Doc. 8596

24 January 2000

Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee

(25 September 1999 - 24 January 2000)

Rapporteur: Mrs Edeltraud GATTERER (Austria, EPP/CD)

INTRODUCTION

1.       The Assembly held the Fourth Part of its 1999 Ordinary Session from 21 to 25 September 1999. The Bureau met on 3 November 1999 (Strasbourg), on 13 December 1999 and 10 January 2000 (Paris) and on 24 January in Strasbourg. The Standing Committee met on 4 November 1999.

Chapter I

FUNCTIONING OF THE ASSEMBLY

PREPARATION OF THE FIRST PART OF THE 2000 SESSION

2.       At its meeting on 3 November, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft order of business and examined the draft agenda of the first part of the Assembly’s 2000 session (24-28 January 2000).

3.       On 13 December, the Bureau adopted the draft agenda, updated the draft order of business of the Assembly’s January 2000 part-session and expressed itself in favour of the request of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee to present a report on "the social consequences of the recent earthquakes in Turkey" for a joint debate with the report "on the reconstruction after the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Greece", already on the draft order of business, by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development.

4.       On 10 January and 24 January 2000, the Bureau updated the draft order of business of the first part of the 2000 Ordinary Session of the Assembly (24 - 28 January 2000) and expressed itself in favour of holding a debate under urgent procedure on the conflict in Chechnya.

5.       On 24 January, the Bureau agreed that Mr Bühler (Germany, EPP/CD) would replace Mrs Gatterer (Austria, EPPCD) who was prevented from participating in the session, to present the Progress Report of the Bureau and the Standing Committee.

field of environment protection

EXAMINATION OF CREDENTIALS

6.       At its meeting on 4 November, the Standing Committee ratified the credentials of new representatives and substitutes in respect of Belgium and Ireland (Doc. 8584).

CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES

7.       On 4 November, the Standing Committee approved changes in the membership of committees (Comm (1999) 11).

8.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau approved the proposals from the Assembly’s political groups for the composition of the Monitoring Committee, which will be submitted to the Assembly for ratification.

DATE OF THE SECOND PART OF THE ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY IN 2000

9.       At its meeting on 4 November, the Standing Committee changed the date of the Second Part of the Ordinary Session of the Assembly in 2000 to 3-7 April 2000 and decided to hold its next meeting in Dublin from 15-17 May 2000 cancelling therefore the meeting of 8 March 2000.

ADOPTED TEXTS

10.       On 4 November, the Standing Committee adopted the following texts:

Opinion N° 214 (1999)       on the request of observer status of Mexico with the Council        of Europe

Recommendation 1430 (1999)       on access to information, public participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice – implementation of the Århus Convention

Recommendation 1431 (1999)       on future action to be taken by the Council of Europe in the f       field of environment protection.

Recommendation 1432 (1999)       on the observance of the system of European time zones

Recommendation 1433 (1999)       on a quality label for mountain resorts in Europe?

Recommendation 1434 (1999)       on football hooliganism

Recommendation 1435 (1999)       on the role of women in the field of science and technology

Recommendation 1436 (1999)       on the negotiation rights of Council of Europe staff

Resolution 1201 (1999)       on the conflict in Chechnya

Resolution 1202 (1999)       on the general revision of the Rules of Procedure

Resolution 1203 (1999)       on the request of observer status of Mexico with the Council of Europe

Resolution 1204 (1999)       on Europe and professional sport

Resolution 1205 (1999)       on looted Jewish cultural property

Resolution 1206 (1999)       on a European approach to non-conventional medicines

Resolution 1207 (1999)       on the role of women in the field of science and technology

Resolution 1208 (1999)       on challenges, advantages and development of extensive aquaculture

Order N° 559 (1999)       on the role of women in the field of science and technology

FOLLOW-UP TO RESOLUTION 1177 (1999)

11.       On 13 December, the Bureau examined a memorandum from the Clerk of the Assembly on the follow-up to Resolution 1177 (1999) on the Committee of Wise Persons’ report «building greater Europe without dividing lines ». It agreed to declassify it and forward it for opinion to the Assembly’s political groups and Chairmen of national delegations as well as for information to the Chairpersons of the committees. It asked the Clerk of the Assembly to analyse the possible redeployment of financial resources of the Assembly which could result from the proposed change.

