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10 May 1993
Doc. 6825
PROGRESS REPORT
of the Enlarged Bureau of the Assembly
and the Standing Committee 1
(5 February - 10 May 1993)
(Rapporteur: Mr EFRAIMOGLOU,
Greece, New Democracy)
I. Introduction
1. The Assembly held the fourth part of its 44th ordinary session from 1 to 5 February 1993. The Bureau met on 5 February 1993 in Strasbourg, on 25 March 1993 in Malta and on 10 May 1993 in Strasbourg.
2. The Standing Committee met in Malta on 26 March 1993.
3. On 10 May 1993 the Bureau suggested holding a meeting in Paris at 11 a.m. on Saturday 5 June 1993, followed at 1 p.m. on the same day by the next meeting of the Standing Committee.
II. Opening date of the ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly
4. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee unanimously approved the Bureau's proposal to extend the 44th ordinary session and decided that as from 1994, the parliamentary year would coincide with the calendar year and that all existing terms of office would be extended from 10 May 1993 to 24 January 1994.
III. Preparation of the fifth part of the 44th ordinary session (spring session 1993)
a. Agenda and order of business
5. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee, on the proposal of the Bureau, adopted the draft agenda and approved the preliminary order of business for the 5th part of the Assembly's 44th ordinary session. This draft order of business was updated at the Bureau's meeting of 10 May 1993, in the course of which it was suggested that the Assembly hold an urgent debate on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
b. Timetabling of debates
6. All the debates will be timetabled in accordance with Rule 34 of the Rules of Procedure: a set amount of time is allotted for each debate and the discussion will be closed at the agreed time — regardless of whether or not all the speakers listed have been able to speak — those members whose names are on the list and who are present but not able to speak are authorised to submit their speeches in writing for publication in the Official Report. Unless the Bureau of the Assembly decides otherwise, all amendments must be tabled at least twenty-four hours before the opening of the debate, except for the first two days of the session.
IV. Examination of credentials
7. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, ratified the credentials of the Representatives and Substitutes in respect of Denmark, Ireland and Italy (Appendix I).
V. Changes in committee membership
8. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee also approved the changes in the membership of committees in respect of Ireland (Appendix II).
VI. Dates of Parliamentary Assembly part-sessions in 1994
9. At its meeting on 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee established the following dates for the Assembly's part-sessions in 1994:
— 24-28 January
— 11-15 April
— 28 June - 1 July
— 3-7 October.
VII. Vacancy of post of Deputy Secretary General
10. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau held private interviews with Mr Peter Leuprecht and Mr Johan C Lĝken, candidates for the post of Deputy Secretary General.
VIII. Joint Committee
11. The Joint Committee met on 25 March 1993 in Malta. At the meeting, discussion centred on the post of Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the enlargement of the Council of Europe, the Vienna Summit, institutional reforms, more specifically the revision of the Statute of the Council of Europe, as well as the accommodation of refugees from former Yugoslavia.
IX. Enlargement of the Bureau of the Assembly
12. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau decided to forward the proposal by the Chairman of the Greek delegation concerning the enlargement of the Bureau of the Assembly to the Committee on Rules of Procedure and also ask it to reconsider the question of the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, as well as the proposal to set up a select executive body (possibly comprising the President of the Assembly and chairmen of the political groups).
X. Ad hoc Committee of Chairmen of Political Groups
13. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau decided to set up an ad hoc Committee of Chairmen of Political Groups under the chairmanship of the President of the Assembly. Its terms of reference will be to assist the President in the co-ordination of the Assembly's activities and in the implementation of decisions.
XI. Special guest status
14. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau granted special guest status to the Parliament of Moldova and decided to allocate it five seats in the Assembly.
15. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau decided to refer Georgia's request for special guest status to the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries and, for opinion, to the Political Affairs Committee.
16. On 10 May 1993 the Bureau decided to refer the request of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" for special guest status to the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries and, for opinion, to the Political Affairs Committee.
XII. European Commission of Human Rights
17. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau drew up the lists of candidates in respect of Greece and Ireland in the order of preference of the parliamentary delegations and decided to forward the lists to the Committee of Ministers.
18. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau decided to submit to the Committee of Ministers candidates in respect of Portugal in the order of preference given by the Portuguese delegation.
19. On 10 May 1993 the Bureau drew up the lists of candidates in respect of Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom in the order of preference given by the parliamentary delegations, and decided to forward the lists to the Committee of Ministers.
XIII. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
20. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau decided to submit the lists of candidates received in respect of Spain and Switzerland to the Committee of Ministers in the order drawn up by the respective delegations.
21. On 10 May 1993 the Bureau decided to submit the list of candidates received in respect of Sweden in the order of preference given by the parliamentary delegation.
XIV. Appointment of legal experts to examine applications for membership of the Council of Europe
22. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau decided to appoint legal experts to examine the compatibility of the fundamental texts of the Czech and Slovak Republics with the standards of the Council of Europe.
23. On 10 May 1993 the Bureau took note of the experts' reports, declassified the reports in question and decided to forward them to the committees responsible for examining applications for membership.
24. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau also decided to appoint legal experts to carry out fact-finding visits to Croatia and Russia to gather information for their reports on legislation in these countries.
XV. Communications from the President
25. On 25 March 1993, the President reported to the Standing Committee on:
— his official visit to Luxembourg on 16 and 17 March 1993 during which he had an audience with Grand Duke Jean and met the Prime Minister, Mr Jacques Santer, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Jacques F Poos, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Mrs Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, members of the Bureau of the Chamber, the Foreign Affairs Commission and the delegation to the Council of Europe. He also met the Luxembourg members of the Commission and Court of Human Rights, as well as the expert from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT);
— his participation at and address to the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe on 18 March 1993.
26. On 10 May 1993, the President reported to the Bureau of the Assembly on:
— his official visit to Malta from 26 to 28 March 1993 during which he met the President of the Republic, Mr Vincent Tabone, the Prime Minister, Mr Eddie Fenech Adami, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Guido De Marco. He also held talks with Mr Alfred Sant, leader of the opposition. The President also held an exchange of views with the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Lawrence Gonzi. He later addressed a "mini European Assembly" of students, accompanied by Mr Gonzi and the Minister for Education, Mr Michael Frendo;
— his official visit to Greece from 29 to 31 March 1993 during which he met the President of the Republic, Mr Constantinos Karamanlis, the Prime Minister, Mr Constantinos Mitsotakis, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Papaconstantinou, and the Deputy Minister, Mrs Tsonderou. He was received by Mr Athanassios Tsaldaris, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and met Mr Andreas Papandreou and the leaders of the opposition parties, as well as the members of the delegation to the Council of Europe. Lastly, he was able to meet the Greek member of the CPT.
- his official visit to Bulgaria on 4 and 5 May 1993 during which he had met the Prime Minister, Mr Luben Berov, and the President of the National Assembly, Mr Alexandar Yordanov. He had also had talks with representatives of the various political groups, as well as with the Chairman of the Bulgarian parliamentary delegation. He had also been received by the President of the Republic, Mr Jeliu Jelev.
XVI. Analysis of the use made by the Assembly's political groups of their allocations for 1991 and 1993
27. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau approved the report by the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme on the use made by the political groups of their allocations for 1991 and the proposal for a provisional apportionment of their allocations for 1993.
XVII. Production of official documents of the Assembly
28. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau approved the Secretariat's proposals concerning the production of official documents of the Assembly for 1993 and invited the Committee on the Budget and Intergovernmental Work Programme to examine the question for the future.
XVIII. Rules relating to the refund of travel and subsistence expenses of special guest delegations
29. At its meeting of 5 February 1993, the Bureau approved the rules relating to the refund of travel and subsistence expenses of special guest delegations.
XIX. 1993 Programme of Interparliamentary Co-operation with the countries of central and eastern Europe
30. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau approved the guidelines of the 1993 Programme of Interparliamentary Co-operation with the countries of central and eastern Europe, which consists of training activities and legislative assistance in areas indicated by the countries concerned, and authorised its implementation.
