Doc. 8776

26 June 2000

Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly
and the Standing Committee

(7 April - 26 June 2000)

Rapporteur: Mr John BROWNE, Ireland, Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

INTRODUCTION

1.       The Assembly held the Second Part of its 2000 Ordinary Session from 3 to 7 April 2000. The Bureau met on 16 May 2000 in Dublin and on 8 June 2000 in Paris. The Standing Committee met on 16-17 May 2000 also in Dublin.

Chapter I

FUNCTIONING OF THE ASSEMBLY

PREPARATION OF THE THIRD PART OF THE 2000 ORDINARY SESSION

2.       At its meeting on 16 May, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft order of business and adopted the draft agenda for the 3rd part of the 2000 Ordinary Session of the Assembly (26-30 June 2000). It updated the draft order of business at its meeting on 8 June.

3.       On 26 June, the Bureau expressed itself in favour of holding a debate under urgent procedure on clandestine immigration and the fight against traffickers on Thursday afternoon, 29 June, in place of the originally foreseen debate on the arrival of asylum-seekers at European airports.

4.       The Bureau updated the draft order of business and, in particular, included in the business of Tuesday morning , 27 June the discussion of the report on “ European Air Transport Policies : The need for a truly ‘One sky Europe’”(Doc. 8759).

EXAMINATION OF CREDENTIALS

5.       At its meeting on 16 May, the Standing Committee ratified the credentials of new representatives and substitutes in respect of Greece and San Marino (Doc. 8741 and addendum).

CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEES

6.       On 16 May, the Standing Committee approved changes in the membership of committees (Comm (2000) 7 and addenda).

RULES OF PROCEDURE

7.       At its meeting on 16 May, the Bureau took note of a letter by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities on rules governing the meetings of Assembly committees and sub-committees elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris and decided to consider the subject at a next meeting on the basis of a Secretariat memorandum.

ADOPTED TEXTS

8.       From 16-17 May, the Standing Committee adopted the following texts:

Opinion N° 218 (2000)       on the budgets of the Council of Europe for the financial years 2000 and 2001

Opinion N° 219 (2000)       on the Assembly’s budget for the financial year 2001

Recommendation 1461 (2000)       on the Council of Europe’s role in regional planning

Recommendation 1462 (2000)       on the Council of Europe Human Rights Prize

Recommendation 1463 (2000)       on the Second World Summit on social development

Recommendation 1464 (2000)       on doping in sport

Recommendation 1465 (2000)       on the “Europe, a common heritage” Campaign

Resolution 1216 (2000)       on the Follow-up action to the United Nations 4th World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995).

SETTING-UP OF BUREAU AD HOC COMMITTEES

9.       At its meeting on 16 May, the Bureau decided to set up an ad hoc Committee to attend the 9th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, Malmö, 4-5 September 2000, composed of a member of the Bureau of the Assembly and a member of the following committees: Political Affairs Committee, Committee on Economic Affairs and Development and Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities.

REFERENCES AND TRANSMISSIONS TO COMMITTEES

10.       From 16-17 May, the Standing Committee approved the following references to committee:

Reference N° 2499 (2000)       Motion for an order on Colonisation by Turkish settlers of the occupied part of Cyprus (Doc. 8711) to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography

Reference N° 2500 (2000)       Motion for an order on the violation of basic human rights of the enclaved population in the occupied area of Cyprus (Doc. 8712) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Reference N° 2501 (2000)       Motion for a resolution on Csángó culture (Doc. 8713) to the Committee on Culture and Education, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2502 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on free movement of persons in Europe (Doc. 8714) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2503 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on the need for a central and east European environmental charter (Doc. 8715) to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2504 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on equal treatment of men and women running their own businesses or helping their spouses in family businesses (Doc. 8717) to the Committee on Equal opportunities for women and men, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2505 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on resolving the Transnistrian conflict (Doc. 8718) to the Committee on the Honouring of obligations and commitments by member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) and to the Political Affairs Committee, for opinion

Reference N° 2506 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on increasing dialogue with the countries for the southern shore of the Mediterranean (Doc. 8719) to the Political Affairs Committee and to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities, for opinion

