Basicinformation
Dateofestablishment
May5,1949,Ireland,Belgium,Denmark,France,Netherlands,Luxembourg,Norway,Sweden,ItalyandtheUnitedKingdomThe"EuropeanCommissionRegulations"wassignedinLondonandtheorganizationwasformallyestablished.TheEuropeanCommissionisheadquarteredinStrasbourg,France,andhasanofficeinParis.
Members
47memberstates(May2007):Ireland,Austria,Belgium,Iceland,Denmark,Germany,France,Netherlands,Liechtenstein,Luxembourg,Malta,Norway,Portugal,Sweden,Switzerland,Cyprus,SanMarino,Turkey,Spain,Greece,Italy,UnitedKingdom,Finland,Hungary,Poland,Bulgaria,Slovenia,Lithuania,CzechRepublic,Slovakia,Estonia,Romania,Andorra,Moldova,Albania,Latvia,Ukraine,Macedonia,Russia,Croatia,Georgia,Azerbaijan,Armenia,BosniaandHerzegovina,Serbia,Monaco,Montenegro.TherearealsofiveobserverstatesfortheCouncilofMinistersoftheCouncilofEurope,theUnitedStates,Canada,Japan,MexicoandtheVatican.Inaddition,Canada,MexicoandIsraelarealsoobserverstatesintheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope.
Purpose
ItspurposeistoprotectEuropeanhumanrights,parliamentarydemocracyandthepriorityofrights;reachanagreementwithinEuropetocoordinatesocialandlegalactionsinvariouscountries;promotetheunificationofEuropeanculturesex.
TheEuropeanCommissiondeliberatesonmajorissuesotherthandefensethatareofcommonconcerntoallmemberstates,promotesmembergovernmentstosignconventionsandagreements,andmakessuggestionstomembergovernmentstoseekpoliticalandeconomic,Society,humanrights,scienceandtechnology,cultureandotherfieldstotakeunifiedactions,andoftenexpressopinionsonmajorinternationalissues.
ThestandardsofitsmemberstatesmustbeEuropeancountriesthatimplementpluralisticdemocracy,alegalsystem,andrespectforhumanrights.Inaddition,memberstatesmustsigntheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights.
Mainpersonincharge
PresidentoftheParliament:PeterSchieder(Austrian),waselectedasthe22ndSpeakerinJanuary2002,withatermofoneyear(canbere-electedfortwoconsecutiveterms).Session).
Chairmanoftheconference:RikDaems.
Vice-ChairmanoftheGeneralAssembly:PeterTolstoy,aRussian,istheVice-ChairmanoftheRussianStateDuma.
FormerSecretary-General:WalterSchwimmer(Austrian),electedinJune1999forafive-yearterm.
CurrentSecretary-General:MariaPejcinovicBridge,Croatian,electedinJune2019forafive-yearterm.
Headquarters
Strasbourg,France.ThereisanofficeinParis.
Address:Conseildel’Europe67075StrasbourgCedexFrance
Theflagandsong
Theflagisdecoratedwith12goldstarsontheupperringofthebluesky.Themeetingsongisthepreludeto"OdetoJoy"inBeethoven'sNinthSymphony.
Officiallanguages
EnglishandFrench,andGerman,Italian,andRussianarealsousedasworkinglanguagesforparliamentarymeetings.
Publications
"Forum"(Forum),quarterly,English,French,German,Italianeditions;"CataloguesofPublicationsoftheCouncilofEurope"(CataloguesofPublicationsoftheCouncilofEurope),annual.
Importantdocuments
Bytheendof2000,theEuropeanCommissionhadadopted178conventionsoragreements.Amongthemoreimportantlegaldocumentsare:EuropeanConventiononHumanRights(1950),EuropeanSocialCharter(1961),EuropeanConventiononSocialSecurity(1972),EuropeanConventiononCulture,EuropeanConventionfortheProtectionofWildlifeandNaturalEnvironment,SuppressionofTerrorismConvention(1977),EuropeanConventionforthePreventionofTorture,InhumanandDegradingTreatmentorPunishment(1987),EuropeanConventiononMutualAdministrativeAssistanceinTaxation(1988),FrameworkConventionfortheProtectionofHumansfromBiomedicalDamage(1990)),theFrankfurtDeclarationontheLocalizationofImmigration(1991),theFrameworkConventionontheProtectionofNationalMinorities(1994),theIllegalAdoptionoftheMaritimeDrugTraffickingConvention(1994),andtherevisedEuropeanSocialCharter(1996),TreatiesonHumanRightsandBiomedicine(1997),"CriminalConventiononCorruption"(1998),"CivilConventiononCorruption"(1999),"No.12onAnti-RaceDiscriminationandVariousFormsofDiscrimination"Protocol(2000,asupplementarydocumenttotheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights).
