Review of action taken by the Committee of Ministers on Parliamentary Assembly recommendations

Doc. 9270

24 October 2001

Review of action taken by the Committee of Ministers on Parliamentary Assembly recommendations

Communication

Committee of Ministers

On 25 October 2000 the Secretariat submitted to the Ministers' Deputies, on the basis of document CM(2000)131, a list of all the Recommendations adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly during the first part of its 1998 Session to which a reply was awaited from the Committee of Ministers. Since that document was issued, replies have been given to and/or action has been taken on the Recommendations listed in Appendix 1 to this memorandum (83 Recommendations in all).

This memorandum lists all the Recommendations adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly since the meeting of its Standing Committee, on 26 May 1999, to which a reply is still awaited, up to and including Recommendation 1529 (2001), adopted on 28 June 2001 during the 3rd part of the Assembly's 2001 Session.

The Secretariat would draw attention to the decisions adopted by the Deputies at their 615^th meeting (20 January 1998) (see Appendix 2) with regard to the adoption of replies to Assembly Recommendations. In particular, a nine-month time limit for a reply as from the time when Recommendations are communicated to the Committee of Ministers has been introduced. A footnote indicates the time limit for a reply to each Recommendation, set in accordance with this rule.

* * *

Recommendation 1399 (1999) Xenotransplantation

At their 658th meeting (2 February 1999, A level)¹ the Deputies decided to bring the Recommendation to the attention of their governments and examine it at their 662nd meeting (2-3 March 1999, A level) with a view to replying to it in the light of the draft terms of reference of a joint Working Party on Xenotransplantation (CDBI/CDSP-XENO).

At their 662nd meeting the Deputies adopted an interim reply to Recommendation 1399 and adopted terms of reference instructing the Working Party on Xenotransplantation (CDBI/CDSP-XENO) to prepare, in the light of the Recommendation, draft guidelines on xenotransplantation that took account of the work of other organisations, in particular international organisations, and the need for worldwide co-operation. The working party's terms of reference expire on 31 December 2001.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of the Recommendation when the Working Party on Xenotransplantation has completed its work.

Recommendation 1410 (1999) Links between Europeans living abroad and their countries of origin

At their 676th meeting (1-2 and 7 July 1999, A level)² the Deputies decided to bring the Recommendation to the attention of their governments and instruct the Secretariat to prepare a draft reply to it.

The Rapporteur Group on Legal Co-operation (GR-J), which was consulted on this matter, considered that the Recommendation raised more than legal questions. When the Deputies were consulted at their 759^th meeting (4 July 2001) on the action to be taken on this Recommendation, they invited the GR-J to resume consideration of it in co-operation with the Chairs of the GR-C, the GR-H and the GR-SOC.

The Deputies might therefore wish to resume consideration of this Recommendation at one of their future meetings on the basis of the results of the work done by the Rapporteur Group.

Recommendation 1418 (1999) Protection of the human rights and dignity of the terminally ill and the dying

At their 677bis meeting (27-28 July 1999, A level)³ the Deputies decided to bring the Recommendation to the attention of their governments and instruct the Secretariat to compile information for examination at a future meeting.

The Deputies adopted an interim reply to the Recommendation at their 728^th meeting (30 October 2000). They also instructed the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) to draft an opinion on Recommendation 1418 and issued the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI) with ad hoc terms of reference, directing it “to compile relevant information on laws and/or practices of member states with regard to the issues raised by Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1418 (1999) […] and to draw conclusions there from”.

The Deputies might wish to resume consideration of the Recommendation in the light of the work of the two committees mentioned above at their meetings in January 2002.

Recommendation 1436 (1999) Negotiating rights of Council of Europe staff

At their 689th meeting (24 November 1999)⁴, the Deputies transmitted the aforementioned Recommendation to their governments and invited their Rapporteur Group on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (GR-AB) to prepare a draft reply to this text.

