NR. 01| April 2016 | Newsletter of the EPP-CD Parliamentary Group in the Council of Europe

Dear Reader, after 100 days EPP Group Presidency tighter work structures and more intensive cooperation with mem- bers of other groups have borne first fruits: group colleague Eman- uel Zingeris from Lithu- ania was elected by a large majority to be the rapporteur for the Council of Europe A very special guest was welco- current topics. The picture shows, in report on internal security after the terror- med by the EPP/CD Parliamentary the first row from the left, the Pre- ist attacks of Brussels. The President of the Group in the Parliamentary As- sident of the Parliamentary As- European Commission, Jean-Claude Junck- sembly of the Council of Europe at sembly Council of Europe (PACE) er, said when visiting Strasbourg, that he the beginning of the session week. Pedro Agramunt, EPP President considers the relationship between the The President of the European Pe- Joseph Daul and Group Chairman European Union and the Council of Europe ople's Party Joseph Daul came to together with the enti- to be particulary positive. Both are chil- discuss with parliamentarians on re group. dren of the same ideas, ambitions and the same European spirit. They mobilized and transported successful the energy and the Facing Terrorism commitment of the founding fathers of Europe. Europe closing ranks with the peo- Europe is suffering increasingly tial in this context. Integration of ples of the world is - as a project of na- under terrorism. Combined with "closed" communities, improved tional cooperation and international devel- armed clashes in efforts in opment cooperation – a model for all. and around Eu- e d u c a t i o n Armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh rope and migra- and an infor- region and in the Eastern Ukraine goes on tion there is the mation cam- destabilizing further Eastern Europe. The threat of an ex- paign for the name of Nadiya Savchenko - detained in plosive mixture wide public Russia – stands as an example for the to arise which as well as insurmountable difficulties in the various could seriously e f f e c t i v e efforts of the Council of Europe to achieve jeopardized the measures to sustainable peace in armed conflicts. security of peop- avoid further le in Europe. An radicalization Axel Fischer, MdB intensive cooperation between of conflicts for example by insulting Chairman of EPP/CD Parliamentary security authorities with improved criticisms or hate speech could help Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of information exchange seems essen- to relax the security situation. the Council of Europe 22/04/2016 EPP-CD in the Council of Europe 2 Refugee-crisis requires European response

The refugee crisis is a task that can only be solved by Europe as a whole, stressed the PACE President Pedro Agramunt (EPP/CD). “The challenges we are facing af- fect all 47 members of our Organi- sation. No country alone can cope with them. We need more European solidarity and a multilateral ap- proach to uphold the standards and international commitments we have subscribed to,” said the President. Agramunt pointed out - after he spent two days on site in Hungary - that this country was confronted with an unprecedented challenge of around 400,000 asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, all passing through Hungarian territory within a very short time. With regard to the refugee crisis, Agramunt said: tion receives it. This is our interna- tary General’s Special Representa- “We must examine the cases of all tional obligation. I encourage ... the tive on Migration and Refugees, so individuals arriving in Europe in ac- authorities of all member states to as to find appropriate solutions cordance with international stand- seek the advice and expertise of the which respect human rights stand- ards, so as to ensure that every per- Council of Europe, in particular by ards and are adapted to the local son in need of international protec- closely co-operating with the Secre- situation.” Upcoming elections From the Committees

What: Early Parl. Elections Discussions about the draft Where: Serbia report by Petra When: 24 April 2016 d e S u t t e r What: Parl. Elections ( B e l g i u m , SOC) on the Where: Cyprus subject of sur- When: 22 May 2016 rogacy were held by the What: Early Parl. Elections Committee on Where: The former Yugo- Social, Health slav Republic of Macedonia and Sustaina- When: 5 June 2016 ble Develop- ment at its What: Parl. Elections meeting in Par- Where: Russian Federation is in March. When: 18. September 2016 The committee rejected a tentative resolution and recommendation on the draft report What: Parl. Elections with a narrow margin. A consultation scheduled by chairperson Stella Where: Georgia Kyriakides (Cyprus, EPP/CD ) during this session week provided no final When: 8 October 2016 decision. At the next meeting of the Committee consider whether de Sutter shall create a new report.