Reference N° 2507 (2000)       Motion for a resolution on the need for stronger political support in favour of tapping Europe’s tourism potential (Doc. 8720) to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, for report to the Standing Committee, and to the Committee on the Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities and to the Committee on Culture and Education, for opinion

Reference N° 2508 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on higher education in South-Eastern Europe (Doc. 8721) to the Committee on Culture and Education, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2509 (2000)        Motion for a resolution on an appeal to the G7 countries to step up their efforts to finance the work aimed at eliminating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster (Doc. 8722) to the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, for report to the Standing Committee, and to the Committee on Environment, Regional Planning and Local Authorities, for opinion

Reference N° 2510 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on emergency humanitarian aid for the displaced Kurdish population of Turkey (Doc. 8723) to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, for report to the Standing Committee

Reference N° 2511 (2000)       Motion for an order on ending the misdiagnosing of children (Doc. 8727) to the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, for report to the Standing Committee, and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, for opinion

Reference N° 2512 (2000)       Motion for a recommendation on the revision or preparation of an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights to adapt it to current needs (Doc. 8728) to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

11.       The Bureau also transmitted a resolution of the European Parliament on countering racism and xenophobia in the European Union for information, to the committees concerned.

12.       On 8 June, it approved, subject to ratification by the Assembly, the following references and transmissions:

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

Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris:

13.       On 16 May, the Bureau approved the following meetings outside Strasbourg and Paris :

14.       On 8 June, it approved the following meetings outside Strasbourg and Paris :

Official journeys by members of the Assembly

15.       On 8 June, the Bureau appointed Mrs Stepova (Czech Republic, SOC) to represent the President at the International meeting “For Peace, Justice and Human Rights” to Chisinau, Moldova, from 7-9 July 2000.

Chapter II

RELATIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

AND OTHER BODIES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE AND A DELEGATION FROM THE MINISTERS’ DEPUTIES (Paris, 8 June 2000)

16.       The Bureau was informed on 8 and 26 June 2000 on the proposals made during that meeting which will also been mentioned at the Joint Committee meeting on 29 June 2000.

JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING

17.       On 16 May, the Bureau agreed to propose the following subjects for the Joint Committee meeting on 29 June 2000: conflict in the Chechen Republic, accession of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe, election of the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly; relations with the United Nations and other items resulting from the 3rd part-session.

Chapter III

EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND POLITICAL MATTERS

CHECHNYA

18.       On 16 May, the Bureau held an exchange of views on the follow-up to Recommendations 1444 and 1456 (2000) on the conflict in Chechnya and asked the President to submit to the Standing Committee a draft declaration on the part of the Committee of Ministers’ Final Communiqué devoted to the conflict in Chechnya which was approved by the Standing Committee on 17 May 2000.

19.       At its meeting on 8 June, the Bureau       held an exchange of views on the follow-up to Recommendations 1444 and 1456 and took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in this respect.

20.       On 26 June, the Bureau held an exchange of views with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Schwimmer, on his visit together with the Italian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers to Russia including the North Caucasus region and the Chechen Republic from 22 to 24 June and invited him to make a statement during the Assembly’s debate on 29 June on the conflict in the Chechen Republic (follow-up to Recommendations 1444 and 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly).

UKRAINE

21.       On 16 May, the Bureau held an exchange of views on the follow-up to Recommendation 1451 (2000) on the reform of the institutions in Ukraine.

INTERPARLIAMENTARY UNION

22.       On 16 May, the Bureau heard a statement by Mr Gjellerod (Denmark, SOC), who represented the President of the Assembly at the 103rd Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Amman. The main issues that were raised included the importance of the representation of women amongst the delegations to the IPU, the conflict in Chechnya and the stance taken by the EU and the Council with respect to the coalition government in Austria

Chapter IV

OBSERVATION OF ELECTIONS

23.       At its meeting on 16 May, the Bureau took note and declassified the report of the ad hoc Committee which observed the presidential elections in Georgia (9 April 2000). On 17 May, the Standing Committee took note of this report (see Doc. 8742).