XX. Co-operation with the Interparliamentary Union
31. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau authorised the Clerk of the Assembly to continue talks with the Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Union on the form and contents of an agreement between the IPU and the Parliamentary Assembly.
32. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau approved the draft agreement with the Interparliamentary Union.
XXI. Nordic Council
33. At its meeting of 25 March 1993, the Bureau adopted the report of the joint meeting of the Bureaux of the Nordic Council and the Parliamentary Assembly of 16 September 1992 and proposed that the next joint meeting be held in Strasbourg on 3 November 1993.
XXII. European Charter for the Rights of Old People
34. On 25 March 1993, the Bureau declared admissible the petition for a European Charter for the Rights of Old People submitted by three pensioners' associations from Emilia-Romagna and by two associations from San Marino and decided to refer it to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
XXIII. Assembly observers
35. At its meeting of 25 March 1993, the Bureau agreed unanimously that the Israeli parliamentary delegation should increase from two to three members in order to facilitate participation.
XXIV. Meetings outside Strasbourg or Paris
36. On 5 February 1993, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
— Committee on Economic Affairs and Development in London (United Kingdom) on 2 March 1993 and in Helsinki (Finland) from 2 to 4 June 1993, on the understanding that the committee would hold no further meetings outside Strasbourg and Paris in 1993;
— Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Brussels (Belgium) on 29 March 1993;
— Ad hoc Sub-Committee on Relations with EBRD and OECD of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in London (United Kingdom) on 2 March 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Labour and Employment of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Valletta (Malta) on 28 and 29 October 1993;
— Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography in Lisbon (Portugal) from 14 to 16 April 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Demography of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography in Geneva (Switzerland) from 23 to 26 March 1993;
— Committee on Agriculture in London (Ontario, Canada) from 1 to 3 March 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in Tallinn (Estonia) from 29 to 31 March 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Youth and Sport of the Committee on Culture and Education in Prague (Czech Republic) from 31 March to 1 April 1993;
— Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries in Armenia in spring 1993 (fact-finding visit by three members), in Azerbaijan in spring 1993 (fact-finding visit by three members) and in Kiev (Ukraine) from 24 to 26 May 1993;
— Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in Bucharest (Romania) on 26 and 27 April 1993.
37. At its meeting of 25 March 1993, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
— Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities in Berlin (Germany) from 26 to 28 April 1993;
— Sub-Committee on East-West Agricultural Development of the Committee on Agriculture in Tirana (Albania) from 18 to 19 May 1993;
— Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Tirana (Albania) from 21 to 23 June 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Labour and Employment of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Helsinki (Finland) from 2 to 4 June 1993;
— Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations in Warsaw (Poland) on 18 and 19 October 1993;
— Ad hoc Committee on the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in Helsinki (Finland) from 6 to 9 July 1993;
— Committee on Economic Affairs and Development in Helsinki (Finland) on 1 June 1993;
— Sub-Committee on Media of the Committee on Culture and Education in Brussels (Belgium) on 29 and 30 April 1993;
— Political Affairs Committee in London on 26 April 1993;
— Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Geneva on 24 June 1993;
— Ad hoc Committee on the Vienna Summit in Vienna on 19 June 1993.
38. At its meeting on 10 May 1993 the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
- Sub-Committee on World Food Problems of the Committee on Agriculture, at Antalya (Turkey) on 7 and 8 Septembmer 1993;
- Sub-Committee of the Committee on Culture and Education, at Santiago de Compostela (Spain) on 12 and 13 July 1993;
- Committee on Science and Technology, in Israel from 31 May to 2 June 1993.
XXV. Adopted texts
39. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee, meeting in Malta and acting on behalf of the Assembly, adopted the following texts:
Opinion No. 165 (1993) on the institutional reform of the Council of Europe;
Opinion No. 166 (1993) on Resolution 240 (1992) of the CLRAE on the development of the activities of the European network of training centres for local and regional authority staff;
Opinion No. 167 (1993) on the draft second additional protocol to the Social Charter of the Council of Europe providing for a system of collective complaints;
Recommendation 1210 (1993) on safety-critical systems;
Resolution 997 (1993) on European industrial competitiveness in a global context.
