The Parliamentary Assembly’s Monitoring Committee elected the two Norwegian MPs as rapporteurs on Thursday 25th June. The position of rapporteur, which attaches great importance to absolute neutrality and impartiality, is highly regarded by the Council of Europe’s parliamentarians.

Follow up obligations

The Monitoring Committee’s remit is to verify “the fulfilment of obligations assumed by member States under the terms of the Statute of the Council of Europe, the European Convention on Human Rights and all other Council of Europe Conventions to which they are parties, as well as the honouring of commitments entered into by the authorities of member States upon accession to the Council of Europe”.

“This is a responsibility that I am approaching with the utmost respect. As a member of PACE I have taken part in so-called pre-electoral missions and as an election observer in Turkey during the presidential election and, most recently, this month’s general election. This has given me an insight into the complexities of the country,” said Ingebjørg A. Godskesen.

A challenging responsibility

Along with their respective co-rapporteurs, Christoffersen and Godskesen will carry out their assignments on behalf of the Monitoring Committee. In collaboration with the countries themselves, their task will be to assess and define how FYR Macedonia and Turkey can best fulfil their obligations as members of the Council of Europe – with particular emphasis on democracy, human rights and the principle of the rule of law.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to grips with this challenging responsibility. Collaboration with the member states on democratic development is a vital part of the Parliamentary Assembly’s work. It’s more about supporting democratic progress s than monitoring,” Lise Christoffersen said.

Both Turkey and FYR Macedonia are subject to post-monitoring dialogue. This means that they work together with PACE on specific issues mentioned in resolutions adopted by the Assembly.