SummitMeeting
OnOctober8-9,1993,inresponsetotheinitiativeofFrenchPresidentMitterrand,theEuropeanCommissionhelditsfirstsummitmeetinginVienna.ExceptforBritain,GreeceandHungary,the32memberstatesatthattimesentheadsofstateorgovernmenttoattend.Russia,Albania,Belarus,Croatia,Macedonia,Moldova,Latvia,andUkrainethatrequestedtojointheorganizationwerealsoinvitedtosendrepresentativestoattend.Themeetingfocusedonissuessuchasthe"democraticconstruction"andprotectionoftherightsofethnicminoritiesinthecountriesoftheformerSovietUnionafterthechangesintheEuropeanlandscape,andthe"ViennaDeclaration"waspassed.
ThememberstatesoftheEuropeanCommissionholdsummitmeetingsfromtimetotime,whichhavebeenheldtwicesofar.The1993ViennaConferenceissuedthe"ViennaStatement"ontheprotectionofminoritiesandthereformofhumanrightsinstitutions.In1997,theStrasbourgConferencepassedapoliticaldeclarationandaprogramofaction,emphasizingthevaluesofdemocracyandhumanrights,andreaffirmingtheroleoftheEuropeanCommissioninmaintainingEuropeanstability.ThethirdmeetingwillbeheldinWarsaw,PolandfromMay16to17,2005.
OnOctober10-11,1997,thesecondsummitoftheEuropeanCommissionwasheldinStrasbourg,France.ThisisthefirstsummitmeetingsincetheaccessionoftheCommonwealthofIndependentStatesandEasternEuropeancountries.Thepresidentsorprimeministersof40memberstatesattendedthemeeting.Afterthemeeting,thefinaldeclarationandactionplanwereissued,sayingthatEuropewillbebuiltintoa"freer,moretolerantandfairersociety",andproposedtoestablishanewEuropeanCourtofHumanRights,implementtheEuropeanSocialCharter,andstrengthencooperationinthefieldofcombatingterroristactivities.Andotherspecificactionplans.RegardingtheroleoftheCouncilofEurope,WesternEuropeancountriesemphasizedtheroleoftheCouncilofEuropeinformulatinghumanrightsstandards.TheCommonwealthofIndependentStates,ledbyRussiaandUkraine,andEasternEuropeancountrieshopethattheCouncilofEuropewillplayagreaterrolenotlimitedtohumanrights.Duringthemeeting,FrenchPresidentChirac,GermanChancellorKohlandRussianPresidentYeltsinagreedtoestablisharegularmeetingmechanismbetweentheleadersofthethreecountriestodiscussissuesofcommonconcern.
Organization
MinisterialCommittee
Thehighestdecision-makingandexecutivebody,composedofonerepresentative(usuallytheforeignminister)ofeachmembercountry,meetstwiceayear.TheMinisterialRepresentativeCommitteeiscomposedofapermanentrepresentative(attheambassadoriallevel)fromeachmembercountrytohandledailyaffairs.ThechairmanoftheCouncilofMinistersisalternatedbyrepresentativesofthememberstatesforahalf-yearterm.ThecurrentchairmanshipisPoland(fromNovember2004toMay2005).
Parliament
Theadvisorybodyhasthepowertodebatebutnotthepowertolegislate.AplenarymeetingisheldinJanuary,April,JuneandSeptemberorOctobereachyear.Thereare315existingmembersandalternatememberseach,andalternatememberswillbesubstitutedwhenmembersareunabletoattendthemeetingforsomereason.Allparliamentariansandalternatemembersarerecommendedbytheparliamentsofthememberstatesfromtheirownparliamentarians.Thesizeofeachcountryisdifferent,andthenumberofpeoplewhocanberecommendedisalsodifferent.InJanuaryofeachyear,nationalparliamentsconfirmtotheEuropeanCommissionwhotheyrecommendforthatyear.Theparliamentariansaredividedintofiveparties:theSocialistParty,theEuropeanPeople'sParty,theFreedom,DemocracyandReformParty,theEuropeanDemocraticPartyandtheEuropeanUnitedLeftParty,andtherearealsonon-partymembers.Therearemixedcommitteesundertheparliament(responsibleforcoordinatingtheworkoftheparliamentandtheministerialcommittee),standingcommittees(convenesatleasttwiceayeartorepresenttheparliamentduringtheadjournmentoftheparliament)and10specialcommittees;somespecialcommitteeshavesub-committees,suchaspoliticsThesubcommitteeonrelationswithnon-memberstatesissetupundertheaffairscommittee.Theparliamenthasaspeakerwhoiselectedbythemembers.Thetermofofficeisoneyearandcanbere-electedtwice.ThecurrentspeakerisRenévanderLinden(RenévanderLinden,Dutchnationality,memberofthePeople’sParty),whotookofficeinJanuary2005.
