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Rudolf Bindig : Germany to maintain its financial input to the Council of Europe

Despite pressure on the government to make financial savings, Germany will not be reducing its annual contribution (around 22 million euros) to the Council of Europe, according to the head of the 18-member German delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly Rudolf Bindig. The SPD elected representative stresses that Germany’s Parliamentary Assembly members are keen to see an increase in Berlin’s financial contribution to the Council of Europe so as to offset, with help from other countries, the financial shortfall that will result from the cut which Russia has announced in its Council of Europe contribution.

The meetings of the Bureau and three major committees - political affairs, legal affairs and human rights as well as social affairs, health and family - from 28 to 30 April are a Berlin first for the Assembly. Ahead of these meetings Bindig states that German representatives want greater political recognition of the Parliamentary Assembly and oppose any tendency to turn politics into a diplomatic exercise based on behind-the-scenes compromises: the Parliamentary Assembly, which is pan-European, delivers plain messages on human rights to the member states.

Bindig is a Vice-President of the Assembly and is a member of the legal affairs and monitoring committees.

Interview (28.04.2003)

Question : These are the Parliamentary Assembly’s first meetings in Berlin since the move from Bonn. Is the Council of Europe now taking greater interest in Germany and is Germany anxious to develop closer relations with the Council of Europe?

Rudolf Bindig : The meetings should be seen as routine. Germany is one of the largest and main Council of Europe member countries and Council of Europe presence in Berlin is perfectly natural. This is also a welcome opportunity to show off our cosmopolitan new capital to our colleagues from other countries.

Question : It is often complained that in the Bundestag the Council of Europe barely features. The EU and Nato have much larger roles. How has this come about?

Rudolf Bindig : I have a feeling that the Council of Europe’s importance in the Bundestag has increased in recent years. Very noticeably it is emerging from the shadows. Council of Europe policy is regularly on the agenda of the foreign affairs committee and the human rights committee and it now has a more prominent place in Bundestag plenary debates, particularly in the context of eastern Europe.

Question : On the budget front the German Government is being forced to make cuts in quite a few areas. Germany’s annual contribution to the Council of Europe comes to 22 million euros. Is a cut in that contribution in prospect, or should we actually be stepping up financial support to Strasbourg?

Rudolf Bindig : One thing is quite clear - there is no question of reducing financial input to the Council of Europe. When all is said and done, the Council of Europe’s functions internationally have grown visibly. Germany has been quite clear about its financial commitment. At my suggestion we decided two years ago to make an exceptional voluntary contribution of 250,000 euros to the European Court of Human Rights. That prompted other countries to follow suit, and the Court is going to be needing further financial support. Initially Russia was happy to pay the same sum to the Council of Europe - over and above its compulsory contribution - as Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. Two years ago Moscow decided to gradually scale down its payments to the level normally expected of it, which is calculated on the basis of population size and economic strength. The financial shortfall will have to be offset by other countries, and in the Bundestag we are pressing for an appropriate increase in the German contribution.

Question : What political stimulus can Germany give the Council of Europe? In what areas can we expect to see more intensive German initiative in future?

Rudolf Bindig : There is an urgent requirement to keep up Council of Europe standards as regards the freedom-based rule of law and protection of human rights. Unfortunately there are increasing indications of politics being handed over to the diplomats: it is noticeable that compromises are being struck behind the scenes and that there is less determination to stand up for Council of Europe values. This is a development that we need to resist. German representatives have very strongly opposed it and we need to step up the action. The Parliamentary Assembly needs to be given greater standing - it is the Assembly that tells member countries in no uncertain terms when they are in breach of their human rights obligations. In defence of human rights in Chechnya the Parliamentary Assembly has several times sounded the alarm.

Question : After EU enlargement is the Council of Europe’s influence on EU intake of the many still unadmitted countries set to grow? Is this an area where Berlin, in co-operation with the Council of Europe, can act as a hub in east-west relations?

Rudolf Bindig : The Council has in fact already been playing a key part in EU admission of eastern European and Balkans countries. Geographical location doesn’t come into it. The Council of Europe is Strasbourg-based and we are not out to turn Berlin into some kind of Number Two headquarters. That said, this is an area where Berlin can provide important impetus. The collapse of the Iron Curtain has undoubtedly moved Berlin to the very centre of continental affairs.

Question : Are the Parliamentary Assembly and other Council of Europe bodies now going to be meeting oftener in Berlin? Is Berlin going to be competing with Paris, where Council of Europe bodies frequently meet?

Rudolf Bindig : Strasbourg is the Council of Europe powerhouse, though Parliamentary Assembly committees and other Council of Europe bodies have traditionally also met elsewhere. Paris has been a frequent venue because of its excellent transport links. We Germans have no desire to set up in competition with anyone but naturally we would be pleased to see more frequent meetings in Berlin in future.