Consideration of the draft reply prepared jointly by the Secretariat (DG Administration and Logistics) and the Staff Committee was postponed from the meeting of the GR-AB on 18 September to its October meeting, with a view to subsequently submitting it to the Deputies.

Recommendation 1443 (2000) International adoption: respecting children’s rights

At their 698th meeting (9 February 2000)⁵, the Deputies brought this Recommendation to the attention of their governments and gave ad hoc terms of reference to the Committee of Experts on Family Law (CJ-FA) and to the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), with a view to obtaining these committees’ opinions on this text by 31 December 2000.

The Deputies took note of the opinion of the CDPC at their 724^th meeting (5 October 2000) and that of the Committee of Experts on Family Law (CJ-FA) at their 740^th meeting (7 February 2001). In its opinion, the CJ-FA stressed that the Committee of Experts on Nationality (CJ-NA) was competent to meet the Parliamentary Assembly’s request “to revise the European Convention on Nationality of 1997 (ETS N°166) in order to facilitate the acquisition of the nationality of the receiving country for foreign children who, due to a failed adoption, would otherwise become stateless”.

As the CJ-NA is currently being consulted on this matter, the Deputies will be called on to resume discussion of the Recommendation at the beginning of 2002 after the committee has given its opinion.

Recommendation 1458 (2000) Towards a uniform interpretation of Council of Europe conventions: creation of a general judicial authority

The Deputies decided at their 707th meeting (26 April 2000)⁶¹ to draw this Recommendation to their governments’ attention. They also transmitted it to the European Court of Human Rights for information for any comments and to the Partial Agreement on the European Commission for Democracy through Law for an opinion. They also gave the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI), ad hoc terms of reference, instructing it to submit its opinion.

At their 742^nd meeting (26 April 2000)⁷, the Deputies took note of the opinions drawn up by the Venice Commission and the CAHDI. The Court delivered its opinion on this Recommendation on 29 June 2001 and transmitted it to the Committee of Ministers on 13 July 2001.

The Rapporteur Group on Legal Co-operation (GR-J) proceeded with a first consideration of this Recommendation in the light of all the opinions received and agreed to resume consideration of it at a future meeting in October 2001.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this text when they have received the conclusions of the GR-J, with a view to adopting a reply to the Assembly before the first part of its 2002 session.

Recommendation 1468 (2000) Biotechnologies

At their 717th meeting (13 July 2000)⁸, the Deputies decided to transmit this Recommendation to their governments. They also agreed to draw the attention of the Partial Agreement in the Social and Public Health Field and of the Bern Convention to paragraph 6 i. of the Recommendation and invite them to bear the terms in mind in their discussions.

They also adopted ad hoc terms of reference for the ad hoc Committee on Bioethics (CDBI), instructing it to prepare a reply to the above-mentioned Recommendation.

The Deputies will be able to resume discussion of this point at one of their subsequent meetings, once the opinion has been submitted to them, in January 2002 at the latest.

Recommendation 1475 (2000) Arrival of asylum seekers at European airports

At their 726^th meeting (18 October 200)⁹, the Deputies decided to bring this Recommendation to the attention of their governments. They instructed the Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Legal Aspects of Territorial Asylum, Refugees and Stateless Persons (CAHAR) to draft an opinion on the Recommendation and issued it with the corresponding terms of reference.

The Deputies will be invited to resume consideration of the Recommendation once the CAHAR has finished its work, that is to say at one of their future meetings in January 2002

Recommendation 1477 (2000) Execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights

The Deputies communicated this Recommendation to their governments at their 726^th meeting (18 October 2000)¹⁰. They also decided to transmit the Recommendation to the European Court of Human Rights in order to receive its views on the matter and gave the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) ad hoc terms of reference instructing it to draft an opinion on the Recommendation.

