Ministers' Deputies / Rapporteur Groups

GR-H
Rapporteur Group on Human Rights

GR-H(2012)CB11        24 October 2012[1]

 

Synopsis

Meeting of 18 October 2012

 

1.         The Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H) meeting on 18 October 2012 with Ambassador A. Tehov, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria, in the Chair, considered the following items:

12/39    Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities –
Election of experts to the list of experts eligible to serve on the Advisory Committee –
Candidates in respect of:

            - the Netherlands (CM(2012)132)

            - Spain (CM(2012)123)

2.         The Group examined the candidates submitted by the Netherlands and Spain. It noted that the delegations of both these countries expressed no preference for any of the candidates on their respective lists. The Group agreed to transmit the lists to the Deputies for election of an expert in respect of each State concerned at their 1153rd meeting (24 October 2012).

12/40    European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) –

Appointment of members, and in some cases their deputies, in respect of Armenia, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey

Resolution Res(2002)8, DGII(2012)04, DGII(2012)04-add

3.         The GR-H held an informal exchange of views on the curricula vitae of the candidates proposed for appointment as members, and in some cases deputies, in respect of the above-mentioned member States. It agreed to submit them to the Deputies so that the appropriate decision may be taken at their 1153rd meeting (24 October 2012) without further debate (item placed in the box).

12/36    “The interception and rescue at sea of asylum seekers, refugees and irregular migrants” – Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1974 (2011)

Parliamentary Assembly REC_1974(2011), CM/AS(2012)Rec1974-prov, DD(2012)745, DD(2012)761, DD(2012)974

4.         The group examined the draft reply and the amendments proposed by two delegations. After discussion, it agreed to submit the draft reply, as amended during the meeting (cf. document CM/AS(2012)Rec1974 prov2), to the Deputies for adoption without further debate at one of their forthcoming meetings.

12/37    “Undocumented migrant children in an irregular situation: a real cause for concern” – Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1985 (2011)

Parliamentary Assembly REC_1985(2011), CM/AS(2012)Rec1985-prov, DD(2012)745

5.         The group examined the draft reply and the amendments proposed by one delegation. After discussion, it agreed to submit the draft reply, as amended during the meeting (cf. document CM/AS(2012)Rec1985 prov2), to the Deputies for adoption without further debate at one of their forthcoming meetings.

11/36    Elections/selection to monitoring bodies – Exchanges of views within the GR-H

GR‑H(2012)7

6.         The Group held a brief discussion on this item, due to the lack of time. Several of the delegations that spoke noted the availability of the Bureaus of the three monitoring bodies concerned (the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (ACFC), the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages) to provide, should the Deputies so decide, informal opinions on candidates for elections (similarly to the procedure currently in place as regards the CPT and the Social Charter). Other delegations, however, noted that such opinions should only provide objective information in relation to the needs of the monitoring bodies as regards competencies, professions, gender balance, etc., but should not evaluate the candidates themselves. It was also suggested that the specificities of each monitoring mechanism should be taken into account. In conclusion, the Chair noted that diverging views were expressed by delegations and that the discussion would be resumed at a future meeting.

12/35    European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) – Evaluation by the Directorate of Internal Oversight (Summary Report)

GR-H(2012)6, Evaluation (2012) 5, GR-H(2012)CB9-rev, GR-H(2012)9

7.         This item was postponed.

-           Any other business

8.         There was no other business.

-           Date of the next meeting

9.         The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 at 10 a.m.