XXVI. References to committees
40. On 26 March 1993, the Standing Committee meeting in Malta and acting on behalf of the Assembly, ratified the following references proposed by the Bureau on 25 March 1993:
Reference No. 1848: Motion for an order on the use of Russian as a working language of the Assembly (Doc. 6761) to the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme and, for opinion, to the Committee on Rules of Procedure;
Reference No. 1849: Motion for a resolution on violations of and departures from international law and human rights principles by the Islamic Republic of Iran in a member state of the Council of Europe (Doc. 6763) to the Political Affairs Committee;
Reference No. 1850: Motion for a recommendation on the improvement of animal welfare in Europe (Doc. 6764) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and, for opinion, to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Science and Technology;
Reference No. 1851: Motion for a recommendation on diet and health (Doc. 6768) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Agriculture;
Reference No. 1852: Motion for a resolution on the political situation in Iran (Doc. 6769) to the Political Affairs Committee;
Reference No. 1853: Motion for a recommendation on the systematic gang rape of women and children on the territory of former Yugoslavia (Doc. 6770) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
Reference No. 1854: Motion for a recommendation on the establishment of a European police force to guarantee respect for human rights (Doc. 6773) to the Political Affairs Committee;
Reference No. 1855: Motion for a recommendation on scientific research in smaller countries (Doc. 6774) to the Committee on Science and Technology;
Reference No. 1856: Motion for a recommendation on the improvement of prison conditions in Europe (Doc. 6775) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
Reference No. 1857: Motion for a resolution on the use of primary and recycled fibre in the European paper industry (Doc. 6777 revised) to the Committee on Science and Technology;
Reference No. 1858: Motion for a resolution on gifted children in school systems (Doc. 6247) to the Committee on Culture and Education;
Reference No. 1859: Motion for a resolution on the unity and respect for the rights of the Italian minority in Slovenia and Croatia (Doc. 6795) to the Political Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries, specifying that this reference should not hold up the consideration of membership applications;
Reference No. 1860: Motion for a recommendation on the protection of Salman Rushdie (Doc. 6797) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
Reference No. 1861: Motion for a resolution on the use of cultural emblems or historical heritage symbols (Doc. 6798) to the Committee on Culture and Education;
Reference No. 1862: Report on the amendment of Rule 55a of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure (Special Guest Status) (Doc. 6790) to the Committee on Rules of Procedure;
— decided to consult:
— th e Political Affairs Committee on the action to be taken on the motion for a recommendation on remembrance of the two world wars (Doc. 6760);—
— th e Committee on Agriculture on the case for compiling a report on cruelty to animals (Doc. 6771 revised). 41
41. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau proposed, subject to ratification by the Assembly, the following refences to Committees:
- Communication from the President of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe transmitting to the Assembly the texts adopted at the 28th session of the Standing Conference (Doc 6809) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and, for opinion, to all relevant committees.
- Request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers on the accession of Belarus to the Council of Europe (Doc 6814) to the Political Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on relations with European Non-Member Countries and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
- Communication on the activities of the Committee of Ministers - Statutory Report -(February - May 1993) (Doc 6819) to all relevant committees.
- Situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina (urgent debate) to the Political Affairs Committee.
Report on the amendment of Rule 55a of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure (Special Guest Status) (Doc 6790). The Bureau made no change to Reference No. 1862 and confirmed the reference to the Committee on Rules of Procedure.
XXVII Ad hoc Committee to observe the elections in Latvia
(5-6 June 1993)
42. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau agreed on the following composition for the ad hoc Committee, at the suggestion of the political groups:
- Socialist Group: Mr Büchler (Germany), Mr Epersen (Denmark) and Mr Ferrarini (Italy);
- Group of the European People's Party: Mrs Fischer (Germany) and Mr Kelchtermans (Belgium);
- European Democratic Group: Mr Bender (Poland) and Mr Visibelli (Italy);
- Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group: Mr Flückinger (Switzerland) and Mr Jeambrun (France);
- Group of the United European Left: Mr Thoft (Denmark).