In the light of the opinion of the CDDH, of which the Deputies took note at their 752^nd meeting (16 May 2001), the Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H), at its meeting on 18 September 2001, proceeded with a first study of a draft reply that it agreed to revise and reconsider at one of its forthcoming meetings.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this Recommendation in the light of the conclusions of the GR-H, with a view to adopting a reply to the Assembly before the first part of its 2002 session in January 2002.

Recommendation 1488 (2000) Nature and scope of the contractually acquired rights of Council of Europe staff

At their 730^th meeting (22 November 2000)¹¹, the Deputies decided to bring this Recommendation to their governments’ attention and invited the Secretary General to communicate the Recommendation to the Council of Europe Staff Committee so that it may prepare an opinion on the text.

On the basis of proposals by the Secretary General and the Staff Committee’s opinion, the Rapporteur Group on Legal Co-operation (GR-J), which had been invited to consider this issue, prepared a draft reply. Following discussion in the GR-J, this draft is now the subject of further consultation between the Secretary General and the Staff Committee. The GR-J would resume consideration of it once this consultation had been completed.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of the Recommendation in the light of the conclusions of the GR-J.

Recommendation 1489 (2000) Transit migration in central and eastern Europe

The Deputies decided, at their 740^th meeting (7 February 2001)¹², to communicate the Recommendation to their governments and issue ad hoc terms of reference to the European Committee on Migration (CDMG), instructing it to draft an opinion on Recommendation 1489.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this text at their 773^rd meeting (21 November 2001), in the light of the requested opinion.

Recommendation 1492 (2001) Rights of national minorities

At their 742^nd meeting (15 February 2001)¹³, the Deputies, in their composition limited to the representatives of the member states of the Partial Agreement in the Social and Public Health Field¹⁴, instructed the Committee on the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Disabilities (Partial Agreement) (CD-P-RR), as part of its activities to foster full citizenship for people with disabilities, to draft an opinion on Recommendation 1492, and in particular on its paragraph xiii, and submit this opinion to the Committee of Ministers.

At the same meeting, the Deputies, in full composition, brought the Recommendation to their governments’ attention and issued ad hoc terms of reference to the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), directing it to draft an opinion on the Recommendation. They supplemented their decision by inviting the following Council of Europe bodies to give opinions on all or part of the Recommendation: the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Lastly, they invited their Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H) to prepare a draft reply in the light of the information submitted.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this Recommendation, after the GR-H has completed its work, at one of their meetings in February 2002.

Recommendation 1496 (2001) Improving the status and role of volunteers as a contribution by the Parliamentary Assembly to the International Year of Volunteers – 2001

At their 740^th meeting (7 February 2001)¹⁵, the Deputies brought Recommendation 1496 to their governments’ attention.

A draft reply to this Recommendation is currently being drawn up in the Rapporteur Group on Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (GR-C) and will be presented to the Deputies for adoption at one of their October meetings.

Recommendation 1500 (2001) Participation of immigrants and foreign residents in political life in the Council of Europe member states

The Deputies, at their 742^nd meeting (17 February 2001)¹⁶, communicated this Recommendation to their governments. They requested opinions from the Steering Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR), the Committee of Experts on Nationality (CJ-NA) and the European Committee on Migration (CDMG), and adopted the corresponding ad hoc terms of reference. On this occasion, they also decided to invite the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) to express its views on the Recommendation.

At their 762^nd meeting, the Deputies took note of the opinion of the CDLR and might wish to resume consideration of this Recommendation when they have received all the opinions they requested, in March 2002 at the latest.

Recommendation 1503 (2001) Health conditions of migrants and refugees in Europe

The Deputies brought the governments of the member states’ attention to this Recommendation at their 746^th meeting (21 March 2001)¹⁷. They consulted the European Committee on Migration (CDMG) and the European Health Committee (CDSP) in this matter, instructing them to draft opinions on the text.

After receiving the conclusions of these two committees, the Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this Recommendation at one of their meetings in December 2001.

