Participation of the leaders of political groups meetings of the Political Affairs Committee

For debate in the Standing Committee see Rule 47

Pour débat à la Commision permanente – Voir article 47 du Règlement

Doc. 8029

25 February 1998

Participation of the leaders of political groups

in meetings of the Political Affairs Committee

Report

Committee on Rules of Procedure

Rapporteur: Mrs Marcelle Lentz-Cornette, Luxembourg, Group of the European People's Party

Summary

In view of the important contribution which the leaders of the political groups can make to the activities of the Political Affairs Committee, those leaders who are not already members of that committee should have the right to participate in its meetings without the right to vote.

I. Draft resolution

1. The Assembly notes the important contribution made by the political groups to guaranteeing respect for political pluralism in the Assembly and to organising its activities and those of its committees.

2. It recalls that the leaders of the political groups (or their representatives) are already ex officio members of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee with the right to vote.

3. The Assembly furthermore notes that some of the leaders of the political groups are members of the Political Affairs Committee by virtue of their being appointed by their national delegations in accordance with Rule 43.2 of the Rules of Procedure.

4. In view of the important contribution which the leaders of the political groups can make to the activities of the Political Affairs Committee, the Assembly considers that those leaders who are not members of that committee should have the right to participate in its meetings without the right to vote.

5. The Assembly therefore decides to add a new paragraph at the end of Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure worded as follows:

“Notwithstanding Rule 43.1.1., leaders of the political groups who are not members of the Political Affairs Committee shall be entitled to participate in its meetings without the right to vote.”

II. Explanatory memorandum by Mrs Lentz-Cornette

Introduction

1. On 25 September 1997, Mr Schwimmer and others presented a motion for a resolution on the participation of the leaders of the political groups in meetings of the Political Affairs Committee (Doc. 7930). This motion was referred to the Committee on Rules of Procedure (Reference No. 2223), which adopted the draft resolution at its meeting on 23 February 1998 for submission to the Standing Committee.

Present state of affairs

2. There are currently five political groups: the Socialist Group, the Group of the European People's Party, the European Democratic Group, the Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group and the Group of the Unified European Left. The leaders of these groups (or their representatives) are already ex officio members of the Bureau of the Assembly and of the Standing Committee with the right to vote.

3. On several occasions, the Assembly has noted the important role which the political groups have in the work of the Assembly and its committees as recognised in Rule 41 of the Rules of Procedure. This is furthermore highlighted by the fact that they receive an annual financial allocation from the Assembly’s budget.

4. The membership of the Political Affairs Committee is governed by Rule 43, paragraphs 1 and 2. Thus, it has 65 members and 65 alternates with each national delegation having from one to three seats. Some of the leaders of the groups are members of the Political Affairs Committee by virtue of them being appointed as part of their national delegations.

5. In view of the important contribution which the leaders of the groups can make to the activities of the Political Affairs Committee, the Committee on Rules of Procedure considers that those leaders who are not members of the Political Affairs Committee should have the right to participate in its meetings without the right to vote.

Proposed amendment to the Rules of Procedure

6. In order to implement the proposal, a new paragraph should be added to Rule 45 (Procedure in Committee) worded as follows:

7. In addition, a footnote containing a cross-reference to this new paragraph would need to be added to Rule 43.1.1.

Final remarks

8. The Standing Committee is invited to adopt the draft resolution which should enter into force immediately following its adoption.

Reporting committee: Committee on Rules of Procedure

Budgetary implications for the Assembly: none

Reference to committee: Doc. 7930 and Reference No. 2223 of 26 September 1997

Draft resolution unanimously adopted by the committee on 23 February 1998

Members of the committee Mrs Lentz-Cornette (Chairperson), Mrs Pulgar, Mr Gjellerod, Mr Mészáros (Vice-Chairpersons), MM. Averchev, Besostri, Bianchi (alternate: Mr Lorenzi), Bilinski, Cardona, Dias, Enright, Goovaerts, Kandare, Kittis, Korakas, Kostytsky, Laakso, Laurinkus, Magnusson, Maltsev, Marten, Minarolli, Mozetic, Nastase (alternate: Mrs Ionescu), Mrs Ojuland, MM. Pavlov, Pickles (alternate: Mrs Smith), Mrs Ragnarsdottir,

MM. Sandrier, Schieder, Schloten, Seiler, Silay, Simonsen, Sinka, Slobodnik, Tahiri, Vinçon, Verbeek, Vis, Vyvadil.

Secretary of the committee: Mr Horst Schade.