Ministers’ Deputies / Rapporteur Groups
GR-EDS
Rapporteur Group for Democratic Stability
GR-EDS(2003) 14 (restricted) 30 April 2003
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Parliamentary Elections in Georgia - October/November 2003
Council of Europe Draft action plan on parliamentary elections in Georgia
Proposals by the Secretary General
[For examination by the GR-EDS at the meeting on 6 May 2003]
Introductory Note
In his statement to the Parliamentary Assembly, on 28 January 2003, the Secretary General stressed the crucial importance of elections to take place in the three South Caucasian countries in 2003. He qualified 2003 as the year of elections in the Caucasus region.
Following the examination of the report drawn up from the Secretariat (DSP) Delegation visit to Georgia in December 2002 [doc SG/Inf (2003)1] and in accordance with a proposal from the Secretary General, the Ministers’ Deputies at their 826th meeting (5 February 2003, item 2.1a), identified three priority issues (elections; judicial system and corruption) for further consideration upon which the Secretariat should report back before mid 2003. One of these priority areas of action concerned the preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections to take place in Georgia in October/November 2003.
The Permanent Representation of Georgia has, on several occasions, called for concrete Council of Europe support for the proper preparation and running of these elections.
To respond to this request, the Secretary General has put together a series of proposals to assist in the preparation of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. These proposals concern various aspects of the electoral process: legislative framework, functioning of electoral commissions, media coverage of electoral process, promotion of participation etc.
Thanks to an effort of internal prioritisation, funding for a substantial part of these activities is secured within existing programmes. However a number of proposals would require specific funding in to an amount of € 20.000. The Secretary General proposed, subject to the agreement of the Committee of Ministers, to finance these activities by using existing resources under the provision for ‘field missions/programmes’.
Draft action plan by the Council of Europe on parliamentary elections in Georgia
Measure Time Check-up review Financing/Directorate
(AWG) of the diplomatic missions accredited in Tbilisi
(TWG) which includes relevant NGOs and international
organisations (OSCE, EU, CoE, NDI, USAID, UNDP), works on
developing a Common Strategy for support to the electoral process
and prepares a set of specific proposals for AWG action
practice in electoral matters – Venice Commission
in 700 copies with a possibility for reprinting
with the participation of the Georgian political parties, by an SRSG
initiative in the Georgian delegation to PACE,
the conduct of democratic elections, to address
specifically the amendments of the electoral legislation
and the problems political tolerance
Parliamentary elections 2003 on the Internet site
of the IOCE in Tbilisi
expectations of the CoE as to the elections:
Ø by visits of CoE delegations, with a special emphasis on the DSP - December 2002 continuous yes DSP/PACE/
monitoring procedures on the commitments of Georgia, PACE - February 2003 CLRAE/CM/
using the periodic six months monitoring and its regular CLRAE - March 2003 DGAP/SRSG
six months reports (first in January 2003 and next DSP - end of May 2003
expected in June 2003). PACE - June 2003
CLRAE - September 2003
GR-EDS –
(Exact dates to be fixed)
Ø meetings of the SRSG - with the President end of April 2003 continuous yes SRSG/
- with the Speaker of Parliament done in March 2003 DGAP
- with the State Minister done in December 2002
- representatives of political parties since December 2002
- participation in different political since February 2003
events (conferences, seminars) to
transmit the appropriate political
message from the CoE
and assessment of the final version of the Code by the Venice
Commission within the following framework:
Ø Sub-commission, established by Presidential Decree since March 2003 mid-April 2003 yes SRSG/IOCE
on 10 February 2003
Ø Inter-factional working group of the Parliament, since March 2003 April 2003 yes SRSG/IOCE
comprising the representatives of all parties
Improvement of Electoral System of Georgia and Measures DGAP/SRSG
to Ensure the Conduct of 2003 Parliamentary Elections,
signed on 26 February 2003
in the preparation of the elections with the possibility to DGAP/SRSG
undertake a political demarche by the CoE in case there is
no improvement
improve the voters trust in the elections,
to overcome the increased public nihilism
in regard of political life :
Ø Conference and training of judges to handle June/July 2003 July 2003 yes DG I/ VC
election disputes with the aim to harmonize DG II
the jurisdiction on such cases throughout
the country (incl. on Protocol I to ECHR),
Joint module with electoral administration
and observers
Ø On the role and responsibility of election end of August/ July 2003 partial* IP I/ VC
officials before, during and after the poll. first half of September (see table)
This would include issues such as 2003
voter registration, transparency and control
of election processes, women’s individual
voting rights (“family voting”), etc.