NEW RULES OF PROCEDURE

12.       New Rules of Procedure will be applicable as from the opening of the Session of 2000. A bound copy of the new Rules has been distributed to all members of the Assembly.

RECONSTITUTION AND SETTING-UP OF BUREAU AD HOC COMMITTEES

13.       On 3 November, the Bureau set up an ad hoc Committee to participate in the Conference on the parliamentary contribution to the implementation of the Stability Pact for South- Eastern Europe (Sofia, 25-26 November 1999).

14.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau set up an ad hoc Committee to participate in the European Conference: All different all equal: from principle to practice - European contribution to the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (Strasbourg, 11 - 13 October 2000) with the following composition : five members each of the Political Affairs Committee, of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and of the Committee on Culture and Education.

15.       It also set up an ad hoc Committee to visit the Russian Federation from 16 to 20 January 2000 (see also Chapter III, paragraph 34).

MONITORING PROCEDURE

16.       On 3 November, the Bureau approved the request from the Monitoring Committee relating to the opening of a monitoring procedure in respect of Georgia.

LIST OF SPEAKERS AND ALLOCATION OF SPEAKING TIME DURING ASSEMBLY DEBATES

17.       At its meeting on 3 November, the Bureau considered a memorandum from the Office of the Clerk evaluating the new system concerning the list of speakers and the allocation of speaking time approved by the Bureau on 25 May 1999 and which operated on a trial basis during the June and September 1999 part-sessions.

18.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau approved the following decisions to be included in the criteria for drawing up the list of speakers for Assembly debates, which will enter into force after the January 2000 part-session:

1.       A maximum of two speakers of the same national delegation (even if belonging to a different Political Group) shall follow each other on the list of speakers. This does not apply for members speaking on behalf of a Political Group and to rapporteurs.

2. During one Part-session members shall be entitled to enter the register for a maximum of

3. The drawing up of the final list of speakers for a debate shall be the responsibility of the

4. All Rapporteurs for opinion shall be allowed three minutes to present their opinion to a

report.

5.       The d'Hondt system shall be applied by using the list of members belonging to the Political

6. In the case of a debate on a report particularly relevant to the country of the Special Guest

7. These decisions shall be included in the criteria applied for the drawing up the list of

19.       A complete set of criteria concerning the list of speakers and the allocation of speaking time during Assembly debates is reproduced in an Appendix to this report.

REFERENCES AND TRANSMISSIONS TO COMMITTEES

A.       REFERENCES TO COMMITTEES

Reference N° 2442 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on Year 2000, World Mathematics Year (Doc. 8541) for information, to the Committee on Culture and Education and to the Committee on Science and Technology

Reference N° 2443 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on parental leave (Doc. 8543) to the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2444 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on Belarus (Doc. 8544) to the Political Affairs Committee

Reference N° 2445 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on the Council of Europe's role in the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe (Doc. 8546) to the Bureau

Reference N° 2446 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on the European Convention on Human Rights and political asylum (Doc. 8548) to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Reference N° 2447 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on freedom of expression in Europe (Doc. 8557) to the Committee on Culture and Education

Reference N° 2448 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent negotiating body in south-eastern Europe (Doc. 8558) for information to the Political Affairs Committee

Reference N° 2449 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on improving the appearance of disadvantaged urban areas in Europe (Doc. 8559) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2450 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the application of seismic-protection legislation (Doc. 8562) to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities (for debate to the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2451 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the "propiska" system applied to migrants and refugees in the CIS countries: effects and remedies (Doc. 8566) to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and demography (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2452 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the need to harmonise shooting so as to preserve Europe's environmental balance (Doc. 8567) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities (for report to the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2453 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on standards for the political handling of dealings concerning property after World War II (Doc. 8568) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and for opinion to the Political Affairs Committee (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2454 (1999)        Motion for a resolution on political prisoners in Lithuania: the case of Mr L. Bartashavicus (Doc. 8569) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2455 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on the violation of human rights of the Bosniac people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular in the Sandjak region (Doc. 8570) for information to the Political Affairs Committee

Reference N° 2456 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on the Second World Summit on Social Development (Doc. 8571) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2457 (1999)        Motion for a recommendation on teenagers in distress: a social and health-based approach to youth malaise (Doc. 8572) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee and for opinion, to the Committee on Culture and Education (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2458 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the abduction of children by one of the parents (Doc. 8573) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2459 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey (Doc. 8574) to the Monitoring Committee