XXVIII Communication on the state of emergency in Turkey
43. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau took note of a communication from the Permanent Representative of Turkey, prepared in accordance with Article 15 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in which it was stated that the state of emergency had been lifted in the town of Elazig, but that a state of emergency had had to be declared for the town of Bitlis and its surrounding district.
XXIX Date of the 29th session of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe
44. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau took note of the dates proposed for the 29th session (15-17 March 1994 or 31st May - 2 June 1994) and offered no objection.
XXX Interparliamentary Union
45. ON 10 May 1993, the Bureau took note ofd the memorandum on co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly to the Council of Europe and the Interparliamentary Union, due to be signed by the Presidents of both assemblies.
46. It also took note of the report by Mrs Fischer on the 89th IUP Conference held in New Delhi from 11 to 17 April 1993.
XXXI. CSCE Economic Forum (Prague, 16-18 March 1993)
47. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau ratified the report by Mr Holtz, the Parliamentary Assembly's representative at the Prague Forum.
XXXII Ad hoc Committee on Equality of the Sexes
48. On 10 May 1993, the Bureau appointed the ad hoc Committee as follows, at the suggestion of the committees concerned:
- Committee on Culture and Education: Mrs Lockwood and Mrs Robert;
- Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee: Mrs Ozver and Mrs Halonen;
- Bureau of the Assembly: MM Berg, Laakso and Panov.
APPENDIX I
Supplementary report
on the examination of credentials of
Representatives, Substitutes and special guests
presented by the President of the Assembly
1. Following the examination of credentials of Representatives and Substitutes appointed to the 4th part of the 44th ordinary session of the Assembly, credentials certified by the competent authorities of three member states have been transmitted to the President of the Assembly, for validation by the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the Assembly.
2. Denmark has appointed a new Representative to replace Mr Auken who has resigned.
3. Ireland has appointed its new delegation following the legislative elections which were held on 25 November 1992.
4. Italy has appointed a new Substitute to replace Mr Pozzo who has resigned.
5. The Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, is requested to express its decision on the validation of the credentials of the following Representatives and Substitutes.
6. In the case of objection or justified contestation, the contested credentials shall be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules of Procedure which shall report back to the Assembly in accordance with Rule 6, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Procedure.
Representatives Substitutes
DENMARK Mr Henning GJELLEROD
IRELAND MM. Michael BELL MM. Mattie BRENNAN
Austin DEASY Frank CROWLEY
Brendan KENNEALLY Ms Breeda MOYNIHAN-CRONIN
Michael KITT Mr Tony GREGORY
ITALY Mr Roberto VISIBELLI
APPENDIX II
Proposed changes in the membership
of committees in respect of Ireland
Standing Committee
Member: Mr Kenneally (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Crowley (vacant seat)
Political Affairs Committee
Member: Mr Kenneally (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Gregory (vacant seat)
Committee on Economic Affairs and Development
Member: Mr Gregory (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Brennan (vacant seat)
Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee
Member: Ms Moynihan-Cronin (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Bell (vacant seat)
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Member: Mr Deasy (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Kenneally (vacant seat)
Committee on Culture and Education
Member: Mr Bell (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Kitt (vacant seat)
Committee on Science and Technology
Member: Mr Deasy (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Kitt (vacant seat)
Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities
Member: Mr Brennan (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Gregory (vacant seat)
Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography
Member: Mr Brennan (vacant seat)
Alternate: Ms Moynihan-Cronin (vacant seat)
Committee on Rules of Procedure
Member: Mr Gregory (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Bell (vacant seat)
Committee on Agriculture
Member: Mr Crowley (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Brennan (vacant seat)
Committee on Relations with European Non Member Countries
Member: Mr Kitt (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Deasy (vacant seat)
Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations
Member: Mr Kitt (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Crowley (vacant seat)
Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme
Member: Ms Moynihan-Cronin (vacant seat)
Alternate: Mr Kenneally (vacant seat)