Progress report | Doc. 13608 | 27 September 2014

Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (27 June – 28 September 2014)

Rapporteur : Mr Tiny KOX, Netherlands, UEL

1. Introduction

At its meeting on 27 June 2014, the Bureau appointed me as rapporteur for this report, which covers its activities over the period from the last Bureau meeting of the third part-session (Friday 27 June) to the first Bureau meeting of the fourth part-session (Monday 29 September).

The following chapters include the decisions taken at two Bureau meetings: on 27 June in Strasbourg and 2 September 2014 in Paris. Chapter 2 presents a list of decisions that have either already been ratified by the Assembly on 27 June or which do not require ratification. Chapter 3 lists the decisions taken on 2 September that require ratification at the opening of the fourth part-session of the Assembly. An addendum to this report will be issued immediately after the next Bureau meeting on 29 September, which will also include, in part, decisions to be ratified on the same day.

The Bureau will hold its next meetings in Strasbourg on Friday 3 October at 8.30 am (during the fourth part-session), then on 17 November in Brussels and 15 December in Paris. The next meeting of the Standing Committee will also be held in Brussels on 18 November.

2. Activities of the Bureau since the previous part-session (not requiring ratification)

2.1. Follow-up to the third part-session of 2014 (Strasbourg, 23-27 June)

On 27 June, the Bureau approved the following proposals made by the Secretary General of the Assembly:

as follow-up to the current affairs debate on the “Political and humanitarian consequences of the crisis in Ukraine”: to refer the motion for a resolution on “The humanitarian situation in Ukraine” already tabled by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons to this committee for report, and the issue of “Political consequences of the crisis in Ukraine” to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report;

to ask the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs to examine the existing Rules of Procedure (Rules 25 and 32) with regard to references to committees approved by the Bureau and their contestation at plenary sessions.

2.2. Fourth part-session of 2014 (Strasbourg, 29 September – 3 October)

On 27 June, the Bureau drew up the preliminary draft agenda. At its following meeting, it agreed on the draft agenda.

2.3. Election observation

2.3.1. Schedule of elections 2014

On 2 September, the Bureau took note of the elections calendar as presented in the memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly.

2.3.2. Turkey: presidential election (10 August 2014)

On 27 June, the Bureau approved the final composition of the ad hoc committee (Appendix 1). On 2 September, it took note of the press release of the ad hoc committee.

2.3.3. Bulgaria: early parliamentary elections (5 October 2014)

On 27 June, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc committee and authorised the President of the Assembly to appoint the Chairperson of this ad hoc committee. The President appointed Ms Doris Fiala (Switzerland, ALDE). On 2 September, the Bureau approved the final composition of the ad hoc committee (Appendix 2).

2.3.4. Bosnia and Herzegovina: general elections (12 October 2014)

On 2 September, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc committee (Appendix 3).

2.3.5. Ukraine: early parliamentary elections (26 October 2014)

On 2 September, the Bureau decided to observe these elections, constituted an ad hoc committee for this purpose composed of 42 members: SOC: 13; EPP/CD: 13; EDG: 6; ALDE: 6; UEL: 2, and the two co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee; and authorised a pre-electoral mission.

2.3.6. Tunisia: parliamentary elections (26 October 2014) and presidential election (23 November 2014):

On 2 September, subject to receiving an invitation, the Bureau decided to observe these elections, constituted an ad hoc committee for each of them composed of 11 members: SOC: 3; EPP/CD: 3; EDG: 2; ALDE: 2; UEL: 1, and authorised pre-electoral missions for both. The invitation letter was subsequently received on 12 September.

2.3.7. Republic of Moldova: parliamentary elections (30 November 2014)

On 2 September, the Bureau approved the composition of the ad hoc committee and appointed Mr Jean-Claude Mignon (France, EPP/CD) as its Chairperson (Appendix 4).

