Opinion | Doc. 12741 | 04 October 2011
The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the Council of Europe
Committee on Culture, Science and Education
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
In sub-paragraph 8.1, add after the words “the Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185)” the following words:
“; the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 194); the Anti-Doping Convention (ETS No. 135)”.
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 9.6, after the words “Council of Europe conventions or monitoring mechanisms” add the following words:
“as well as partial agreements”.
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 11, insert the following paragraph:
“Welcoming the informal contacts established between the Council of Europe and the European Data Protection Supervisor of the European Union, the Assembly invites the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Commissioner and the European Data Protection Supervisor to reinforce their mutual co-operation.”
Amendment D (to the draft recommendation)
After paragraph 4.3, add the following sub-paragraph:
“reinforce co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union in the spheres of culture, education and sport, as stipulated in Articles 165(3) and 167(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;”.
C. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Flego, rapporteur for opinion
(open)Amendment A
The Council of Europe drew up the only international treaties on anti-doping in sport (Anti-Doping Convention, ETS No. 135) and on bioethics (Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, ETS No. 164). It is important that the European Union accede to both treaties.
Amendment B
The European Commission already co-operates informally in several partial agreements of the Council of Europe. With the legal personality of the European Union after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, it is important to have the European Union join partial agreements as an equal and full member. Due to its own related work in relevant fields, the European Union should be particularly interested in acceding to the North-South Centre (Lisbon), the European Centre for Modern Languages (Graz), the Pompidou Group (Strasbourg), the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement (Strasbourg), the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (Strasbourg) and the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (Luxembourg).
Amendment C
The European Union created the post of European Data Protection Supervisor for its organs and bodies, and the Council of Europe has established the post of Data Protection Commissioner for its own bodies. Data protection is of growing importance with the massive growth of computer networks and devices in both organisations. It is a matter of common sense to reinforce the mutual co-operation of the European Data Protection Supervisor of the European Union and the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Commissioner.
Amendment D
Articles 165(3) and 167(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulate that the European Union and its member states shall foster co-operation with the Council of Europe in the spheres of culture, education and sport. It is therefore important for the Council of Europe to be proactive in reinforcing such co-operation and to work effectively with member states and the European Union in developing cultural policies at European level and also beyond the European Union.