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28 June 1993
Doc. 6881
PROGRESS REPORT
of the Bureau of the Assembly
and the Standing Committee1
(13 May - 29 June 1993)
(Rapporteur: Mr Björn BJARNASON
Iceland, European Democratic Group)
____
I. Introduction
1. The Assembly held the fifth part of its 44th Ordinary Session from 10 to 14 May 1993. The Bureau met on 13 May 1993 in Strasbourg, on 5 June 1993 in Paris and on 28 June 1993 in Strasbourg.
2. The Standing Committee met in Paris on 5 June 1993.
II. Preparation of the sixth part
of the 44th Ordinary Session
A. Agenda and order of business
3. On 5 June 1993, the Standing Committee, on the proposal of the Bureau, adopted the draft agenda and approved the preliminary draft order of business for the sixth part of the Assembly's 44th Ordinary Session. This draft order of business was updated at the Bureau's meeting of 28 June 1993.
B. Timetabling of debates
4. All the debates will be timetabled in accordance with Rule 44 of the Rules of Procedure: a set amount of time is allotted to each debate and the discussion is 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.
C. Committee meetings
With a view to creating better working conditions, the Bureau has suggested that committee meetings following evening sessions, especially when the Assembly is scheduled to finish its work after 7 pm, should be discontinued during part-sessions. Generally speaking, meetings during part-sessions should essentially be limited to committees which are presenting reports to the plenary session and which have amendments to consider.
III. Ratification of credentials
5. On 5 June 1993, the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, ratified the credentials of the Representatives and Substitutes in respect of France (Appendix I).
IV. Changes in committee membership
6. On 5 June 1993, the Standing Committee also approved changes in the membership of the committees in respect of France (Appendix II).
V. European Commission of Human Rights
7. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau drew up a list of candidates in respect of France and decided to forward it to the Committee of Ministers.
VI. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
8. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau drew up the lists of candidates in respect of the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Denmark and decided to forward them to the Committee of Ministers.
VII. Special guest status
9. On 13 May 1993, the Enlarged Bureau decided to grant special guest status to the Parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to attribute it three seats.
10. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau decided to refer the application for special guest status from the Parliament of Georgia to the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries and to the Political Affairs Committee.
11. On 5 June 1993, the Bureau decided to transmit the request for special guest status of the Parliament of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, to the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries and to the Political Affairs Committee.
VIII. Ad hoc Committee on Equality of the Sexes
12. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau appointed MM. Berg, Güner and Panov as its representatives to the Ad hoc Committee on Equality of the Sexes.
IX. Ad hoc Committee for the Elections in Latvia
13. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau took note of the replacement of MM. Flückiger and Jeambrun by MM. Hint and Jansson as representatives of the Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group for the elections in Latvia. On 28 June the Bureau took note of the draft report on the elections in Latvia (5 and June) and decided at that stage to transmit it to the three committees with competence in respect of accessions.
X. Inter-Parliamentary Union
14. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau appointed
- Mrs Halonen, MM. Lotz and Sipos to participate in the IPU Symposium on "Parliament: Guardian of Human Rights";
—ap pointed Mrs Fischer to represent the Parliamentary Assembly at the 90th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference (Canberra, Australia, 13-18 September 1993).On
On 28 June the Bureau took note of a summary of the symposium discussions.
XI. Communication from the President
15. On 5 June 1993, the President reported to the Bureau of the Assembly on his official visit which he had made to Germany from 26 to 28 May 1993 at the invitation of the German Parliament, and during which he held talks with the President of the Republic, Mr Richard von Weizsäcker, the Federal Chancellor, Mr Helmut Kohl, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Klaus Kinkel and the speaker of the Bundestag, Mrs Rita Süssmuth. He also met several chairmen of political groups and members of the Council of Europe parliamentary delegation.
XII. Meetings outside Strasbourg or Paris
16. On 13 May 1993, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:
—th e Political Affairs Committee in Geneva (Switzerland) on 2 June 1993;—
—th e Sub-Committee on Participatory Democracy of the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations, from 8-10 July 1993 in Colchester (United Kingdom);—
—th e Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme in Brussels (Belgium).17
17. On 5 June 1993, the Bureau:
—au thorised the meeting of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography in Geneva on 11 June 1993;—
—ap pointed Mrs Haller to represent the Parliamentary Assembly at the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, Austria, 14-25 June 1993);On
On 28 June the Bureau authorised the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities to meet in Regensburg from 14 to 16 October 1993
At the same meeting, the Bureau postponed a decision on the request by the
Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries for authorisation of a serarate visit by an ad hoc sub-committee to Yerevan from 9 to 11 July 1993.
