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24th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, Prague, 14-16 September 2016.

Given by Ambassador Eberhard Pohl on behalf of the Special Representative of the Federal Government for the OSCE Chairmanship 2016 Dr. Gernot Erler, Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2016, 30 September 2016 Warsaw.

While the Opinion acknowledges that the Draft Amendments overall improve the transparency of criminal investigations, it also provides concrete recommendations for improvement, in particular to guarantee the impartiality and independence of attesting witnesses during criminal proceedings.

The Draft Amendments propose changes to constitutional provisions on the status of international human rights treaties and their position in the hierarchy of norms, the separation of powers, the dismissal of members of Cabinet, the manner of appointing/dismissing heads of local state administration, the independence of the judiciary and of judges as well as the roles of the Supreme Court, and of the Constitutional Chamber, among others. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission note that the proposed amendments to the Constitution may negatively impact the balance of powers by strengthening the powers of the executive, while weakening both the parliament and, to a greater extent, the judiciary. In particular, although the Constitutional Chamber is retained as such, the Draft Amendments would seriously affect its institutional status and role as an effective organ of judicial constitutional review. Moreover, some of the proposed amendments raise concerns with regard to key democratic principles, in particular the rule of law, the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, and have the potential to encroach on certain human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Address by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, H.E. Thorbjørn Jagland. Address by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Günther Bächler. The Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1208 on the agenda and organizational modalities of the 2016 Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC) (Russian Federation, interpretative statement). Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea. Situation in Ukraine and the need to implement the Minsk agreements. “5+2” discussions on the Transdniestrian settlement process in the Republic of Moldova, held in Berlin on 2 and 3 June 2016. Sentencing of members of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan. Violations of the rights of migrants in the United States of America. Report on the Activities of the Chairperson-in-Office. Parliamentary elections in Belarus, to be held on 11 September 2016. General elections in Spain, to be held on 26 June 2016. Parliamentary elections in Georgia, to be held on 8 October 2016.

1101st Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

Includes the Chairperson's report and reports of the working session rapporteurs