2.4. References and transmissions to committees

2.4.1. References approved by the Bureau

On 27 June, the Bureau approved the following references, which were subsequently ratified by the Assembly:

Doc. 13523, motion for a resolution, Promoting best practice in tackling violence against women, reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;

Doc. 13533, motion for a resolution, Access to school and education for all children, reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;

Doc. 13534, motion for a resolution, Rethinking the anti-doping strategy, reference to the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for report;

Doc. 13550, motion for a resolution, The humanitarian situation in Ukraine, reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons for report.

2.4.2. Replies after consultation

Doc. 13442, motion for a resolution, The Mediterranean Sea: a front door to irregular migration, reference to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced persons for report;

Doc. 13333, motion for a resolution, The protection of the rights of parents and children belonging to religious minorities, reference to the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination for report;

Doc. 13426, motion for a resolution, Morocco: meeting new migration and asylum challenges, no further action.

2.4.3. Extension of references

On 2 September, the Bureau approved the requests of extension of the following references:

Bureau decision, Implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (Reference 3847 of 9 March 2012 – validity: 31 December 2014):extension until 31 May 2015;

Doc. 13064, motion for a resolution, Human rights in the North Caucasus: what follow-up to Resolution 1738 (2010)? (Reference 3928 of 21 January 2013 – validity: 21 January 2015): extension until 31 October 2015;

Bureau decision, The Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Europe and the European Union - evaluation 5 years after (Reference 3887 of 29 June 2012 – validity: 30 September 2014): extension until 30 January 2015.

2.5. Special Rules on Honorary Association with the Parliamentary Assembly

On 27 June, the Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretary General of the Assembly as regards bringing the special rules on honorary association with the Parliamentary Assembly and the special rules on the title and prerogatives of honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe into line with the Code of conduct for members of the Parliamentary Assembly.

2.6. Implementation by Council of Europe member States of the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe

On 27 June, the Bureau took note of the conclusions of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs in this regard.

2.7. Issues raised by committees

2.7.1. Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

On 27 June, the Bureau authorised Ms Marietta Karamanli (France, SOC), General Rapporteur on abolition of the death penalty, to carry out fact-finding visits to Morocco and Tunisia before the end of 2014.

2.7.2. Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

On 27 June, the Bureau authorised Mr Jordi Xuclà (Spain, ALDE), Rapporteur on the Evaluation of the Partnership for democracy in respect of the Palestinian National Council, to carry out a fact-finding visit to the Palestinian Territories by the end of 2014 in the framework of the preparation of his report.

2.8. World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 3-5 November 2014)

On 27 June, the Bureau approved the composition of its ad hoc committee to participate in the Forum and appointed Ms Anne Brasseur, President of the Assembly, as its Chairperson (Appendix 5). On 2 September, it appointed Mr Michele Nicoletti (Italy, SOC) to represent the Assembly in the Steering Committee of the Forum in replacement of Ms Polonca Komar (Slovenia, ALDE).

2.9. Relations with the European Parliament

On 27 June, the Bureau took note of the information memorandum prepared by the Secretary General of the Assembly (AS/Bur (2014) 40).

2.10. 2014 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize

On 2 September, the Bureau took note of the three candidates shortlisted by the Selection Panel of the Prize at its meeting in Prague on 26 August (in alphabetical order): B’Tselem Israeli Information Center for Human Rights (Israel), Jesuit Refugee Service Malta (Malta) and Mr Anar Mammadli (Azerbaijan).

2.11. Bureau statement

On 27 June, the Bureau adopted a statement on the situation in Iraq (Appendix 6).

2.12. Composition of the Monitoring Committee and the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

On 27 June, on the basis of proposals by the political groups, the Bureau appointed Mr Michele Nicoletti (Italy, SOC), Ms Aleksandra Djurović (Serbia, EPP/CD), Ms Hermine Naghdalyan (Armenia, EDG), Mr Zbigniew Girzyński (Poland, EDG) and Mr George Loukaides (Cyprus, UEL) to the Monitoring Committee and Mr Agustín Conde (Spain, EPP/CD), Baroness Judith Wilcox (United Kingdom, EDG) and Mr Ögmundur Jónasson (Iceland, UEL) to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs. These appointments were subsequently ratified by the Assembly.