XIII. Adopted texts
18. On 5 June 1993, the Standing Committee, meeting in Paris and acting on behalf of the Assembly, adopted the following texts:
—Op inion No. 171 on the Council of Europe general accounts and budgets for the years 1991, 1993 and 1994;—
—Op inion No. 172 on the programme-budget for the operational expenditure of the Assembly in 1994;—
—Op inion No. 173 on the texts adopted at the 28th session of the CLRAE (16-18 March 1993).XI
XIV. References to committees
19. At its meeting of 5 June 1993 the Bureau decided to draw the attention of the chairmen of committees to the need to carry out a rigorous selection of texts that are referred to committees and to consider whether they really should form the subject of a report. The Bureau expressed the hope that committees would only submit to the Assembly reports on priority issues for which they are directly responsible.
20. On 5 June 1993, the Standing Committee, meeting in Paris and acting on behalf of the Assembly, ratified the following references proposed by the Bureau the same day:
Reference No. 1867: motion for a resolution on the serious economic problems of some member states or states whose parliaments enjoy special guest status arising from the implementation of the United Nations sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro (Doc. 6832) to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development;
Reference No. 1868: motion for a resolution on strengthening the structures of the Council of Europe Secretariat (Doc. 6833) to the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme;
Reference No. 1869: motion for a resolution on food and agricultural development in the Mediterranean area (Doc. 6834) to the Committee on Agriculture;
Reference No. 1870: motion for a resolution on new policies for the promotion of non-food production in agriculture and related equipment-supply (Doc. 6837) to the Committee on Agriculture;
Reference No. 1871: motion for a resolution on children's rights (Doc. 6838) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
Reference No. 1872: motion for a recommendation on "reality TV" (Doc. 6842) to the Committee on Culture and Education;
Reference No. 1873: motion for a recommendation on economic crime (Doc. 6844) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and, for opinion, to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development;
Reference No. 1874: motion for a resolution on strengthening and emphasising the position of families in society (Doc. 6845) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee;
Reference No. 1875: motion for an order on increasing the number of official languages of the Council of Europe (Doc. 6846): paragraph 4 to the Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme and paragraph 5 to the Committee on Rules of Procedure;
Reference No. 1876: motion for a recommendation on a model European penal code (Doc. 6851) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights;
Reference No. 1877: motion for a recommendation on an action programme for further environmental education through teacher training (Doc. 6852) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and, for opinion, to the Committee on Culture and Education;
Reference No. 1878: motion for a recommendation on the study and teaching of comparative European law (Doc. 6853) to the Committee on Culture and Education;
Reference No. 1879: motion for an order against cruelty to animals (Doc. 6771) to the Committee on Agriculture;
Reference No. 1880: (modification of Reference No. 1850) motion for a recommendation on the improvement of animal welfare in Europe (Doc. 6764) to the Committee on Agriculture and, for opinion, to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and the Committee on Science and Technology;
At its meeting on 5 June 1993 the Bureau decided to consult the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights on the action to be taken on the motion for a recommendation on equality between women and men in the choice of a child's surname (Doc. 6839);
— decided not to follow up:
—th e motion for an order on the protection of traditional farm food production (Doc. 6836 revised);—
—th e motion for a resolution to protect virgin forests and enhance sustainable development (Doc. 6840);—
—th e motion for a resolution on the political situation in Iran (Doc. 6843).21
21. On 28 June the Bureau, subject to ratification by the Assembly, ordered the following references to committees:
- 1992 annual report of the European Space Agency (Doc. 6870) to the Committee on Science and Technology;
- Request for an opinion from the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly on the accession of Moldova to the Council of Europe (Doc. 6873) to the Political Affairs Committee for report and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries for opinion;
- Communication on the activities of the Committee of Ministers - Statutory report (May - June 1993) to all competent committees;
- Motion for a recommendation on the situation of Mr Vuk Draksovic (Doc. 6879) to the Political Affairs Committee.
The Bureau transmitted to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for information the communication by the Secretary General transmitting to the Assembly the third general report on the activities of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) (Doc. 6868).
It was also informed of a motion for an order on the honouring of commitments entered into by new member states, presented by Mrs Halonen and others.
