TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

 

Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly

 

Synopsis No 2001/122

31 October 2001


The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, meeting in Paris on 29 October 2001 with Mr Jansson in the Chair, as regards:

- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for membership of the Council of Europe (Rapporteur for opinion: Mrs Jäätteenmäki, Finland, LDR): considered the draft opinion adopted by the Political Affairs Committee, approved a draft opinion submitted by the Rapporteur for opinion and adopted some amendments to the draft opinion submitted by the Political Affairs Committee;

- Protection of minorities in Belgium (Rapporteur: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR): heard a statement by the Rapporteur and authorised her to organise, with the participation of the Belgian authorities concerned, a round table on the subject, to be chaired by Lord Russell-Johnston in December 2001 or in January 2002;

- Law regarding the Hungarians living in neighbouring countries, adopted on 19 June 2001 by the Hungarian Parliament and Transfrontier co-operation in preserving the identity of national minorities (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): heard a statement by the Rapporteur and considered the opinion of the Venice Commission on the question;

- Situation of the political prisoners in Azerbaijan (Rapporteur: Mr Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR): considered a report drawn up at the request of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the case of the alleged political prisoners in Armenia and Azerbaijan, heard a statement by the Rapporteur and instructed him to prepare a report for the January 2002 part-session;

- Conditions of detention in Council of Europe member States (Rapporteur: Mrs  Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD): considered a working document submitted by the Rapporteur and decided to hold a hearing with the participation of the Chairperson of the CPT, representatives of NGOs and trade unions of prison wardens at one of its next meetings (morning of 8 January 2002);

- Conflict in the Chechen Republic (Rapporteur: Mr Bindig, Germany, SOC; Representatives on the Joint Working Group: Mr Bindig, Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger and Mr Spindelegger): heard a statement by the Rapporteur on the next meetings of the Joint Working Group;

- Right to association for members of the professional staff of the armed forces (Rapporteur: Mrs van Ardenne-van der Hoeven, Netherlands, EPP/CC): considered and approved a draft questionnaire submitted by the Rapporteur, to be sent to national delegations;

- Participation of members in conferences, meetings, seminars, etc: heard statements by its representatives on:

  1. 24th Conference of European Ministers of Justice (Moscow, 4-5 October 2001): Mr Jansson

  2. European Commission for Democracy through Law ("Venice Commission")

  3. (Venice, 18-20 October 2001): Mr Jurgens

  4. Seminar on Roma participation in Europe, organised by the Finnish Committee for European Security (Helsinki, 22 October 2001): in the absence of Mr Tabajdi, Mr Jansson

  5. Conference on "Clemency and Punishment" (Saratov (Russia), 22-26 October 2001): Mrs Wohlwend

- Appointment of representatives to conferences, meetings, seminars, etc.

  1. Steering Committee for Human Rights (Strasbourg, 17 November 2001): Mrs Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD)

  2. Conference and Signing Ceremony of the Council of Europe Convention on Cyber-crime (Budapest, 22-23 November 2001): Mr Tallo (Estonia, SOC)

  3. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), (Strasbourg, 11-14 December 2001): Mr McNamara (United Kingdom, SOC)

 - Office of Lord Chancellor in the constitutional system of the United Kingdom (Rapporteur: Mr Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC): authorised the Rapporteur to go to London in the framework of the preparation of his report;

- Structures, procedures and means of the European Court of Human Rights (Rapporteur: Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR): authorised the Rapporteur to attend the meeting of the Sub-Committee on the Budget (of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development) on this subject to take place in Strasbourg on 9 November 2001;

- Next meetings:

Plenary Committee:

- Paris, Monday 26 November 2001 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe office)

- Paris, Monday 7 January 2002 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe office)

- Paris, Tuesday 8 January 2002 (morning) (Hearing on conditions of detention in Council of Europe member States) (to be confirmed)

Sub-Committee on Human Rights:

- Zurich, 22-23 November 2001 (on the occasion of the 7th Round Table with European Ombudsmen)

- Paris, Monday 26 November 2001 from 9 h to 9 h 30 (Council of Europe office)

Sub-Committee on Penal Law and Criminology:

- Paris, Tuesday 30 October 2001 at 9 h 30 (Council of Europe office)

- Strasbourg, during the Assembly's January 2002 part-session

Sub-Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights:

- Paris, Monday 26 November 2001 at the end of the plenary Committee's meeting (Council of Europe office) (to be confirmed)

*****

The Sub-Committee on Penal Law and Criminology (of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights), meeting in Paris on 30 October 2001, with Mr Jaskiernia in the Chair, as regards,

- Harmonisation of criminal law in Europe (Rapporteur: Mr Olteanu, Romania, SOC): held an exchange of views with experts Mr Ivan (Romania) and Mr Leng (United Kingdom);

- Fight against corruption (Rapporteur: Mr Tallo, Estonia, SOC): held an exchange of views with Mr Gauthier, Chairman of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)

 - Next meeting:

- Strasbourg, during the January 2002 part-session of the Assembly.

 

Danielle Coin, Tanja Kleinsorge, David Cupina