2.13. Meetings elsewhere than in Strasbourg and Paris

During the reference period, the Bureau authorised the following meetings:

Ad hoc Sub-Committee to participate in the Seminar on the “Code of conduct for parliamentarians and prevention of corruption” (Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs), in Rome on 1 July 2014;

Sub-Committee on Education, Youth and Sport (Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media) in Macolin, Switzerland, on 17-19 September 2014;

Ad hoc Sub-Committee to participate in the Conference on “Celebrating the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention” (Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination), in Rome on 18 -19 September 2014;

Ad hoc Sub-Committee on “Russia’s Neighbourhood Policy” (Monitoring Committee), in Vienna on 22 September 2014;

Sub-Committee on the European Social Charter (Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development) to participate in the High-level Conference on the European Social Charter, in Turin, Italy on 17-18 October 2014;

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, in Bucharest on 27-28 November 2014;

Sub-Committee on Co-operation with non-European countries of origin and transit (Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons) in Rabat, Morocco, on 23-24 October 2014.

2.14. Meetings of the Standing Committee and the Bureau in 2015

On 2 September, the Bureau approved the dates for meetings in 2015 (Appendix 7).

2.15. European Conference of Presidents of Parliament (Oslo, 11-12 September 2014)

On 27 June, the Bureau took note of the draft programme of the Conference.

3. Decisions of the Bureau requiring ratification by the Assembly

3.1. References and transmissions to committees

On 2 September, the Bureau approved the following references, subject to ratification by the Assembly:

3.1.1. References to committees

Doc. 13535, motion for a resolution, The application of sanctions against Armenia for its armed occupation of Azerbaijani territories: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for information;

Doc. 13546, motion for a resolution, The armed occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and Doc. 13549, motion for a resolution, The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for joint report, with the recommended title “Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan”;

Doc. 13548, motion for a resolution, Transparency and openness in European institutions, reference to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for report and to the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs for opinion;

Doc. 13551, motion for a resolution, Corruption as governance regime: a barrier to institutional efficiency and progress: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for report and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights for opinion.

3.1.2. Confirmation of a reference

Doc. 13447, motion for a resolution, Parliamentary co-operation with Kazakhstan: reference to the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy for information.

The Assembly is invited to ratify these decisions.

Appendix 1 – Ad hoc committee for the observation of the Presidential election in Turkey (10 August 2014)

(open)

List of members

Meritxell MATEU PI (Andorra, ALDE), Head of the delegation

Socialist Group

Andreas GROSS, Switzerland

Gisela WURM, Austria

Tadeusz IWINSKI*, Poland

Birute VESAITE, Lithuania

Bernadette BOURZAI, France

Ingrid ANTICEVIC-MARINOVIC, Croatia

Ermira MEHMETI, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”

Kostas TRIANTAFYLLOS, Greece

Florin IORDACHE, Romania

Athina KYRIAKIDOU, Cyprus

Substitutes

Carina HÄGG, Sweden

Joseph DEBONO GRECH, Malta

Dimitris SALTOUROS, Greece

Joe BENTON, United Kingdom

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania

Elena CENTEMERO, Italy

Zsolt CSENGER-ZALÁN, Hungary

Jim D’ARCY, Ireland

Giuseppe GALATI, Italy

Foteini PIPILI, Greece

Marietta de POURBAIX-LUNDIN*, Sweden

Konstantinos TZAVARAS, Greece

Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania

European Democrat Group (EDG)