Recommendation 1504 (2001) Non-expulsion of long-term immigrants

At their 746^th meeting (21 March 2001)¹⁸, the Deputies communicated this Recommendation to their governments and adopted ad hoc terms of reference for the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) so that it might prepare an opinion on this Recommendation.

The Deputies will be able to resume discussion on this question in the light of the opinion of the above-mentioned committee at one of their March 2002 meetings at the latest.

Recommendation 1507 (2001) Europe’s fight against economic and trans-national organised crime: progress or retreat?

At their 752^nd meeting (16 May 2001)¹⁹, the Deputies brought this Recommendation to their governments’ attention and requested the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) to express an opinion on this text.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this question in January 2002 at the latest after receiving the requested opinion.

Recommendation 1511 (2001) Cultural situation in Kosovo

The Deputies drew their governments’ attention to this Recommendation at their 752^ndmeeting (16 May 2001)²⁰. They also decided to issue ad hoc terms of reference to the Council for Cultural Co-operation (CDCC), instructing it to draw up an opinion on the Recommendation.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this issue in January 2002 at the latest, after receiving the opinion they requested.

Recommendation 1512 (2001) Protection of the human genome by the Council of Europe

The Deputies also brought this Recommendation to their governments’ attention at their 752^ndmeeting (16 May 2001)²¹, and decided to issue ad hoc terms of reference to the two following committees directing them to prepare opinions on the text: the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI) and the European Health Committee (CDSP).

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this question in the light of the opinions of the two above-mentioned committees in January 2002 at the latest.

Recommendation 1515 (2001) Demographic change and sustainable development

At their 752^nd meeting (16 May 2001)²², the Deputies decided to bring Recommendation 1515 to their governments’ attention and adopt ad hoc terms of references for two committees, the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) and the European Population Committee (CAHP) to enable them to give opinions in this matter.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of this Recommendation when they have received the requested opinions, in March 2002 at the latest.

Recommendation 1516 (2001) Financing of political parties

At their 756^th meeting (12-14 June 2001)²³, the Deputies brought this Recommendation to the attention of the governments of the member states. They also agreed to transmit it to the Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption (GMC) so that it could take account of it in its work, and invited the GMC to finalise the draft Recommendation to member states on the financing of political parties and election campaigns by engaging, if necessary, in further consultation with the Parliamentary Assembly.

The Deputies will be invited to resume discussion on this subject at their 773^rd meeting (21 November 2001) with a view to adopting a reply to the Assembly.

Recommendation 1517 (2001) European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT): working methods of the Committee

At their 756^th meeting (12-14 June 2001)²⁴, the Deputies communicated this Recommendation to their governments and to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and invited this committee to express its views on the Recommendation.

The Deputies will be invited to resume consideration of this question at a future meeting, in the light of the views given.

Recommendation 1518 (2001) Exercise of the right of conscientious objection to military service in Council of Europe member states

The Deputies communicated Recommendation 1518 to the governments of the member states at their 756^th meeting (12-14 June 2001)²⁵ and agreed to resume consideration of it at one of their forthcoming meetings with a view to adopting a reply to the Assembly.

Recommendation 1521 (2001) Csango minority culture in Romania

At their 756^th meeting (12-14 June 2001)²⁶, the Deputies brought the Recommendation to their governments’ attention and instructed the secretariat to communicate the Recommendation to the European Institute for Dispersed Ethnic Minorities in Vilnius for information.

A draft reply is currently being prepared by the Rapporteur Group on Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (GR-C) which the Deputies will be called on to consider at one of their forthcoming meetings.

Recommendation 1522 (2001) Abolition of the death penalty in Council of Europe observer states

On 18 July 2001, at their 761^st meeting²⁷, the Deputies brought Recommendation 1522 to their governments’ attention and decided to hold an informal exchange of views with the Rapporteur concerned in the Parliamentary Assembly and representatives of the United States and Japan.

Consultations are under way with a view to organising this meeting.

