The Congress Bureau met in Paris on 4 December for its last meeting in 2017. Following the adoption by the Congress of a report during the October Session, the Bureau members held an exchange of views on the latest developments concerning the situation of Dorin CHIRTOACA, Mayor of Chișinău and Vice-president of the Congress. A second fact-finding visit to Chisinau is scheduled in this regard on 13 December. It will be led by Congress Vice-President and Rapporteur on Moldova, Gunn Marit Helgesen. The outcome of this visit, as well as the opinion of the Venice Commission on local recall referenda which was requested by the Congress in October 2017, will be examined at the next meeting of the Bureau in February 2018. The Bureau was also informed about the positive developments in the Congress’ co-operation with Tunisia and Morocco. It reviewed the situation of Nurhayat ALTUN, member of the Congress, currently detained in Kocaeli, north-western Turkey and decided to follow up the information that Ms ALTUN would not be allowed to attend her forthcoming trial. The Bureau decided to revise the Congress Rules and Procedures in order to further codify the ethical behavior of its members and approved a draft timeline for this revision. Finally, the members were informed about the budgetary situation of the Council of Europe and the Congress for 2018 and the preparation of the Congress sessions for 2018 (27-29 March and 6-8 November 2018).

Agenda