Robert NEILL*, United Kingdom

Robert WALTER, United Kingdom

Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Mark VERHEIJEN, Netherlands

Alina Ştefania GORGHIU, Romania

Meritxell MATEU PI*, Andorra

Doris FIALA, Switzerland

Substitutes

Andrea RIGONI, Italy

Terry LEYDEN, Ireland

Alfred HEER, Switzerland

Ionuţ-Marian STROE, Romania

Tudor-Alexandru CHIUARIU, Romania

Fazil MUSTAFA, Azerbaijan

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Andrej HUNKO*, Germany

Grigore PETRENCO, Republic of Moldova

Rapporteur AS/MON (ex officio)

Josette DURRIEU*, France

Secretariat

Bogdan TORCĂTORIU, Administrator, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Sylvie AFFHOLDER, Secretary, Monitoring Committee

Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

* members of the pre-election delegation

Appendix 2 – Ad hoc committee for the observation of the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria (5 October 2014)

(open)

List of members

Doris FIALA (ALDE, Switzerland), Head of the delegation

Socialist Group (SOC)

Andreas GROSS, Switzerland

Joseph DEBONO GRECH, Malta

Annalena BAERBOCK, Germany

Fatma PEHLIVAN, Belgium

Joe BENTON, United Kingdom

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

Şaban DİŞLİ, Turkey

Thomas FEIST, Germany

Giuseppe GALATI*, Italy

Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”

Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania

…

Substitutes

Jean-Marie BOCKEL, France

Elena CENTEMERO, Italy

Denis JACQUAT, France

Yves POZZO di BORGO, France

European Democrat Group (EDG)

Reha DENEMEÇ, Turkey

Zbigniew GIRZYŃSKI*, Poland

Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

Substitute

Lukasz ZBONIKOWSKI, Poland

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Doris FIALA*, Switzerland

Andrea RIGONI, Italy

Ionuţ-Marian STROE, Romania

Substitute

Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Olga-Nantia VALAVANI*, Greece

Rapporteur AS/MON

Frano MATUŠIĆ, Croatia

Venice Commission

…

Secretariat

Ivi-Triin ODRATS, Administrator, Secretary to the ad hoc committee

Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Anne GODFREY, Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Gaël MARTIN-MICALLEF, Administrator, Secretariat of the Venice Commission

* members of the pre-election delegation

Appendix 3 – Ad hoc committee for the observation of the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (12 October 2014)

(open)

List of members

Tiny KOX (UEL, Netherlands), Head of the delegation

Socialist Group (SOC)

René ROUQUET*, France

Stefan SCHENNACH**, Austria

Melita MULIĆ**, Croatia

Gisela WURM, Austria

Paolo CORSINI, Italy

Ingrid ANTIČEVIĆ-MARINOVIĆ, Croatia

Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland

Guguli MAGRADZE, Georgia

Maria GIANNAKAKI, Greece

Joseph DEBONO GRECH, Malta

Substitutes

Ute FINCKH-KRAEMER, Germany

Joe BENTON, United Kingdom

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

David BAKRADZE, Georgia

Şaban DIŞLI, Turkey

Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine

Naira KARAPETYAN*, Armenia

Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”

Mikael OSCARSSON, Sweden

Marietta de POURBAIX-LUNDIN, Sweden

European Democrat Group (EDG)

Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway

Reha DENEMEÇ*, Turkey

Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom

Tûlin ERKAL KARA, Turkey

Substitutes

Ömer SELVI, Turkey

Ian LIDDELL-GRAINGER, United Kingdom

Mehmet Kasim GÜLPINAR, Turkey

Morten WOLD, Norway

Egemen BAĞIŞ, Turkey

Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Margus HANSON*, Estonia

Tudor-Alexandru CHIUARIU, Romania

André BUGNON, Switzerland

Kerstin LUNDGREN, Sweden

Substitutes

Mustafa FAZIL, Azerbaijan

Alfred HEER, Switzerland

Alina Stefania GORGHIU, Romania

Marieluise BECK, Germany

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Tiny KOX*, Netherlands

Nikolaj VILLUMSEN, Denmark

Co-rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)

Roger GALE*, United Kingdom

Egidijus VAREIKIS*, Lithuania

Venice Commission

…

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of Secretariat a.i., Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Franck DAESCHLER, Principal Administrative Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