Chapter V

OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ASSEMBLY

24.       At the meeting of the Bureau on 16 May, the President of the Assembly referred to the meeting with the Speakers of the Parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia on 6 May 2000 in Strasbourg, the conflict in the Chechen Republic during which he recalled his written and telephone contacts with Mr Mashkadov, the procedure for amending the Constitution of Moldova, his official visit to Andorra (12-13 April) and the visit of the Presidential Committee to Mexico (17-21 April).

25.       At the same meeting, the Secretary General of the Assembly referred to his written communication contained in document AS/Bur (2000) 37. He noted the report adopted by the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities on 26 April on “the reform of the working methods of the Assembly and of its committee structure”. This report, which proposed to reduce the number of committees from 14 to 10, was on the draft order of business of the Assembly at its June part-session.

26.       On 8 June, the President of the Assembly reported to the Bureau on his visit to Sweden on 17 May. He addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Advisory Committee on European Union of the Swedish Riksdag, which were holding a hearing on the European Union Charter on Fundamental Rights.

27.       In Lund (Sweden), he addressed a seminar organised by the Venice Commission and the Law Faculty of Lund’s University on 18 May.

28.       On 23 May, he spoke before the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and met the Congress’ new President Mr Cuatrecasas, former member of the Parliamentary Assembly.

29.       He also attended the Western European Union Assembly (5-8 June 2000).

30.       On 8 June, the Secretary General of the Assembly referred to the observation of municipal elections in Kosovo and the long-term electoral assistance to be given to Azerbaijan. He informed the Bureau that a senior French official familiar with the Assembly would be seconded for three years to head the Paris Office of the Council of Europe. Furthermore, he had met a delegation from the French Community of Belgium, recalling the relevant provisions applying to representation of delegations as contained in the Rules of Procedure and the Statute. Finally, he had made an intervention before the Ministers’ Deputies, pointing out that their budgetary forecasts fro 2001 did not take into account the small increases requested by the Assembly for its budget.

31.       On 26 June, the President reported on his official visits to the Czech Republic (12-13 June 2000), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ((14 June 2000), the Venice Commission (17 June 2000) and to Croatia (19-21 June 2000).

Chapter VI

OTHER BUSINESS

CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS AND PRESIDENTS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLIES

32.       On 16 May, the Bureau took note of the conclusions of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of European Parliamentary Assemblies (Strasbourg, 5-6 May 2000). The conclusions of the Conference drawn up by the President are appended (see Appendix).

33.       One of the main subjects dealt with by the Conference was the relationship between national parliaments and European Parliamentary Assemblies. The particular role of national parliaments to promote the ratification and national implementation of Council of Europe conventions and agreements was highlighted. The need for national parliaments to give more support to their national delegations to the European Parliamentary Assemblies was stressed.

34.       The other subject on the agenda was the fight against crime and corruption. It was agreed that an informal working group would be established to consider ideas for the involvement of parliaments in this exceptionally important matter.

CO-OPERATION ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY AND PARLIAMENTS OF NON-MEMBER STATES

35.       On 16 May, the Bureau approved a memorandum on the co-operation arrangements between the Parliamentary Assembly and parliaments of non-member States (see AS/Bur (2000) 34).

INFORMATION POLICY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

36.       At its meeting in Paris on 8 June 2000 the Bureau approved the “policy guidelines” hereunder, having previously been consulted in the drawing-up of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution (2000) 2 which was adopted on 11 April 2000 and is reproduced in the Statutory Report (Doc. 8754). The Resolution establishes the Council of Europe’s information and communication policy as being inter alia to project an image of our Organisation as forming “…the foundations of an institutional order for the Greater Europe”, within which the European Union pursues its development and enlargement. It embodies the new concept of a policy which is structured on contributions from the four “partner institutions”, according to their respective characters (parliamentary, intergovernmental, judicial, local and regional) and according to their respective status and interrelations within the Organisation. This new policy concept takes account of technological change and changes in the international institutional landscape with the revision of the European Convention on Human Rights and major new initiatives of the European Union in the fields of citizenship and human rights, for a common currency and for a security and defence capability. A more effective information policy for the Council of Europe as a whole will make the Assembly’s own information policy more effective. Together, these policies should enhance public awareness of the role of the Parliamentary Assembly and of national parliaments in building the “Greater Europe”.