Recommendation 1523 (2001) Domestic slavery

At their 762^nd meeting (5 September 2001)²⁸, the Deputies communicated Recommendation 1523 to their governments and adopted ad hoc terms of reference instructing the following committees to draft opinions on the text: the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG), the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) and the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI).

The Deputies will be called on to resume consideration of this Recommendation, when they have received the requested opinions, in April 2002 at the latest.

Recommendation 1524 (2001) Council of Europe Development Bank: toward a Europe of greater social cohesion

At their 761^st meeting (18 July 2001)²⁹, the Deputies brought this Recommendation to their governments’ attention and also forwarded it for information and any comments to the Governing Board of the Council of Europe Development Bank.

The Deputies will be able to resume consideration of the Recommendation at one of their forthcoming meetings in the light of any comments received.

Recommendation 1525 (2001) UNHCR and the 50^th anniversary of the Geneva Convention

At their 761^st meeting (18 July 2001)³⁰, the Deputies brought Recommendation 1525 to their governments’ attention. They will be called on to resume consideration of it, with a view to adopting a reply to the Assembly, at their 771^st meeting (31 October 2001).

Recommendation 1526 (2001) A campaign against trafficking in children to put a stop to the east European route: the example of Moldova

Recommendation 1526 was also communicated to the governments of the member states by the Deputies at their 761^st meeting (18 July 2001)³¹.

At the same meeting, the Deputies adopted ad hoc terms of reference for the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) and the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) – and through it the Forum for Children and Families - directing them to draft opinions on the Recommendation.

The Deputies also decided to forward the Recommendation to the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), for information and to enable it to take it into consideration in its future work, and to the Governing Board of the Council of Europe Development Bank, for information and to enable it to comment on the Recommendation.

Lastly, they invited their Rapporteur on Equality between Women and Men (RAP-EG) to prepare a draft reply in the light of any comments received.

The Deputies will therefore be called on to resume consideration of this question at one of their forthcoming meetings in the light of the conclusions of the RAP-EG.

Recommendation 1527 (2001) Operation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons – critical analysis and recommendations

The Deputies communicated Recommendation 1527 to their governments at their 761^stmeeting (18 July 2001)³². They also decided to issue ad hoc terms of reference to the Committee of Experts on the Operation of European Conventions in the Penal Field (PC-OC) with a view to preparing an opinion on the text. The Deputies might wish to resume consideration of this issue at one of their future meetings, in April 2002 at the latest, after receiving the opinion requested.

Recommendation 1529 (2001) Honouring of obligations and commitments by Turkey

The Deputies brought this Recommendation to their governments’ attention at their 761^stmeeting (18 July 2001)³³ and agreed to resume consideration of it at their 763^rd meeting (12 September 2001). However, at that meeting they decided to postpone the discussion until a future meeting, when they had received all the information needed to prepare a draft reply to the Assembly.

* * *

The Deputies will be invited to hold preliminary consideration of the texts the Parliamentary Assembly will have adopted during the 4^th part Session of 2001 (24-28 September 2001), at their 766^th meeting (4 October 2001). They might wish to resume consideration of those texts at their 768^th meeting (10 October 2001) with a view to adopting decisions on the follow-up to be given to the said texts.

Appendix 1

List of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendations
to which replies and/or follow-up was given

Recommendation 1354 (1998) The future of the European Social Charter

Recommendation 1377 (1998) Humanitarian situation of the Kurdish refugees and displaced persons in South-East Turkey and North Irak

Recommendation 1389 (1998) Consumer safety and food quality

Recommendation 1394 (1999) Europe: a continental design

Recommendation 1396 (1999) Religion and democracry

Recommendation 1401 (1999) Education in the responsibilities of the individual

Recommendation 1402 (1999) Control of internal security services in Council of Europe member States