Reference N° 2460 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on self-determination and national integrity (Doc. 8575) to the Political Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Reference N° 2461 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the need to strengthen the Council of Europe's presence on the ground (Doc. 8576) to the Political Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on the Budget (for debate in the Standing Committee)

Reference N° 2462 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the people of Salento (Doc. 8577) for information to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography

Reference N° 2463 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on the Common agricultural policy and traditional forms of farming (Doc. 8581) to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Reference N° 2464 (1999)        Motion for a resolution on the conflict in Chechnya (Doc. 8582) to the Political Affairs Committee (within the framework of an urgent debate at the Standing Committee on 4.11.1999)

These references were ratified by the Standing Committee on 4 November 1999.

20.       On 13 December, the Bureau, subject to ratification by the Assembly, proposed the following reference: Motion for a resolution on international law and the United States of America (Doc.8588) to the Political Affairs Committee and, for opinion, to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

21.       During the same meeting, the Bureau, subject to ratification by the Assembly, proposed the following modifications of references:

.       Motion for a resolution on the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights (Doc.8542) to be referred for opinion also to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee (modification of Reference No. 2440);

.        Motion for a resolution on parliamentary control of international institutions (Doc.8430) to be referred for opinion also to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development (modification of Reference No.2405).

B.       REQUESTS TO MODIFY REFERENCES

Reference N° 2465 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on agricultural policy and health: the use of antibiotics in food production (Doc. 8155) to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for debate in the Assembly and not the Standing Committee (modifying Reference n°2311)

Reference N° 2466 (1999)       Motion for a recommendation on the illegal movement of persons from the east and south of the Mediterranean into Europe (Doc. 8169) to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography for debate in the Assembly and not in the Standing Committee (modifying Reference N° 2316)

Reference N° 2467 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on parliamentary control of international institutions (Doc. 8430) to the Political Affairs Committee and for opinion to the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations (modifying Reference n° 2438)

Reference N° 2468 (1999)       Motion for a resolution on European parliamentary sport (Doc. 8468) to the Committee on Culture and Education for report (modifying Reference n° 2413).

These requests were ratified by the Standing Committee on 4 November 1999.

*

* *

22.       On 13 December, it forwarded for information to the committees concerned the European Parliament's resolution on the forthcoming trial of Mr Nikitine.

MEETINGS ELSEWHERE THAN IN STRASBOURG OR PARIS AND AUTHORISATION FOR MEMBERS' OFFICIAL VISITS

Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris:

23.       On 3 November, the Bureau authorised the following meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg or Paris:

.       Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Brussels (Belgium) on 23 November 1999,

.       Sub-Committee on Children (of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee) in Tirana (Albania) on 10 December 1999,

.       Sub-Committee on Fisheries (of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development) in Brest (France) on 3-4 December 1999,

.       Sub-Committee on Human Rights (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights ) in Kyiv (Ukraine) on 3 December 1999,

.       Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize (of the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities) in Speyer (Germany) on 4 December 1999.

24.       On 13 December the Bureau authorised the meeting of an ad hoc sub-committee of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee in Dublin on 17 and 18 January 2000 to participate in the European Conference on Social Development, organised by the Council of Europe (CDCS).

Official journeys by members of the Assembly

25.       On 3 November, the Bureau appointed Assembly representatives for the following activities:

.       Mr Volcic (Italy, SOC) to Armenia (in connection with the accession procedure) from 8-11 November 1999,

.        Mr Columberg (Switzerland, EPP/CD) to Armenia (in connection with the accession procedure) from 6 - 8 December 1999,

.        Mr Baumel (France, EDG) and Mr Ruffy (Switzerland, SOC) to Azerbaijan (in connection with the accession procedure) from 6-9 December 1999,

.        Mr Clairfayt (Belgium, LDR) to Azerbaijan (in connection with the accession procedure) from 6-8 December 1999,

.        Mr Bloetzer (Switzerland, EPP/CD) and Mrs Jäätteenmäki (Finland, LDR) to Bosnia and Herzegovina (in connection with the accession procedure) three days in November 1999,

.        Mr Björck (Sweden, EDG) to the 51st Plenary Session of the Nordic Council in Stockholm, from 8-11 November 1999,

.        Mr Martinez Casan (Spain, EPP/CD) to the International Seminar on local autonomy and regionalisation in the Mediterranean in Rabat on 2 and 3 December 1999,

.       Mr Oliynik ( Ukraine, UEL) to the 14th Plenary session of PABSEC in Kyiv from 7 - 9 December 1999) ;

.        Mr Gonzales Laxe (Spain, SOC) to the Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millenium in co-operation i.a. with the FAO in Bangkok from 20 - 25 February 2000.