Objectives:

-       to make available information on activities of the Assembly and related events (e.g this year, Conference of Speakers and Presidents of National Parliaments);

-       to ensure a flow of political messages on positions of the Assembly and its committees in regard to particular issues and events;

-       to strengthen the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe and the role of national parliaments in “Europe’s political design”;

-       to contribute to an image of the Council of Europe, through cooperation between its four institutions, as forming “the foundations of an institutional order for the Greater Europe”.

Target groups:

-       parliaments and parliamentarians

-       governments and international institutions

-       the media

-       the general public

-       specialists and professionals (e.g. senior officials and academics giving policy advice), notably for committee-level events and operations.

Instruments:

-       the Web site, which is destined to become its “spear-head”

-       press releases, press conferences, media interviews

-       selective invitations to journalists to accompany travelling delegations

-       a parliamentary information periodical (“The Europeans”)

-       special event publications (as for the “Speakers’ Conference”)

-       a general brochure on the workings of the Assembly

-       a documentation capability for responses inter alia to general inquiries

ACCESS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE PALAIS DE L’EUROPE DURING ASSEMBLY SESSIONS

37.       On 8 June, the Bureau asked the Secretary General of the Assembly to consider reviewing before the end of the year the ruling concerning access of members of the public to the Palais de l’Europe during Assembly Sessions.

Appendix

Conclusions of the
Conference of Speakers and Presidents of European Parliamentary Assemblies
by Lord Russell-Johnston, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

(Strasbourg, 5-6 May 2000)

I.       In my opinion, the debate about the relationship between national parliaments and European Parliamentary Assemblies, introduced by Zurab Zhvania, produced from the Conference the following main ideas which should be followed up:

1.       One of the great advantages of our Assembly is that we replace bilateral agreements with conventions, which member states sign, ratify and hopefully implement. But there seems to be no mechanism for making sure that this is followed through. We have a shared responsibility here between national parliaments and the Parliamentary Assembly.

2.       Information is sometimes inadequate and we do not have within individual parliaments and, for that matter here in this Assembly, adequate review procedures. Annual debates in member states on the Council of Europe are a method of review, which one should encourage. The use of electronic communication might be helpful. We should also consider structural differences. Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments have very different powers. Some are quite regal people who can lay down the agenda. Others are more constitutional monarchs who control the day-to-day business but cannot actually plan things ahead or lay down the law too strongly. Is there a case for any harmonisation?

3.       We should try and avoid clashes of dates. Those of the Assembly are known more than a year ahead. Therefore it should be possible for national parliaments to take account of this, to avoid having European debates during our Assembly sessions, and avoid having votes, thus enabling people to attend committees, to recognise that the place is important and of value to them and to all of us. Equally, we have to respond to the observation that many countries feel that there are too many committee meetings spread over too much time, sometimes spread out over too many countries, costing too much, taking up too much time. We should seek to reduce costs and to reduce time as well. The Parliamentary Assembly will seek to do this.

4.       Parliaments should give more support to their national delegations. There are some countries where national delegations are looked upon as political tourists! This is a silly, superficial attitude. It is so important that delegations get the fullest support at home.

5.       Regional co-operation between national parliaments can take place through the Assembly. It has demonstrated a capacity to make constructive contributions to the reduction of conflict in certain areas such as the Caucasus or the Balkans where we have helped internally.

6.       The Assembly is about values and about human beings and their concerns which we should never forget. So we must ask ourselves why there is a trend to absenteeism in democratic elections and some trends towards extremism.

II.       On crime and corruption, many thought that this was an inappropriate subject as Speakers were not experts. But, in fact, the debate was a great success, largely due to the inspired introduction by Luciano Violante. It was agreed that an informal group would be established to consider ideas for the involvement of parliaments in this exceptionally important matter.

We will meet again in Zagreb two years’ from now.