22/04/2016 EPP-CD in the Council of Europe 3 Rapporteurs out & about

Von Axel E. Fischer

Kazakhstan is our reliable business partners and regional anchor of stabil- ity in Asia. Through Democratisation the country has moved much closer to Europe. We want to further develop the many fruitful relations between Europe and , on-site to- gether with parliamentarians and representatives of civil society. My report shall provide a sound basis for the further integration of Kazakhstan into the European community of values. MdB Axel Fischer held talks in Kazakhstan. Our rapporteurs

Committee on Political Affairs and Democ- Committee on Legal Affairs and racy Human Rights “Abusive use of the Interpol system: the need for “The relations of he Council of Europe with Ka- more stringent legal safeguards” zakhstan” “Strengthening the rule of law in South-East Euro- pean countries through targeted reform of the le- Rapporteur: Axel E. Fischer gal system” “Situation in and challenges for region- Rapporteur: al stability and European security” “Human rights compatibility of investor-State arbi- tration in international investment protection agree- Rapporteur: Tobias Zech ments” Rapporteur: Pieter Omtzigt “Libya's future between threats of terrorism and a democratic prospect” Rapporteur: Attila Korodi Ausschuss für Gleichstellung und Nichtdiskriminierung Committee on Culture, Science, Education “Female genital mutilation in Europe” and Media Rapporteur: Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo “Intellectual property rights in the digital era“ “Promoting the inclusion of Roma and Travellers” Rapporteur: Axel E. Fischer Rapporteur: Tobias Zech “Sport for all: a bridge to equality, integration and social inclusion” “Assessing the impact of measures to improve wo- Rapporteur: Carmen Quintanilla men‘s political representation“ “Towards a framework of competences for Rapporteur: Elena Centemero democratic citizenship” “The protection of the rights of parents and chil- Rapporteur: Jacques Legendre dren belonging to religious minorities” “Promoting Regional or Minority Languages in Rapporteur: Valeriu Ghiletchi Central and Eastern Europe” Rapporteur: Rózsa, Hoffmann Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immuni- “Attacks against journalists and media freedom in Europe” ties and Institutional Affairs Rapporteur: Volodymyr Ariev “Parliamentary immunity: challenges to the scope of the privileges and immunities enjoyed by members of the Parliamentary Assembly” http://www.epp-cd.eu/newsletter Rapporteur: Liliana Palihovici

22/04/2016 EPP-CD in the Council of Europe 4 Our rapporteurs

Monitoring Committee Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development “The honouring of obligations and commitments “The employment rights of female workers from by Albania” Eastern Europe” Rapporteur: Cezar Florin Preda Rapporteur: Viorel Riceard Badea “The progress of the Assembly’s monitoring pro- “The over-sexualisation of children” cedure (September 2015 – December 2016” Rapporteur: Valeriu Ghiletchi Corapporteur: Cezar Florin Preda “Ensuring access to healthcare for all children in “The honouring of obligations and commitments Europe” by Armenia” Rapporteur: Stella Kyriakides Corapporteur: Giuseppe Galati “Road safety in Europe as a public “The honouring of obligations and commitments health priority” by Bosnia and Herzegovina” Rapporteur: Naira Karapetyan Corapporteur: Egidijus Vareikis “Post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria” https://www.facebook.com/EPP-CD- Corapporteur: Zsolt Németh Group-in-the-Council-of-Europe- “The honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation” Corapporteur: Theodora Bakoyannis #PACEspring2016 “Post-monitoring dialogue with Montenegro” @PACE-President; @eppcdgroup; Corapporteur: Ionuţ-Marian Stroe “Post-monitoring dialogue with “the former Yu- goslav Republic of Macedonia” https://www.youtube.com/user/ Corapporteur: Valeriu Ghiletchi eppcdgroup “The honouring of obligations and commitments by Ukraine” Corapporteur: Axel E. Fischer Legal notice Responsible editors: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Axel Fischer, MdB Displaced Persons Tobias Zech, MdB

“The impact of European populations dynamics Palais bureau 5145 on migration policies“ Council of Europe Rapporteur: Kristin Ørmen Johnsen F - 67075 Strasbourg

“Possible ways to improve the emergency refu- Tel: + 33 3 88 41 26 76 gee situations funding” Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27 69 Rapporteur: Cezar Florin Preda