamentary democracies" for parliamentarians from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Soviet Union.
6. Training seminar for staff from Central and East European Parliaments
From 10 to 17 July the Institute organised a training seminar on "Parliamentary Practice and Procedure in Democracy" for fifteen staff members of all Central and East European parliaments. Part I focused on the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Part II included practice and procedures in national parliaments. Lectures were given by senior staff members of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, as well as staff members of six West European national parliaments. The seminar ended with a discussion on the draft constitutions of Albania and Poland presented by participants.
7. European Commission for Democracy through Law
The Institute is now regularly participating in the meetings of the European Commission for Democracy through Law.
8. Third pan-European Round Table
On 1 October 1991 the Executive Secretary participated in the Third pan-European Round Table at Luxembourg, organised by the Committee on Culture and Education of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, bringing together parliamentary representatives and youth organisations. The theme of the Round Table being "Tolerance and Ethnic Minorities", with special attention on social protection, employment, education, culture, urban politics and the media.
9. Colloquy on Minorities
The Institute made a significant contribution to the Colloquy on Minorities organised on 13-14 November in Paris by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe by presenting a report containing an inventory of texts on minority rights drawn up by different international organisations. The Institute was represented by Mrs Florence Rohmer, Scientific Advisor to the Institute and author of the report.
10. EUROSEC
On 29 November the Executive Secretary participated in The Hague in the "Eurosec" meeting, organised by the European Movement. The objective of this meeting was to allow various European organisations (Nordic Council, EFTA, Council of Europe, the European Community, CEPT, etc.) to present their activities in the field of assistance to Central and East European countries.
11. European Parliament visitors programme
On the occasion of a seminar taking place in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg for senior officials from Central and Eastern Europe held on 2-13 December, the Institute was invited to organise briefings with civil servants of the Council of Europe.
12. Visits to the Institute
In the course of 1991 working visits to the Institute were paid by Ms Marilyn Fefer, Director of the Information Center of the Israel Democracy Institute, Mr Anders Johnson, Assistant Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Union, and Shirley Williams, Director of Project Liberty and Professor at Harvard University.
Activities 1992
1. A seminar on parliamentary practice and procedures was held in Warsaw on 23-25 January 1992 for newly elected parliamentarians and their staff. The seminar, organised in co-operation with the Sejm and the Polish Senate, was preceded by a special programme introducing the Council of Europe, in general, the Parliamentary Assembly and its February 1992 Part Session, in particular, to the new Polish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly.
2. A training seminar on parliamentary practice and procedure for 30 officials from the Czech and Slovak Federal Assembly and the Czech and Slovak National Councils has been held from 2-4 April 1992 in Prague.
3. A multilateral training seminar on parliamentary practice and procedure for officials of East European parliaments will take place in Strasbourg in July 1992.
4. A two day conference comparing the state of legislation on minorities in Central and East European countries will be organised in Strasbourg in September 1992. The conference will bring together representatives and experts from interested institutions and organisations as well as parliamentarians from all Central and East European countries and from West European countries.
5. In the Autumn of 1992 other training seminars for parliamentary staff may be organised upon request and in co-operation with the national parliaments concerned in East and West.
6. The Institute has been invited to participate in and/or organise several other activities with regard to assistance to parliaments in Central and Eastern Europe.
Reporting committee: Political Affairs Committee.
Budgetary implications for the Assembly: None.
Reference to committee: Doc. 6232 and Reference No. 1678 of 3 July 1990.
Draft resolution: Unanimously adopted by the committee on 16 April 1992.
Members of the committee: MM Reddemann (Chairman), Martinez, Sir Dudley Smith (Vice-Chairmen), MM Alvarez Cascos (Alternate: Fabra), Antretter, Mrs Baarveld-Schlaman, MM Baumel, Björn Bjarnason, Caro, Cem, Cismozewicz, Espersen, Fioret, Fiorini, Flückiger, Gabbuggiani, Galanos, Guizzi, Mrs Halonen (Alternate: Rehn), MM Hardy, Hellström (Alternate: Svensson), Hyland, Irmer, Kelchtermans, König, Mrs Lentz-Cornette, MM van der Linden, Machete (Alternate: Roseta), Martins, Mimaroglu, Miville, Oehry, Pangalos, Papadogonas, Portelli, Schieder, Sebej, Seeuws, Simko, Mrs Suchocka, MM Szent-Ivanyi, Tarschys, Ternak, Thoresen, Ward.
NB: The names of those members who took part in the vote are underlined.
Secretaries of the committee: MM Sorinas and Kleijssen.