* members of the pre-election delegation

** substitutes of the pre-electoral delegation

Appendix 4 – Ad hoc committee for the observation of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova (30 November 2014)

(open)

List of members

Jean-Claude MIGNON (EPP/CD, France), Head of the delegation

Socialist Group (SOC)

Stefan SCHENNACH*, Austria

Andreas GROSS, Switzerland

Paolo CORSINI, Italy

Jonas GUNNARSSON, Sweden

Sabir HAJIYEV, Azerbaijan

Joseph DEBONO-GRECH, Malta

Lennart AXELSSON, Sweden

Luc RECORDON, Switzerland

Kostas TRYANTAFYLLOS, Greece

Florin IORDACHE, Romania

Substitutes

Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro

Guguli MAGRADZE, Georgia

Maria YANNAKAKI, Greece

Philippe BLANCHART, Belgium

Fatma PEHLIVAN, Belgium

Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom

Joe BENTON, United Kingdom

Group of the European People’s Party (EPP/CD)

Jean-Claude MIGNON, France

Deborah BERGAMINI, Italy

David BAKRADZE, Georgia

Hans FRANKEN, Netherlands

Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE, Latvia

Marc OBERWEIS, Luxembourg

José MENDES BOTA, Portugal

Ann-Mari VIROLAINEN, Finland

Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania

Thierry MARIANI, France

Substitutes

Damien ABAD, France

Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine

Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania

Lolita ČIGĀNE, Latvia

Zsolt CSENGER-ZALAN, Hungary

Şaban DİŞLİ, Turkey

Bernd FABRITIUS, Germany

Iryna GERASHCHENKO, Ukraine

Denis JACQUAT, France

Yves POZZO di BORGO, France

Cezar Florin PREDA, Romania

Attila TILKI, Hungary

Tobias ZECH, Germany

Sewad ŠEPIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Democrat Group (EDG)

Reha DENEMEÇ*, Turkey

Adam ROGACKI, Poland

Ian LIDDELL-GRAINGER, United Kingdom

Mehmet Kasim GÜLPINAR, Turkey

Substitutes

Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway

Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom

Ganira PASHAYEVA, Azerbaijan

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Marieluise BECK, Germany

Ionuţ-Marian STROE*, Romania

Jordi XUCLÀ, Spain

Luis Alberto ORELLANA, Italy

Substitutes

Corneliu Mugurel COZMANCIUC, Romania

Irakli CHIKOVANI, Georgia

Mladen BOJANIĆ, Montenegro

Tudor-Alexandru CHIUARIU, Romania

Alfred HEER, Switzerland

Adele GAMBARO, Italy

Group of the Unified European Left (UEL)

Tiny KOX, Netherlands

Nazmi GÜR*, Turkey

Co-rapporteurs AS/MON (ex officio)

Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN*, Norway

Piotr WACH*, Poland

Venice Commission

…

Secretariat

Chemavon CHAHBAZIAN, Head of Secretariat a.i., Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

Daniele GASTL, Assistant, Interparliamentary co-operation and election observation

* members of the pre-election delegation

Appendix 5 – Ad hoc committee to participate in the World Forum for Democracy on 3-5 November 2014 in Strasbourg

(open)

List of members

Chairperson

Ms Anne BRASSEUR (Luxembourg, ALDE), President of the Parliamentary Assembly

Presidential Committee

Mr Andreas GROSS (Switzerland, SOC)

Mr Pedro AGRAMUNT (Spain, EPP/CD)

Mr Christopher CHOPE (United Kingdom, EDG)

Mr Jordi XUCLÀ (Spain, ALDE)

Mr Tiny KOX (Netherlands, UEL)

Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

Mr Deniz BAYKAL (Turkey, SOC)

Mr Reha DEMENEÇ (Turkey, EDG)

Mrs Cheryl GILLAN (United Kingdom, EDG)

Mr Andreas GROSS (Switzerland, SOC)

