Ministers' Deputies / Rapporteur Groups

GR-EXT
Rapporteur Group on External Relations

GR-EXT(2014)CB8                22 October 2014[1]

 

Synopsis

Meeting of 16 October 2014

 

1.         The Rapporteur Group, with Ambassador Manuel JACOANGELI, Permanent Representative of Italy, in the Chair, considered the questions appearing on the agenda, as set out in document

GR EXT(2014)OJ8 rev.

1.            Co-operation with the OSCE: Preparation of the 20th meeting of the Co-ordination Group between the Council of Europe and the OSCE (Vienna, 31 October 2014)

2.         At the invitation of the Chair, Ambassador Papa, focal point for the fight against terrorism, and Ambassador Stefanek, focal point for the fight against trafficking in human beings, briefly presented the joint reports which they had written with the OSCE focal points on the progress of co-operation in the fight against terrorism and in the fight against trafficking in human beings (see document CE/OSCE(2014)2).

3.         Some delegations recalled the importance of ensuring that co-operation between the two organisations was as effective as possible and called for efforts to avoid any needless duplication to be stepped up and for synergies between activities to be strengthened.  From this viewpoint, some delegations welcomed the level of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE in the two fields concerned.  Others considered that the two organisations could also give a more strategic direction to their co-operation.  Several delegations suggested making more use of the potential of the Co-ordination Group, inter alia by extending the fields of co-operation that it covered to other questions such as media freedom and the situation of displaced persons (IDPs).

4.         The representative of Switzerland indicated that his country, which had taken the chairmanship of the OSCE this year, had made co-operation with other international organisations a priority of its chairmanship.  The representatives of Serbia, for the incoming Chairmanship of the OSCE, and Belgium, for the incoming Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, indicated that their authorities would continue efforts in this field in order to promote synergies between the two organisations.

5.         Mr Zoltan Taubner, Director of External Relations, recalled that the OSCE had not been in a position to accept the proposals to strengthen co-operation between the two organisations, particularly through an increase in the role of the Co-ordination Group, which had been conveyed to it in November 2012.  He pointed out that the member States were the main guarantors of the consistency of international organisations’ activities.

6.         In reply to the questions put to him, he confirmed that the Council of Europe offices in the field also took care to co-ordinate their action with that of the OSCE offices.  He recalled that, after each meeting of the Co-ordination Group, the Chairman of the Deputies presented the results of the meeting to the latter.  On that occasion, delegations were able to make comments.  The GR-EXT could also, if it so wished, hold additional discussions following meetings of the Co-ordination Group.

7.         At the request of one delegation, Mr Ivan Koedjikov, Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator, supplied additional details of the co-operation with the OSCE in respect of combating terrorism.

8.         In conclusion, the Chair indicated that the focal points and the Secretariat would bear in mind the observations made by the delegations at the Group’s meeting in Vienna, including those about the

co-ordination of visits to member States made by the responsible bodies of the two organisations in the field of combating trafficking.  He pointed out that the conclusions of the Co-ordination Group’s meeting would be distributed for examination by the Deputies at their 1211th meeting (12 November 2014).

2.             Co-operation with the European Union: Report of the meeting between the European Union’s Troika of the Article 36 Committee (CATS) and the Council of Europe (Brussels, 25 April 2014)

           

9.         The Group took note of the meeting report (DG-I(2014)11).

3.             European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity (North-South Centre):

New line of action – Interim report

           

10.        Ms Claudia Luciani, Director of Democratic Governance, presented the Secretary General’s interim report regarding implementation of the Centre’s new line of action (see SG/Inf(2014)31).

11.        Several delegations welcomed this report and considered that the Centre was successfully putting into practice the guidelines set out in the report of the Ad hoc Working Party on the Future of the North-South Centre (GT-CNS).  They also welcomed the organisation and results of the 2014 Lisbon Forum, on the subject of “Electoral processes and democratic consolidation in the countries of the Southern Mediterranean”.  They considered that Tunisia’s recent accession to the Centre was proof of the Centre’s renewed attractiveness.

