It-Tlettax-Il Leġiżlatura Pl 1156
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IT-TLETTAX-IL LEĠIŻLATURA P.L. 1156 Dokument imqiegħed fuq il-Mejda tal-Kamra tad-Deputati fis-Seduta Numru 80 tas-7 ta’ Frar 2018 mill-Ispeaker, l-Onor. Anġlu Farrugia. ___________________________ Raymond Scicluna Skrivan tal-Kamra 1st Part of 2018 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 21 – 26 January 2018 Strasbourg, France Hon Emanual Mallia, MP Hon David Stellini, MP Hon Jason Azzopardi, MP Hon Etienne Grech, MP Hon Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, MP CONSEJL DE t'EUROPE DELEGATION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE First Part-Session- 22 to 26 January 2018 The Assembly brings together 324 men and women from the parliaments of the Council of Europe's 47 member states. Though it contains many voices, reflecting political opinion across the continent, its mission is to uphold the shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law that are the "common heritage" of the peoples ofEurope. Delegates Attending the First-Part Session 2018:- Hon Emanuel Mallia- Head- 22 to 26 January Hon David Stellini- Member- 22 to 26 January Hon Jason Azzopardi - Substitute Member - 23 - 26 January Hon Etienne Grech- Substitute Member - 22- 23 January ,, Hon Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi -Substitute Member- 21-23 January Jolm Vella- delegation secretary- 22 to 26 January 2018 Annex A- Agenda of Plenary and Committees ,, Annex B - Resolutions and Recommendations adopted by the Assembly Annex C- Synopsis of Committee Meetings Annex D- CVs of candidates for Human Rights Commissoner Annex E- Motion for a Resolution no. 144 79 AIJ11ex F- Written question no. 727 to the Committee of Minister Assembly Election ofPresident ofAssembly: The Assembly elected Mr Michele Nicolietti (Italy, SOC) " as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for 2018 in line with the existing rotation agreements between the political groups. In brief, the Plenary Session discussed and passed the following recommendations and resolutions, the text of which are at Annex B: Recommendation 2118 (2018) The protection and promotion of regional or minority languages in Europe (Doc. 14466); Recommendation 2119 (2018) Humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine (Doc. 14463); Recommendation 2120 (2018) Working towards a framework for modern sports governance (Doc. 14464 + Addendum); Recommendation 2121 (2018) The case for drafting a European convention on the profession oflawyer (Doc. 14453); '' Recommendation 2122 (2018) Jurisdictional immunity of international organisations and rights oftheir staff (Doc. 1444 3); Recommendation 2123 (2018) Strengthening international regulations against trade in goods used for torture and the death penalty (Doc. 14454); Resolution 2196 (2018) The protection and promotion of regional or minority languages in Europe (Doc. 14466); Resolution 2197 (2018) The case for a basic citizenship income (Doc. 14462); Resolution 2198 (2018) Humanitarian consequences of the war in Ulaaine (Doc. 14463); Resolution 2199 (2018) Working towards a framework for modem sports governance (Doc. 14464 +Addendum); Resolution 2200 (2018) Good football governance (Doc. 14452); Resolution 2201 (2018) The honouring of obligations and commihnents by Bosnia and Herzegovina (Doc. 14465); Resolution 2202 (2018) The Israeli-Palestinian peace process: the role of the Council of Europe (Doc. 14484); Resolution 2203 (2018) The progress of the Assembly's monitoring procedure (January December 2017) and the periodic review of the honouring of obligations by Estonia, Greece, Hungary and Ireland (Doc. 14450 Parts 1-5); Resolution 2204 (2018) Protecting children affected by rumed conflicts (Doc. 14461); Resolution 2205 (2018) Challenge on procedural grounds of the still umatified credentials of the parlirunentary delegation of Andorra (Doc. 14475); and Resolution 2206 (2018) Jurisdictional immunity of international organisations and rights of their staff (Doc. 14443). ' Under cun·ent affairs debate, the Assembly discussed 'Turkish military intervention in Syria'; . whereas under urgent procedure debated 'Israeli-Palestinian peace proce~~: the role of the Council of Europe'. During this part-session, the Assembly was addressed by the Crown Princess of Denmark; Mr '' Serzh Sargsyan, President of Annenia; Mr Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Demnark; ru1d Mr Alexander van der Bell en, President of Austria. Mr Thorbjom Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, presented his communication to Assembly Members, and Mr Anders Srunuelsen, Danish Foreign Minister, informed the Assembly in the context of the Chainnanship of the Committee of Ministers. Election o.fnew Human Rights Commisssioner: On Wednesday, the Assembly elected Ms .' Dunja Mijatovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights for a non-renewable tenn of six years starting on 1 April 2018. In the second round of voting, she obtained a relative majority of votes,107, whereas Mr Pierre-Yves Le Borgn' (France) obtained 103 votes and Mr Goran Klemencic (Slovenia) obtained 19 votes (CVs at Allilex D). On Monday, Mr Pierre-Yves Le Borgn' visited the office of our delegation to brief delegates about his candidacy for the post of Council of Europe Cmrunissioner for Human Rights. On Wednesday aftemoon, at the request of the current/outgoing Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Nils Muiznieks, Hon Emanuel Mallia, Hon Jason Azzopardi and Hon David Stillini met and discussed, among others: .' (a) Violence against women also in the context ofthe bill which was before our parliament; (b) Access for women to legal, affordable and safe abortion: the Commissioner said that from a human rights perstective and according to conventions in force, life starts at bitih and that notwithstanding that abortion may be illegal in some states, women still resorted to abmiion either clandestinely, with the dangers associated with it, or by travelling overseas. He added that proponents of abortion were feeling rather restricted or subdued in making their voice heard. Our delegates stated that abortion is not a major issue in Malta, that womens' sexual and reproductive health and rights had to be balanced with the rights of the unborn child and added that those in favour of abortion might feel that their voice is not being heard enough because the vast majority of the public is against the legalisation of abortion. (c) The media and defamation bill: the Commissioner opined that the fines contemplated were rather excessive whereas our delegates, while stating that the fines were deemed quite reasonable, stressed that the current bill before parliament had the approval of both sides of the House, as in the process Govenunent took on board most of the Opposition's proposals. The Commissioner presented the delegation with the following three publications: Women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in Europe- published December 2017; Time for Europe to get migrant integration right- published May 2016; and Realing the right to family reunification of refugees in Europe- published June 2017. I Committees i Our delegates, besides attending the plenary, took part in the meetings of their respective political grouping and participated in the proceedings of the following Committees, the agenda '. and synopsis of which are at Annexes A & C:- Hon Emanuel Mallia- the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee; and (as subsititute) the Political Affairs and Democracy Conunittee. •• Hon David Stellini- the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons; and (as substitute) the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media. Hon Jason Azzopardi- the Political Affairs and Democracy Committee and (as substitute) the Conunittee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. Hon Etimme Grech- the Committee on Social, Health and Sustainable Development; and (as substitute) the Conunittee on Equality and Non-Discrimination. Hon Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi- the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media; and (as substitute) on the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Cmmnittee. Hon Etienne Grech, Hon Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Hon Jason Azzopardi also attended sessions of the Assembly substituting Hon Rosiam1e Cutajar who could not attend this part session. .' Ad Hoc Committee on 'The Role and Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly': As Head of Delegation, Hon Emanuel Mallia, participated also at the meeting of his committee set up with the following twofold task: (a) to reflect on, and if possible prepare, proposals aimed at hannonising the rules governing participation and representation of member States in both statutory organs, while fully respecting the autonomy of the two bodies; and (b) to prepare proposals as regard the role and mission of the Parliamentary Assembly as a statutmy organ of the Com1cil of Europe and a pan-European forum for interparlaimentary dialogue which aims at having an impact in all Council of Europe member States. Side Event On Monday 22 January 2018, between lpm and 1.45pm at Room No 10 in the Palais de !'Europe in Strasbourg, a side-event about the 'Assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia', co-sponsored by Mr Pieter Omtzigt (EPP Netherlands), Mr Frank Schwabe (SOC-Gennany) and Ms Atme Brasseur (ALOE Luxembourg), and supported by various organisations, was held, during which, a presentation was made by the tlu·ee sons of Ms Caruana Galizia on their mother's investigative work and why her murder investigation demanded close international scrutiny. The presentation was followed by