It further transmitted two resolutions adopted by the European Parliament for information:
- to the Committee on Agriculture (on whaling);
- to the Political Affairs Committee (progress of East-West relations in Europe and their implications for European security).
XV. Assembly documents
22. On 5 June 1993, the Bureau decided to indicate the Rapporteur's Parliamentary Assembly political group membership in Assembly documents.
XVI. Preparation of the Conference of Heads of State and Government
of the Council of Europe member states
Vienna, 8-9 October 1993
23. On 28 June the Bureau heard a statement by the Clerk of the Assembly concerning the meeting held on 19 June 1993 in Vienna by the ad hoc committee responsible for preparing the Summit. It noted that the Assembly would have the status of a participant in the Conference.
XVII. RELATIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
24. On 28 June the Bureau was informed that the Joint Working Party "Ministers' Deputies - Parliamentary Assembly" would meet on the afternoon of 28 June to look at the budgetary prospects for 1994. The Bureau took note of a statement by the Secretary General and of an information paper on the subject.
XVIII. Assembly Vice-Presidencies
25. On 28 June the Bureau approved the proposals by the Committee on Rules of Procedure concerning appointments to the office of Vice-President of the Assembly (see Appendix III) and referred to that committee for discussion another supplementary proposal by Lord Finsberg.
XIX. Examination of applications for membership
of the Council of Europe
26. On 28 June the Bureau examined a draft list of questions which the Assembly Rapporteurs might raise in connection with membership applications and decided
. to consult the political groups and the three relevant Assembly committees concerning the draft;
. to resume discussion at its meeting in September.
XX. CSCE Assembly
27. On 28 June the Bureau took note of a draft information document to be presented by Mr Schieder at the second session of the CSCE Assembly in Helsinki (6-9 July 1993) and came out in favour of including representatives of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development in the ad hoc committee on the CSCE.
XXI. Ad hoc Committee for the Revision
of the Council of Europe Statute
28. On 28 June the Bureau decided to extend the ad hoc committee's terms of reference so that it would be able to monitor the implementation by the Committee of Ministers of Recommendation 1212 on the adoption of a draft revised Statute.
XXII. Nordic Council
29. On 5 June 1993 the Bureau appointed Lord Newall to represent the Assembly at the Nordic Council's Arctic Conference (Reykjavik, Iceland, 16-17 August 1993).
On 28 June the Bureau appointed Mr Jansson to represent the Assembly at the 43rd session of the Nordic Council in Mariehamn (8 - 10 November 1993).
XXIII. 20th General Assembly of the European Union of Women,
Warwick (United Kingdom), 22 July 1993
30. On 28 June the Bureau appointed Lady Lockwood to represent the Assembly at this event.
APPENDIX I
Supplementary report
on the examination of credentials of
Representatives and Substitutes
presented by the President of the Assembly
1. Following the examination of credentials of Representatives and Substitutes appointed for the 5th part of the 44th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, credentials certified by the competent authorities of a member state have been transmitted to the President of the Assembly, for ratification by the Standing Committee on behalf of the Assembly.
2. France has appointed Mr Jean Dumont (former Substitute) as Representative, in place of Mr Puech, who has resigned, and Mr Pierre Croze as Substitute to replace Mr Dumont.
3. The Standing Committee is requested, on behalf of the Assembly, to take a decision on the ratification of the credentials of the Representative and Substitute whose names are given above.
4. In the event of objection or contestation, with reasons stated, 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.
APPENDIX II
Proposed changes in the membership of
committees in respect of France
Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Member: Mr Croze (vacant seat)
Committee on the Budget and the Intergovernmental Work Programme
Alternate: Mr Croze (vacant seat)
APPENDIX III
Vice-presidencies of the Assembly
Revised system of appointment
1. Member States are divided up into four categories :
- group I : delegations with 18 seats in the Assembly (France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) would have 4 vice-presidencies every ordinary session;
- group II : delegations with between 12 and 17 seats in the Assembly (Poland, Spain, Turkey) would have 2 vice-presidencies every ordinary session;
- group III : delegations with between 5 and 11 seats in the Assembly (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic (following admission), Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic (following admission), Sweden, Switzerland, would have 7 vice-presidencies every ordinary session;
- group IV : delegations with between 2 and 4 seats (Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Slovenia) would have 2 vice-presidencies every ordinary session;
2. Within these groups vice-presidencies are allocated for one ordinary session by English alphabetical order. Any new member State should be included in the relevant group and take its place according to English alphabetical order.
3. The President of the Assembly should be taken into account in all cases.