26.       On 13 December, it appointed Assembly representatives for the following activities:

.        Mr Schieder (Austria, SOC) to the session of the Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (Vienna, 13 and 14 January 2000);

.        Mr Zingeris (Lithuania, EDG) to the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust on 28 January 2000;

.        One member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to the 8th International Judicial Conference on Courts of Ultimate Appeal: Judicial Independence in Constitutional and Supreme Courts, in San Francisco from 25 - 27 May 2000 ;

27.       At its meeting on 10 January 2000, the Bureau authorised the rapporteurs for the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe of the Political Affairs Committee and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to visit that country from 12 - 14 January 2000.

Chapter II

RELATIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

AND OTHER BODIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

28.       On 13 December 1999, the Bureau held an exchange of views with Mr Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to Moscow and to the Republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the Russian Federation, from 30 November to 1 December 1999.

JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING

29.       On 3 November, the Bureau took note of the draft agenda of the Enlarged Joint Committee/Colloquy meeting on 4 November1999.

30.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau proposed the following subjects for the agenda of the next meeting of the Joint Committee (27 January 2000): the conflict in Chechnya, the European Union Charter of fundamental rights and, as other business, the recognition of the Council of Europe as a regional agency in the meaning of the UN Charter.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT

31.       On 3 November, the Bureau established the lists of candidates to the European Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CPT) in respect of Poland and Belgium and decided to forward them to the Committee of Ministers.

32.       On 13 December, the Bureau considered the list of candidates to the European Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in respect of Lithuania and decided to forward it to the Committee of Ministers with an expressed preference.

Chapter III

EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND POLITICAL MATTERS

CHECHNYA

33.       On 13 December, the Bureau unanimously adopted a declaration on the situation in Chechnya in the light of Russia’s obligations as a member State (AS/Inf (1999) 10).

34.       At its meeting on 10 January 2000, as a follow-up to Assembly Resolution 1201 (1999) and to the Declaration by the Bureau of 13 December 1999 on the situation in Chechnya, the Bureau decided to set up an ad hoc Committee to visit the Russian Federation from 16-20 January 2000 (Composition: the President of the Assembly, Lord Judd, Mr Iwinski, Mr Laakso, Mrs Wohlwend, Mr Bindig, Mr Gross, Mr Akçali, Mrs Ojuland, Mr Prusak and Mr Fyodorov). The visit would be composed of two parts: political talks in Moscow and a fact-finding mission to the North Caucasus.

35.       On 24 January, the Bureau heard a report by the President of the Assembly on this mission and held a in depth exchange of views.

KAZAKHSTAN

36.       On 24 January the Bureau took note of a letter from the Sspeaker of the Second Chamber of the Kazakhstan Parliament which joins the request from Kazakhstan's Senate for granting of observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly. It referred this request and the letters to the Political Affairs Committee for consideration.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

37.       On 24 January, the Bureau heard a report from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the visit of the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and himself to Bosnia and Herzegovina (17-19 January 2000).

ALGERIA

38.       On 13 December, the Bureau approved the request from the Political Affairs Committee that its sub-committee on relations with non-member countries be authorised to resume its dialogue with the Algerian Parliament and to invite a delegation for an exchange of views on the situation in Algeria.

TUNISIA

Xlth International Symposium of the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD)

(Tunis, 4 - 5 November 1999)

39.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau took note of a report by Mr Atkinson (United Kingdom, EDG) on his attendance at the XIth International Symposium of the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD) "The third way and the orientations of political parties“ in Tunis (4 - 5 November 1999) and referred it to the Political Affairs Committee.

EUROPEAN UNION

40.       The President and the Clerk met the President of the European Parliament, Mrs Nicole Fontaine on 10 November 1999 in Brussels, notably to discuss the draft European Union Charter on Fundamental Rights. Mrs Fontaine agreed to address the Parliamentary Assembly and to hold the next meeting of the Chairs of the Parliamentary Assembly's political groups with the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament early in 2000.

INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION

41.       On 3 November, the Bureau took note of a memorandum of the Clerk on the participation of the Parliamentary Assembly at the 102nd Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Berlin (09-16 October 1999).

Chapter IV

OBSERVATION OF ELECTIONS

42.       On 3 November, the Bureau was informed by

.       Mr Davis (United Kingdom, SOC), Chairman of the ad hoc Committee, on the observation of the parliamentary elections in Georgia (31 October 1999)

.       Mr Gjellerod (Denmark, SOC), Chairman of the ad hoc Committee, on the observation of the first round of the presidential elections in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (31 October 1999),

.       the Clerk, on the observation of the first round of the presidential elections in Ukraine (31 October 1999).

43.       It left it to the President and the Clerk to organise the Assembly's representation for the observation of the second rounds of the elections in the last two countries.

44.       On 13 December, the Bureau took note of and declassified the draft reports from the respective Bureau ad hoc committees on the observation of:

.       the parliamentary elections in Georgia on 31 October,

.        the presidential elections in the Ukraine on 31 October and 14 November ,

.        the presidential elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 31 October and 14 November and the partial re-run on 5 December in 230 polling stations.

45.       At the same meeting, the Bureau also took note of the composition of the ad hoc committee to observe parliamentary elections in Croatia, scheduled for 3 January 2000.

46.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau took note of statements by Mr Muehlemann (Switzerland, LDR) and Mr van der Linden (Netherlands, EPP/CD) on the observation of the parliamentary elections in respectively Russia (19 December 1999) and Croatia (3 January 2000) and set up an ad hoc Committee composed of one member of each of the Assembly’s political groups to observe the presidential elections in Croatia on 24 January 2000.

47.       On 24 January, the Bureau took note of and declassified the draft reports from the respective Bureau ad hoc committees on the observation of the legislative elections in Russia (19 December 1999) and Croatia (3 January 2000).

Chapter V

BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

48.       On 13 December, the Bureau noted that the Ministers’ Deputies had adopted the Council of Europe’s 2000 budget and that the Parliamentary Assembly’s monitoring activities were one of the three key sections identified as the Organisation’s priorities.

49.       At its meeting on 10 January 2000, the Bureau heard a statement by the Secretary General concerning the Council of Europe’s budget for 2000. He invited members to approach their competent national authorities with a view to supporting the Secretary General's proposals relating to an ad hoc supplementary budget for the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and UNMIK/Kosovo.

50.       During the same meeting, the Bureau took note of a Secretariat memorandum on the budget of the Parliamentary Assembly for the 2000 financial year.

51.       It also considered a memorandum from the Office of the Clerk on the Parliamentary Assembly contribution to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and endorsed the suggested parliamentary projects of co-operation with South Eastern Europe.

Chapter VI

OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND OF THE CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY

52.       On 3 November, the President reported on his official visits to Slovakia, Slovenia, Athens where he had attended the meeting of the Trilateral Commission (Europe, Japan, United States), New-York where he participated in the General Assembly of the United Nations and met the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The items raised were: Kosovo and South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Algeria, East-Timor, Cyprus and co-operation between the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

53.       The President also indicated that he had received a letter from the Chairman of the Bureau ad hoc Committee which participated in the Nantes Conference on 2nd Parliamentary Conference "Sub-regional Economic co-operation Facing New Challenges" (13-15 October 1999) containing the main proposals made by that Conference :

-        the readiness of the Parliamentary Assembly to host the next Conference in Strasbourg;

-        the setting-up under the aegis of the OSCE and in co-operation with the EU, the Council of Europe and the UN/ECE of interregional partnership teams whose mission would be to assist in implementing exchanges of experience and know-how between sub-regional organisations.

54.       On 13 December, the President reported on his visits to Malta (18-20 November), Ireland (24-26 November), Paris (1 December) and Moldova (5-7 December). The Moldovan Parliament had been specially convened during his visit, and he had urged the need for a compromise solution to the country’s constitutional conflict.

55.       On 10 January 2000, the President reported on his meeting on 13 December in Paris with Mr Donald Johnston, Secretary General of OECD. He also met in Paris on 16 December the Speakers of both Houses of the French Parliament.

