Parliamentary Assembly’s summer session: highlights include monitoring of
Turkey, domestic slavery and the media in Italy

Strasbourg, 11.06.2004 – A recommendation to end the monitoring of Turkey,
measures to combat the “domestic slavery” of au pairs and mail-order brides
and a call for an end to political interference in the media in Italy are
among issues to be debated during the Parliamentary Assembly’s summer
session (Strasbourg, 21-25 June 2004).

Other subjects due for discussion include a Europe-wide ban on corporal
punishment of children, the role of women in conflict prevention and
resolution, the Italian law on legitimate suspicion and the honouring of
obligations and commitments by Bosnia and Herzegovina – the first assessment
since the country joined the Council of Europe in 2002.

There have been requests for urgent debates on the situation in Iraq and on
the political, humanitarian, human rights and security situation in the
Chechen Republic.

The Assembly is also due to debate the euro and the Greater Europe, with the
participation of European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, as
well as a report on the contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) to economic development in central and eastern
Europe, with the participation of EBRD President Jean Lemierre. The Assembly
will also elect the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Guest speakers include Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Norwegian
Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (23 June). Norwegian Foreign Affairs
Minister Jan Petersen, who is chairing the Committee of Ministers during
Norway’s six-month presidency, will present the communication from the
Committee of Ministers (22 June).

The final order of business will be decided by the Assembly itself only on
the first day of the session.
* * *

Peter Schieder, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, will give a press
conference on Monday 21 June at 11 a.m. (Room 1). Other press conferences
will be announced on the spot.
./..

The following is a provisional order of business which may be altered by the
Assembly on the first day of the session.

Monday 21 June

Progress report of the Bureau of the Assembly and the Standing Committee
The euro and the Greater Europe
Statement by Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank
Composition of the Bureau of the Assembly

Tuesday 22 June

Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Honouring of obligations and commitments by Turkey
Implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights by Turkey
Communication from the Committee of Ministers presented by Jan Petersen,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway and Chairman of the Committee of
Ministers
Contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
to economic development in central and eastern Europe
Statement by Jean Lemierre, President of the EBRD
Domestic slavery: servitude, au pairs and mail-order brides

Wednesday 23 June

Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (possible second
round)
Honouring of obligations and commitments by Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strengthening of democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Address by Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway
Address by Robert Kocharyan, President of Armenia
Conflict prevention and resolution: the role of women

Thursday 24 June

Monopolisation of the electronic media and possible abuse of power in Italy
The italian law on legitimate suspicion
Europe-wide ban on corporal punishment of children

Friday 25 June

Situation of refugees and displaced persons in the Russian Federation and
some other CIS countries
Management of water resources in Europe
Transboundary water basins in Europe

See the Assembly’s website, , for further details.
Additional information may also be found on the Council of Europe web
portal,

Contact:
Communication Unit of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
Tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93 – Fax +33 3 90 21 41 34; e-mail: pace.com@coe.int

Press Release
Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Ref: 298a04
Tel: +33 3 90 21 50 26
Fax :+33 3 90 21 41 34
Pace.com@coe.int
internet:

The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 626 members from the national
parliaments of the 45 member states.

President: Peter Schieder (Austria, SOC); Secretary General of the Assembly:
Bruno Haller.

Political Groups: SOC (Socialist Group); EPP/CD (Group of the European
People’s Party); LDR (Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group);
EDG (European Democratic Group); UEL (Group of the Unified European Left).