12.        In reply to a question about the Centre’s financial situation, its Executive Director, Mr Ludovice, indicated that savings had been made on staffing and operation.  He had no doubt that the current difficulties could be overcome, inter alia, by exploring further possibilities of voluntary contributions.  One delegation indicated that it had recently made such a contribution.  Mr Ludovice provided some additional information about the Centre’s main activities.

13.        In conclusion, the Chair proposed that the Secretariat be asked to prepare a draft decision inviting the Deputies to take note of the interim report and to forward this draft to the Ministers’ Deputies for adoption without debate at their 1210th meeting (22 October 2014).  The Group supported this proposal.

4.             Policy of the Council of Europe towards neighbouring regions – Update on the latest developments

           

14.        The Chair presented the report of his meeting with the Ambassadors of Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan in Brussels on 11 September last (see document DD(2014)1093).  Several delegations welcomed this visit.  One delegation pointed to the need to treat the countries concerned on an equal footing while maintaining a pragmatic and flexible approach.  Another recalled that it had been agreed that the Group would examine the implementation of the current neighbourhood co-operation priorities (2012-2014) prior to examination of the neighbourhood partnership documents for 2015-2017.  The representative of the European Union indicated that the EU’s new long-term co-operation frameworks included a “South Programme” primarily aimed at Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan.

15.        The Chair also reported on his exchange of views on the neighbourhood policy with the members of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly (1 October 2014).

16.        He indicated that a visit to Jordan by a delegation of the Group could be organised during the first half of December.  As soon as the date of the visit had been fixed, he would inform the Group thereof so as to agree on the membership of the delegation and the arrangements for the visit.

17.        The representative of Azerbaijan provided some information about the organisation of the Baku Conference on the policy towards neighbouring regions (7-8 November 2014).

18.        Mr Taubner indicated that the Secretariat was examining possible follow-up to the Secretary General’s recent meeting with the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.  On the subject of co-operation with the Palestinian National Authority, he indicated that the administrative difficulties experienced were on the point of being overcome.  In both cases, he said that the Group would be kept informed of developments.

19.        Referring to the recent request by Libya to become a Partner for Co-operation with the OSCE, he emphasised the growing interest within the OSCE for a closer relationship with the countries of the southern Mediterranean.

5.             Parliamentary Assembly: Recommendation 2026 (2013) “The situation in Syria” – Draft reply

           

20.        The Chair referred to the new version of the draft reply, prepared after an informal consultation on 10 October, which appeared in document CM/AS(2014)Rec2026-prov7.

21.        The Group had a discussion about the final sentence of paragraph 7 of the document.  It agreed to amend it (see CM/AS(2014)Rec2026-prov8).

22.        The Chair pointed out that, in the event of persisting disagreement, the working methods of the Committee of Ministers allowed, at the request of a delegation, a sentence to be included at the beginning of a reply to indicate that it had been adopted by the majority provided for in Article 20.d of the Statute.  No delegation made such a request.

23.        One delegation, with the support of another, suggested that the discussion on paragraph 7 be continued.  The other delegations supported the Chair’s proposal to forward the amended draft reply to the Deputies for adoption without debate at their 1210th meeting (22 October 2014).

6.         Any other business

24.        Mr Taubner indicated that the Council of Europe had played an active part in the OSCE’s recent annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, where it had organised two side events: one on hate speech and the other on the Istanbul Convention.

25.        In respect of the draft Resolution on co-operation with the United Nations prepared by the Group and endorsed by the Ministers’ Deputies last summer, he indicated that consultations on the draft were currently taking place in New York in the hope that the draft resolution would be adopted by the UN General Assembly on 11 November next.  He confirmed that any amendments made to this draft would first be submitted for agreement to the Ministers’ Deputies.

7.         Date of the next meeting

26.        Tuesday, 25 November 2014 at 3 p.m.