56.       The Clerk of the Assembly submitted on 3 November and 13 December 1999 and on 10 January 2000 written contributions to the Bureau.

Chapter VII

OTHER BUSINESS

CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS AND PRESIDENTS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLIES

57.       On 3 November, the Bureau took note of the revised theme of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of European Parliamentary Assemblies (Strasbourg, 5-6 May 2000): The complementary role of national parliaments and European Parliamentary Assemblies in shaping a greater democratic Europe.

NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE

58.       On respectively 3 November 1999 and 10 January 2000, the Bureau approved the appointment

.       by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development of Mr Davis (United Kingdom, SOC) as member and Mr Frey (Switzerland, LDR) as alternate on the Executive Council of the North-South Centre;

.       by the Committee on Culture and Education of Mr Cherribi (Netherlands, LDR) as member and Mr McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC) as alternate on the Executive Council of the North-South Centre.

PETITIONS

59.       On 13 December, the Bureau postponed the consideration of the petition by Mr Schwartzmanns/Mrs von Gersdorff concerning expropriations by the Soviet authorities between 1945 and 1949 in the then Soviet occupied zone of Germany pending the outcome of the consideration of the motion for a resolution on standards for the political handling of dealings concerning property after World War II by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (Doc.8568).

60.       At the same meeting, on the basis of an opinion from the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights decided that the petition by Mr David Steven Hill on the violation of the freedom of the press by discriminatory and arbitrary taxation in the Federal Republic of Germany was inadmissible, as this matter was still dealt with by the competent German Court and agreed that the petition and the opinion be published and the petitioner so informed.

ÖCALAN TRIAL

61.       At its meeting on 13 December 1999, the Bureau was informed that Mr Jansson had represented the Assembly at the session at which the Turkish Court of Cassation had given judgement in the Öcalan case on 25 November.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE LOGO

62.       On 10 January 2000, the Bureau agreed to use provisionally the modified logo of the Council of Europe’s 50th Anniversary and asked to be consulted before the adoption of a new logo by the Committee of Ministers during the year.

Appendix

List of speakers and allocation of speaking time during Assembly debates

On 25 May 1999, the Bureau considered and approved the criteria applicable for drawing up the list of speakers and decided to apply the system on a trial basis during the June and September part-sessions and to proceed to an evaluation afterwards. On 3 November 1999, the Bureau carried out this evaluation and on 10 January 2000 it agreed to a series of supplementary criteria to be taken into account when drawing up the list of speakers. These supplementary provisions will enter into force after the January 2000 part-session.

I.       Assembly debates: the debate on a report, including voting, should last for at least two hours;

II.       Standing Committee: in order to relieve the burden on the Assembly agenda, the role of the Standing Committee should be reinforced. The Bureau will specify, at the time of proposing references to committees, whether a report should be submitted to the Assembly or to the Standing Committee;

III.       Speaking time:

a       speakers enrolled for a debate shall speak for a maximum of 5 minutes;

b.       rapporteurs shall have 8 minutes to present the report and 4 minutes (possibly to be shared with rapporteurs for Opinion) to reply to the debate;

c. rapporteurs for opinion shall be allowed 3 minutes to present their opinion to a report;

d.       for the chairpersons of committees submitting a report, the time for reply shall be 2 minutes;

e.       for statements concerning an amendment or a procedural motion, 1 minute;

IV.       List of speakers

A.       In pursuance of Rule 35.2 of the Rules of Procedure (Right to speak) and the provisions on the time tabling of debates, the following criteria will be applied for drawing up the list of speakers:

a. Names will be entered in the register in chronological order.

b. They will be entered by the persons concerned or by any authorised person (other members

of the Assembly and secretaries of delegations, political groups or committees).

c. Names may be entered by post, telephone or fax as soon as the draft order of business has

been published; the desired length of speaking time will be added.

B. The order of speakers on the list of each sitting will be determined according to the following criteria:

a. A first round in which all Political Groups (except the non registered "NR" members) have

b. The alternation between the Political Groups will be ensured for the opening of each debate.

c. After the first round, the d’Hondt system will be applied following the list of speakers

d. A maximum of two speakers of the same national delegation (even if belonging to a

e. During one Part-session, members shall be entitled to enter the register for a maximum of

f. The drawing up of the final list of speakers for a debate shall be the responsibility of the

g. In the case of a debate on a report particularly relevant to the country of the Special Guest or