Ministers’ Deputies/Rapporteur Groups
GR-DEM
Rapporteur Group on Democracy
GR-DEM(2012)2 26 January 2012[1]
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Annotated Agenda
Meeting of 2 February 2012
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1. Republic of Moldova:
a. Exchange of views with Mr Eugen Carpov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova
1. Following a preliminary presentation by Mr Eugen Carpov, delegations will have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments.
b. Confidence building measures in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova
(item for decision)
2. At their 1106th meeting (16 February 2011), the Deputies encouraged the Secretariat to pursue the implementation of the confidence-building measures across the river Nistru/Dniester and instructed the Secretariat to report back on this implementation to the Group. Document DGII/Inf(2012)01 contains a report prepared by the Secretariat on the implementation of confidence-building measures in 2011 as well as proposals for activities in 2012/2013. Following the oral presentation of this document by the Secretariat and any comments that the delegation of the Republic of Moldova may wish to make, the Group will be invited to examine the proposals for 2012/2013 with a view to transmitting them to the Deputies for approval at their 1134th meeting (15-16 February 2012).
2. Kosovo([2]): Draft Agreement between UNMIK and the Council of Europe on the Framework for the implementation of Council of Europe Monitoring Mechanisms in Kosovo (2) (item for decision)
(SG/Inf(2011)26, DD(2011)1076-rev, DD(2011)1098, DD(2011)1123, DD(2011)1129, DD(2011)1147, DD(2011)1152, DD(2011)1153, DD(2011)1171, DD(2012)1, DD(2012)81)
3. As agreed at the previous meeting, the Group will resume its discussion with a view to arriving at a decision, if possible, on the draft Agreement and its implementation.
3. Serbia : Stocktaking of co-operation with the Council of Europe and fulfilment of statutory obligations (item for decision)
4. The Chair will report on the consultations she has held with the delegations concerned since the last meeting. The Group will then be invited to examine the proposed amendments to document DPA/Inf(2011)30 with a view to forwarding it, as appropriate, to the Ministers’ Deputies for adoption of the recommendations contained therein, at their 1134th meeting (15-16 February 2012).
4. Montenegro : Stocktaking of co-operation with the Council of Europe and fulfillment of statutory obligations (item for decision)
5. It is recalled that at their 1102nd meeting (12 January 2011), the Deputies decided to replace the post-accession monitoring procedure of the Committee of Ministers with respect to Montenegro by a dialogue-based regular stocktaking of co-operation and progress with the fulfilment of statutory commitments and democratic processes. They requested, to this effect, that the GR-DEM submit to the Committee of Ministers on an annual basis, or at any time requested by the Committee of Ministers, a review of the state of democratic institutions, the rule of law and human rights in Montenegro, as well as an overview of co-operation with the Council of Europe.
6. Such a report has been prepared by the Secretariat in document DPA/Inf(2011)36. In the light of the information contained in this report and of any comments that the delegation of Montenegro may wish to make, the group will be invited to examine the recommendations contained in the report with a view to transmitting them to the Deputies for approval at their 1134th meeting (15-16 February 2012).
5. 17th Session of the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government (Kyiv, 3-4 November 2011) - Report by the Secretary General (item for decision)
7. The report of the Secretary General appears in document CM(2011)178. In his report, the Secretary General makes extensive reference to the Kyiv Declaration, adopted by the European Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government, inviting the Committee of Ministers to carry out a number of actions concerning a) the outlook for the future of pan-European work on local and regional democracy; b) the further impact of the economic crisis on local government and the policy responses to it; c) human rights at local level and d) the role of government in overcoming obstacles to transfrontier co-operation.
8. Following an oral presentation of the report by the Secretariat, delegations will have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments on the report. At the end of the discussion, delegations will be invited to decide on the follow-up to be given to it.
9. It is recalled that at the 1131st meeting of the Deputies on 18 January 2012, the delegation of the United Kingdom informed the Committee of Ministers that a High Level meeting on local and regional democracy would be organised in London on 13 February 2012 in the framework of the United Kingdom’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. In this communication, the delegation of the United Kingdom informed delegations that it would circulate a reflection paper for the meeting. Delegations will have the opportunity to make comments or ask questions in relation to any aspect of the paper or the forthcoming event.
6. Any other business
10. None at this stage.
7. Date of the next meeting
11. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 23 February 2012 at 10 am.
[1] This document has been classified restricted at the date of issue; it will be declassified in accordance with Resolution Res(2001)6 on access to Council of Europe documents.
[2] All reference to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.