(Target group: election officials at central
and local levels, observers)
Ø Equitable access to the media and mid June 2003 May 2003 yes DG II
fair coverage of election campaigns.
(Target groups: civil servants,
media professionals, election officials,
party officials)
Ø Seminar/Session on financing mechanisms June 2003 May 2003 partial* IP I
of political parties and election campaigns. (see table)
(Target groups: party officials, media professionals,
civil society, watchdog organizations)
Ø Organise TV coverage and presentation of June-October 2003 July 2003 n/a VC
the CoE activities on the elections
Ø Awareness raising of participation of June-July 2003 June 2003 partial* DG II/IP I
women as candidates (see table)
Ø Recommendation to the electoral July-August 2003 July 2003 yes VC/PACE/
administration for improving the CLRAE
accountability of the election results
Ø To develop a checklist for voters August-October 2003 July 2003 yes VC
(5 or 10 “commandments”) and
make them public trough media and
editions
the following draft laws: (next mission in April 2003)
Broadcasting Regulation and Freedom of Press and Speech
(JP; DGII)
Ø Expertise provided to the Georgian working groups 2002 – 2003 yes DG II/SRSG
Ø Meetings with the Speaker of Parliament December 2002, March 2003
Ø Meetings with the executive branch (incl. MJ) Spring 2002 –Summer 2003
parliamentary factions and NGOs
Immunities of candidates to the parliament provided by
the Georgian legislation
(to be decided)
(to be decided)
Post-electoral activities:
Ø Post-electoral observation November-December 2003 p.m. PACE
(to be decided)
Ø Analysis of the effect of the parliamentary elections February 2004 PACE/
on the preparation of the Presidential elections 2005 DGAP/SRSG
Ø Analysis of the results and experience in the February-June 2004 PACE/
Parliamentary elections to address additional electoral DGAP/SRSG
problems in Georgia – especially elections in conflict
zones, as well as in regions with specific political
climate (Adjaria).
Key / légende
AWG Ambassadorial Working Group of the diplomatic missions accredited in Tbilisi
CM Monitoring Committee
CoE Council of Europe
CRLAE Congress of Regional & Local Authorities in Europe of the Council of Europe
DGl Directorate General of Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe
DGll Directorate General of Human Rights of the Council of Europe
DGAP Directorate General of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe
DSP Directorate of Strategic Planning of the Council of Europe
ECHR European Convention on Human Rights
EU European Union
GRECO Group of States Against Corruption of the Council of Europe
IGOs Inter-governmental organisations
IOCE Information Office of the Council of Europe
SRSG Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
TWG Technical Working Group of NGOs and IGOs in Tbilisi.
VC Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy though Law)
Financing
* Most activities will be funded by reprioritisation within existing programmes. Following a reprioritisation within the Integrated Project 1, “Making Democratic Institutions Work" and with a contribution by the Venice Commission, partial funds have been found for three activities involving the Integrated Project, however, certain new funds will have to be found in order to cover the full estimated cost:
Activity |
Financing/Directorate |
Estimated cost |
Funding available |
Funding required |
|
Awareness-raising and training activities - On the role and responsibility of election officials before, during and after the poll. |
Integrated Project 1, “Making Democratic Institutions Work" / Venice Commission |
€ 20.000 |
€ 10.000 |
€ 10.000 |
|
Awareness-raising and training activities - Seminar/Session on financing mechanisms of political parties and election campaigns. |
Integrated Project 1 “Making Democratic Institutions Work" |
€ 15.000 |
€ 10.000 |
€ 5.000 |
|
Awareness-raising and training activities - Awareness raising of participation of women as candidates. |
Integrated Project 1, “Making Democratic Institutions Work" / Directorate General II (Human Rights) |
€ 15.000 |
€ 10.000 |
€ 5.000 |
|
TOTAL |
€ 50.000 |
€ 30.000 |
€ 20.000 |