Mr João Bosco MOTA AMARAL (Portugal, EPP/CD)

Mr Andrea RIGONI (Italy, ALDE)

Mr Robert WALTER (United Kingdom, EDG)

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights

Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV (Azerbaijan, ALDE)

Mr Charles KENNEDY (United Kingdom, ALDE)

Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States (Monitoring Committee)

Mr Indrek SAAR (Estonia, SOC)

Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Ms Milica MARKOVIĆ (Bosnia Herzegovina, SOC)

Mr Stefan SCHENNACH (Austria, SOC)

Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

Ms Elena CENTEMERO (Italy, EPP/CD)

Ms Maria SPADONI (Italy, NR)

Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons

Ms Ivana DOBEŠOVÁ (Czech Republic, ALDE)

Mr Michele NICOLETTI (Italy, SOC)

Mr Marcel OBERWEIS (Luxembourg, EPP/CD)

Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media

Mr Paolo CORSINI (Italy, SOC)

Ms Adele GAMBARO (Italy, NR)

Ms Polonca KOMAR (Slovenia, ALDE)

Mr André SCHNEIDER (France, EPP/CD)

Mr Gérard TERRIER (France, SOC)

Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

Mr Jordi XUCLÀ (Spain, ALDE)

Appendix 6 – Statement on the situation in Iraq adopted by the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly on 27 June 2014

(open)

The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is deeply worried by the major humanitarian crisis developing in Iraq, where the rebels of the terrorist organisation known as “the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” (ISIS) have seized substantial portions of the territory in the North and West of the country and are heading towards Baghdad.

The situation has quickly deteriorated over the past few days and ISIS is now reported to control several checkpoints on Iraq’s borders with Syria and the only one on the border with Jordan. It is said that ISIS’s aim is to establish a Caliphate in the area of Syria and Iraq, effacing the old border.

The Bureau is particularly concerned by reports of mass human rights violations by ISIS fighters, including summary executions of Iraqi security personnel, religious leaders and civilians, acts of violence against ethnic and religious communities, and the destruction of religious property. This is in total opposition to the values upheld by the Council of Europe and cannot be tolerated.

As a result of the massive violence, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are fleeing from their homes seeking refuge in other areas of the country and abroad. Approximately 1 million Internally Displaced Persons and 110,000 stateless people in Iraq will be eligible for assistance from the UN Refugee Agency, including thousands of children. These are in addition to the 9 million already displaced by the civil war in Syria.

The situation is getting out of control and there is a serious risk of violence spilling over to neighbouring countries, including Jordan, whose Parliament has applied for Partner for Democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly. The whole region risks being further destabilised.

Europe cannot just stand by while this major crisis unfolds. Some Mediterranean countries, including some member States of the Council of Europe, are already facing a major burden trying to cope with massive arrivals of fugitives. Timely decisions on the question of European borders and on co-ordinated assistance to asylum seekers are urgent in order to share this burden.

All local, European and international actors must join forces to put an end to violence and protect the civilian population. The international community, under the auspices of the United Nations, must mobilise its resources to bring humanitarian aid to all those in need.

Appendix 7 – Meetings of the Standing Committee and the Bureau in 2015, as approved by the Bureau at its meeting on 2 September 2014

(open)

January

Monday 26 January, 8.00 am Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

Friday 30 January, 8.30 am Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

March

Thursday 5 March, 3.00 pm, Paris, Bureau

Friday 6 March, 9.00 am, Paris, Standing Committee

April

Monday 20 April, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

Friday 24 April, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

May

End of May, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bureau and Standing Committee (CM Presidency)

June

Monday 22 June, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

Friday 26 June, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

September / October

Tuesday 1 September, 2.30 pm, Paris, Bureau

Monday 28 September, 8.00 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

Friday 2 October, 8.30 am, Strasbourg (part-session), Bureau

November

End of November, Bulgaria, Bureau and Standing Committee (CM Presidency)

December

Monday 14 December, 9.30 am, Paris, Bureau