Recommendation 1407 (1999) Media and democratic culture

Recommendation 1412 (1999) Illegal activities of sects

Recommendation 1415 (1999) Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights concerning fundamental social rights

Recommendation 1417 (1999) Dioxin crisis and food safety

Recommendation 1418 (1999) Protection of the human rights and dignity of the terminally ill and the dying

Recommendation 1420 (1999) Unesco

Recommendation 1425 (1999) Biotechnology and intellectual property

Recommendation 1426 (1999) European democracies facing up to terrorism

Recommendation 1427 (1999) International humanitarian law in Europe

Recommendation 1428 (1999) Future of senior citizens: protection, participation, promotion

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

Recommendation 1431 (1999) Future action to be taken by the Council of Europe in the field of environment protection

Recommendation 1432 (1999) Observance of the system of European time zones

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

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

Recommendation 1437 (2000) Non-formal education

Recommendation 1438 (2000) Threat posed to democracy by extremist parties and movements in Europe

Recommendation 1440 (2000) Restrictions on asylum in the member States of the Council of Europe and the European Union

Recommendation 1441 (2000) Situation in Belarus

Recommendation 1445 (2000) Health security for Europe's population

Recommendation 1446 (2000) Ban on antibiotics in food production

Recommendation 1447 (2000) Economic consequences of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Greece

Recommendation 1448 (2000) Social consequences of the recent earthquakes in Turkey

Recommendation 1449 (2000) Clandestine migration from the south of the Mediterranean into Europe

Recommendation 1450 (2000) Violence against women in Europe

Recommendation 1452 (2000) Parliamentary contribution to the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe

Recommendation 1454 (2000) Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Recommendation 1455 (2000) Repatriation and integration of the Tatars of Crimea

Recommendation 1457 (2000) New technologies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Recommendation 1459 (2000) Action plan for the children of Kosovo

Recommendation 1460 (2000) Setting up a European Ombudsman for children

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

Recommendation 1462 (2000) Council of Europe Human Rights Prize

Recommendation 1463 (2000) Second World Summit on Social Development

Recommendation 1464 (2000) Doping in sport

Recommendation 1465 (2000) “Europe, a common heritage” - a Council of Europe campaignRe

Recommendation 1466 (2000) Media education

Recommendation 1467 (2000) Clandestine immigration and the fight against traffickers

Recommendation 1469 (2000) Mothers and babies in prison

Recommendation 1470 (2000) Situation of gays and lesbians and their partners in respect to asylum and immigration in the member states of the Council of Europe

Recommendation 1471 (2000) Creation of a hydrotechnical Euro-Mediterranean institute of the Council of Europe (water technology and management)

Recommendation 1472 (2000) Sharing water resources management data on Internet: role of the Council of Europe

Recommendation 1473 (2000) Honouring of obligations and commitments by Croatia

Recommendation 1474 (2000) Situation of lesbians and gays in Council of Europe member states

Recommendation 1476 (2000) The United Nations at the turn of the new century

Recommendation 1478 (2000) Conflict in the Chechen Republic: recent developments (follow-up to Recommendations 1444 (2000) and 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly

Recommendation 1479 (2000) Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

Recommendation 1480 (2000) Protection and management of the Danube basin

Recommendation 1481 (2000) Situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Recommendation 1482 (2000) Demographic trends and human potential in the countries of central and eastern Europe

Recommendation 1483 (2000) Basis of an energy strategy for Europe

Recommendation 1484 (2000) Management of cathedrals and other major religious buildings in use

Recommendation 1485 (2000) Disused hospitals and military buildings

Recommendation 1486 (2000) Maritime and fluvial cultural heritage

Recommendation 1487 (2000) Development of a new social system

Recommendation 1490 (2001) Honouring of obligations and commitments by Latvia

Recommendation 1491 (2001) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – recent developments

Recommendation 1493 (2001) Implementation of the economic aspects of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe

Recommendation 1494 (2001) Technological strategies for the reconstruction and economic development of Southeastern Europe

