Spring Session 2015: mass surveillance; drones and targeted killings

Debates on mass surveillance practices and on drones and targeted killings: the need to uphold human rights and international law were among the highlights of the Spring Session 2015 (Strasbourg, 20-24 April).

The Assembly also debated the reform of football governance, the humanitarian consequences of the actions of the terrorist group called “Islamic State” and discrimination against transgender people in Europe.

Didier Reynders, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Belgium, presented the communication from the Committee of Ministers in the framework of the Belgian Chairmanship and Nils Muiznieks, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, presented his Annual activity report 2014.

Monday 20 April

• Doc. 13755 (report on credentials) Examination of credentials of representatives and substitutes
• Doc. 13750 (progress report) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (30 January – 19 April 2015)
• Doc. 13750 (progress report addendum I) Activities of the Assembly’s Bureau and Standing Committee (20 April 2015)
• Doc. 13750 (progress report addendum II) Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights
• Doc. 13754 (communication) Activities of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe between the first and the second part of the 2015 Ordinary session

Tuesday 21 April

• Doc. 13721 (communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights – list and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Andorra
• Doc. 13726 (communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights – list and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Austria
• Doc. 13729 (communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights – list and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Finland
• Doc. 13725 (communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights – list and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Ireland
• Doc. 13718 (communication) Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights – list and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Liechtenstein
• Doc. 13734 (report) Mass surveillance
• Doc. 13748 (committee opinion) Mass surveillance
• Doc. 13743 (report) Budgets and priorities of the Council of Europe for the biennium 2016-2017
• Doc. 13744 (report) Expenditure of the Parliamentary Assembly for the biennium 2016-2017
• Doc. 13741 (report) Humanitarian consequences of the actions of the terrorist group known as “Islamic State”

Wednesday 22 April

• Doc. 13742 (report) Discrimination against transgender people in Europe
• Doc. 13730 (report) Social services in Europe: legislation and practice of the removal of children from their families in Council of Europe member States
• Doc. 13760 (Opinion) Social services in Europe: legislation and practice of the removal of children from their families in Council of Europe member States

Thursday 23 April

• Doc. 13763 (report) Draft Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism
• Doc. 13753 (request for an opinion) Draft Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism
• Doc. 13764 (report) The human tragedy in the Mediterranean: immediate action needed
• Doc. 13731 (report) Drones and targeted killings: the need to uphold human rights and international law
• Doc. 13739 (report) Post-monitoring dialogue with Monaco
• Doc. 13738 (report) The reform of football governance

Friday 24 April

• Doc. 13740 (report) Equality and non-discrimination in the access to justice
• Doc. 13719 (report) The effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights: the Brighton Declaration and beyond
• Doc. 13719 (report addendum I) The effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights: the Brighton Declaration and beyond