Doc. 9372

12 February 2002

Speaking time in debates

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Rudolf Bindig and others

1. In adopting the activity report of the Bureau and Standing Committee in January 2000, the Assembly adopted the following arrangements for speaking times in debates:

a. speakers enrolled for a debate may speak for a maximum of five minutes;

b. rapporteurs have eight minutes to present the report, and four minutes (to be shared with any rapporteurs for opinion) to reply to the debate;

c. rapporteurs for opinion are allowed three minutes to present their opinion on a report;

d. for the chairpersons of committees submitting a report, the time for reply is two minutes;

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

2. Two years later, the time has come to evaluate the impact of these arrangements.

3. Practice has shown that the time allotted to rapporteurs for opinion is too short. Not only are they allotted less time than every other speaker in the debate to present their opinion, but they are also practically never allowed to reply to the debate, since the rapporteur for report uses the four minutes allocated for this purpose himself.

4. Thus, the Assembly considers that rapporteurs for opinion should be allotted the same time as speakers enrolled in the debate, i.e. a maximum of five minutes. In addition, rapporteurs for opinion should be allocated 2 minutes (each) to reply to the debate.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Marty, Switzerland, LDR

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Provera, Italy, LDR

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group