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Constitutional Justice
1-2 June 2006, Kosice (Slovakia)
In co-operation with the Slovak Constitutional Court, the Venice Commission organises a seminar on the “Constitutionality of the proceedings before ordinary courts applying the Community Law in practice of the Constitutional Courts”.
 Venice Commission website
67th plenary session of the Venice Commission
9-10 June 2006, Venice (Italy)
An exchange of views will be held with the Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament, Mr Krivokapich in view of the preparation of the new Constitution of the Montenegro. Members are due to adopt a final opinion on the Georgian draft law on restitution and compensation of victims of the conflict in the former region of South Ossetia. Other items on the agenda include: guidelines on referenda, report on participation of political parties in the electoral process and declaration on women’s participation in elections.
Venice Commission website
The European Charter for regional and minority languages: application by Armenia examined
On 14 June 2006, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a recommendation for the attention of the Armenian authorities on measures they could take to improve the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Armenia. (more …)
Fourth Multilateral Consultation of Parties to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS 123)
15 June 2006, Strasbourg
During this meeting, the draft revised Appendix A of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes – Guidelines for accommodation and care of animals was unanimously adopted by the Parties to the Convention. Information on the revision of the Appendix A is now available on www.coe.int/animalwelfare
4th Multilateral Consultation of Parties to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (ETS 123)
19-20 June 2006, Strasbourg
This multilateral consultation will aim to finalise the draft revised Appendix A – Guidelines on Accommodation and Care - of the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. This Appendix contains guidelines based on present knowledge and good practice for the accommodation and care of animals and it explains and supplements the basic principles adopted in Article 5 of the Convention. The object of the Appendix is thus to help authorities, institutions and individuals in their pursuit of the aims of the Council of Europe in this matter.
“Biological safety, use of animals” website
10th meeting of the Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER)
19-21 June 2006, Strasbourg
CODEXTER released 9 new Country profiles on counter-terrorism capacity, namely: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland. 10 additional profiles will be released at its next meeting in December, namely: Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Italy, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Sweden and "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". CODEXTER also conducted a thematic review on the implementation of Council of Europe conventions against terrorism. 11 states confirmed that they will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. Thus, it will reach the ratification threshold for entry into force by the end of the year. The 11th meeting of CODEXTER will be held in Strasbourg, 4-6 December 2006. (more)
Agenda - Documents
“Fight against terrorism” website
Minority languages: experts to visit Norway
19-23 June 2006, Porsanger, Karasjok, Kautokeino, Tromso, Oslo (Norway)
A delegation of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is to visit Norway from 19 to 23 June 2006, as part of its monitoring activities on the country's implementation of the treaty. The visit follows the submission by Norway of its third periodical report, where the government explains the way in which its obligations in respect of the Charter have been fulfilled. (more …)
“Regional or Minority Languages” website
Outcome of the 29th Plenary Meeting of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)
19-23 June 2006, Strasbourg
GRECO adopted the Joint First and Second Round Evaluation Reports on Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia. GRECO closed first round compliance procedures in respect of Bulgaria, France and Germany and opened second round compliance procedures in respect of Finland and Poland. The first round non-compliance procedure in respect of Georgia was closed with the adoption of a Final Overall Assessment of the country’s compliance with GRECO’s first round recommendations. Finally, GRECO adopted the evaluation questionnaires for its Third Evaluation Round (to be launched on 1 January 2007). (more …)
GRECO website
6th General Activity Report (2005) of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)
19-23 June 2006, Strasbourg
GRECO has published its Sixth General Activity report (2005) which was presented to the Committee of Ministers on 21 June by GRECO’s President, Mr Drago KOS (Slovenia). The report provides details of GRECO’s operation during 2005 and of its co-operation with other international players. GRECO also presents in the report a number of conclusions emanating from its ongoing Second Evaluation Round. These conclusions focus on the organisation, functioning and supervision of public administration and the status and conduct of public officials. Among the specific issues addressed are citizens’ access to documents held by the administration, codes of conduct for public officials, conflicts between officials’ duties and their personal interests or their protection from reprisals and disguised discrimination when they report suspicions of corruption within their administration.
6th General Activity Report (2005) 
GRECO website
CARPO Project : Regional Training Seminar on Procedural Protection Measures for witnesses
26-29 June 2006, Palic (Republic of Serbia)
45 experts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" will be trained on key concepts on witness protection, risk/threat assessment, witness interview, procedural protective measures in court and basic protection. The activity will also test the training manual on procedural protective measures. (more …)
CARPO Project website
Anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing measures: MONEYVAL report on Cyprus published
28 June 2006
The Cypriot authorities have recently approved the publication of the third evaluation round report adopted by the MONEYVAL Committee of the Council of Europe on the evaluation of national measures against money laundering and terrorist financing. The report was drafted following a visit to the country carried out by a multidisciplinary evaluation team during the period of 3 to 10 April 2005. The team had met with a number of representatives from both the state authorities and the financial and non financial private sector. The reports examines the current level of compliance of Cyprus with the international standards.
Link to the report
MONEYVAL website
Conference on “Tools for strengthening democratic participation at local level”
28-29 June 2006, Tampere (Finland)
A Conference organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Finnish Ministry of the Interior and hosted by the City of Tampere will be held in June to present, discuss and evaluate the results of the CLEAR model tests. The CLEAR model was devised by a team of experts from Manchester University (United Kingdom), led by Professor Gerald Stoker, to enable local authorities to analyse obstacles and areas for improvement in citizens’ participation. The tests were carried out in municipalities in Finland, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Also under the spotlight is the Council of Europe’s Project on Democratic Citizenship and Intercultural Dialogue at Local Level. Supported by financial contributions from Ireland and Norway, this project took place in municipalities in Bulgaria and Romania.
Further information on the conference
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