Recommendation 1495 (2001) Environmental impact of the war in Yugoslavia on South-East Europe

Recommendation 1497 (2001) Freedom of expression and the functioning of parliamentary democracy in Ukraine

Recommendation 1498 (2001) Conflict in the Chechen Republic – recent developments

Recommendation 1499 (2001) Humanitarian situation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Chechnya

Recommendation 1501 (2001) Parents’ and teachers’ responsibilities in children’s education

Recommendation 1502 (2001) Interparliamentary co-operation in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins

Recommendation 1505 (2001) Amelioration of disadvantaged urban areas

Recommendation 1506 (2001) Freedom of expression and information in the media in Europe

Recommendation 1508 (2001) Situation in Kosovo and the neighbouring regions

Recommendation 1509 (2001) Human Rights and rule of law in Kosovo

Recommendation 1510 (2001) Humanitarian situation of returnees in Kosovo

Recommendation 1513 (2001) Honouring of obligations and commitments by Ukraine

Recommendation 1514 (2001) Middle East conflict

Recommendation 1519 (2001) Co-existence of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the European Convention on Human Rights

Recommendation 1520 (2001) Technological possibilities for fulfilling the targets of the Kyoto Protocol (to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

Recommendation 1528 (2001) Situation in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”

Recommendation 1530 (2001) Situation and prospects of young people in rural areas

Appendix 2

REPLIES TO

PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Deputies, having emphasised the importance of rapidly adopting a reply to each Recommendation:

1. agreed in future to rely more often on the expertise available within the Ministers' Deputies, the relevant Rapporteur Group and the Secretariat, in preparing replies to Assembly Recommendations;

2. instructed the Secretariat to place immediately on their agenda any Assembly Recommendation for which sufficient elements for a reply were available;

3. decided, in the case of Assembly Recommendations not forwarded to a steering committee for opinion, to set a time-limit of nine months, after communication of those Recommendations to the Committee of Ministers, for adopting a reply (interim or final);

4. decided to adopt, when conducting their initial examination of the texts adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly, a reply common to all the texts, dealing with the procedure to be followed;

5. approved the following guidelines for the drawing up of draft replies to Recommendations:

- priority should be given to final replies (taking stock of the situation while at the same time informing the Assembly of the intentions of the Committee of Ministers with regard to the specific proposals);

- priority should be given to concise replies (concentrated on the political views of the Committee of Ministers; any technical opinions of other bodies could be added as appendices);

- priority should be given to substance rather than procedure;

- where Recommendations are to be examined, and the replies to them, prepared by a Rapporteur Group, care should be taken to ensure that they are given priority treatment in that Rapporteur Group's order of business;

- a steering committee should be consulted where there is a need for technical expertise which is not available within the Secretariat.

¹ Time limit for the adoption of a reply: December 2001 (see deadline ad hoc terms of reference CDBI/CDSP-XENO).

² Time limit for the adoption of a reply: May 2000 (see CM/Del/Dec(98)615, item 1.3).

³ Time limit for the adoption of a reply: December 2001 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CDDH and the CDBI)

⁴ Time limit for the adoption of a reply: September 2000

⁵ Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 December 2000

⁶

⁷

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 January 2001

⁸

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 December 2001 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CDBI)

⁹

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 December 2001 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CAHAR)

¹⁰

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 July 2001

¹¹

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 30 September 2001

¹²

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 30 November 2001

¹³

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 December 2001 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CD-P-SP and the CDDH)

¹⁴

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

¹⁵

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 30 November 2001

¹⁶

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 28 February 2002 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CJ-NA

¹⁷

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 31 December 2001 (see extended ad hoc terms of reference of the CDSP)

¹⁸

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 28 February 2002 (see ad hoc terms of reference of the CDDH)

¹⁹

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 28 February 2002

²⁰

Time limit for the adoption of a reply: 28 February 2002