GeneralSecretariat
IncludestheOfficeoftheSecretary-GeneralandDeputySecretary-GeneraloftheEuropeanCommission,theSecretariatoftheCouncilofMinisters,theSecretariatoftheParliament,theSecretariatoftheCongressofLocalandRegionalPowers,andtheOfficeoftheCommissionerforHumanRights,EuropeanCourtofHumanRightsClerk,3divisions(CommunicationsandResearchDivision,StrategicPlanningDivision,ProtocolDivision)and6divisions(PoliticsDivision,LawDivision,HumanRightsDivision,SocialSolidarityDivision,Education,Culture,DepartmentofHeritage,YouthandSportsandDepartmentofAdministrationandLogistics).TheGeneralSecretariathasasecretary-generalandadeputysecretary-general,bothofwhicharerecommendedbytheCouncilofMinistersandelectedbytheParliament.Thetermofofficeis5yearsandcanbere-elected.ThecurrentSecretary-GeneralisTerryDavis(TerryDavis,British,Socialist),whotookofficeonSeptember1,2004.
OnJune26,2019,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropeelectedMariaPejcinovichBridge,theDeputyPrimeMinisterandMinisterofForeignandEuropeanAffairsofCroatia,toreplacetheformerNorwegianPrimeMinisterThorBjornJaglandservesasthenewsecretary-generaloftheEuropeanCommission.
TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights
AccordingtotherequirementsoftheEuropeanCharterofHumanRights,thecourtwasestablishedin1950.Atthattime,itwascomposedoftheHumanRightsCommissionandthecourt.CasesacceptedwerefirstreviewedbytheCommissionandthenhandedovertothecourtforjudgment.The1993EuropeanCommission’ssummitdecidedtomergetheabovetwoinstitutionsintoapermanentbody;the1997summitdecidedtoformallyestablishasingleEuropeanCourtofHumanRightsfromNovember1998,andeachmemberstatemayrecommendajudgeCandidatesareappointedbyavoteoftheParliament.TheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightscandirectlyacceptcomplaintsfromcitizensofmemberstates,thusenhancingtheauthorityoftheEuropeanCommissioninhumanrightsaffairsacrossEurope.AnymemberoftheEuropeanCommissionanditsresidents(includingthosewhodonothavethenationalityofamemberoftheEuropeanCommission)canfilealawsuitagainstamemberoftheEuropeanCommission.Thecourthasapresidentandtwovicepresidents,whoareelectedbytheplenaryofthecourtforatermof3yearsandcanbere-elected.ThecurrentdeanisLuziusWildhaber(Swissnationality),whotookofficeonNovember1,1998,andre-electedonNovember1,2001andNovember1,2004respectively.
TheOfficeoftheHumanRightsCommissioner
ItiscomposedoftheHumanRightsCommissioneranditsoffices.TheHumanRightsCommissioneriselectedbytheParliamentforatermof6yearsandcannotbere-elected.ItsdutyistopromotethedevelopmentofeducationandhumanrightsinthememberstatesoftheEuropeanCommission.ThecurrenthumanrightscommissionerisThomasHammarberg(ThomasHammarberg,Swedish),whotookofficeonJanuary1,2006.
Congress
EstablishedinJanuary1994,itisanadvisorybodyoftheEuropeanCommission.Itspurposeistopromotelocalandregionalautonomyandassistmemberstatesinstrengtheninglocalandregionaldemocraticsystems.,Toenhancecooperationbetweenvariouslocalitiesandregions,andensurethatlocalandregionalgroupsparticipateintheEuropeanjointprocessandtheworkoftheEuropeanCommission.Theassemblyisdividedintothelocalpowerhouseandtheregionalhouse,withatotalof315representativesandalternaterepresentativeseach,andaplenarymeetingisheldeveryyearinStrassberg.Representativesareappointedbygovernmentsfromamongpublicofficialselectedfromtheircountries.RepresentativesoftheHouseofLocalPowersaregenerallymayorsandmunicipalsenators.TheStandingCommitteeissetupundertheCongresstohandledailyaffairs.Thecongresshasachairman,whoiselectedbythecongressfromamongtherepresentativesofthetwohousesinturn.Thetermofofficeis2yearsandcannotbere-elected.ThecurrentchairmanisGiovanniDiStasi(GiovanniDiStasi,Italian,Socialist),whotookofficeinMay2004.
Inaddition,theEuropeanCommissionalsohasinstitutionssuchastheDevelopmentBank,theNorth-SouthCenter,theEuropeanYouthCenter,andtheEuropeanCommissionforDemocracyandRights.
ExternalRelations
EURelations
TheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanUnion(EuropeanCommunity)havecloserelations.Theparliamentsofthetwoorganizationsholdajointmeetingeveryyear.InSeptember1995,theCouncilofEuropepassedtworeports.OnewastoagreetotheEU’saccessiontotheCouncilofEurope’sHumanRightsConvention,andtheotherwastoelaborateontheEuropeanCommission’spositionontheEuropeanUnion’s1996IntergovernmentalMeeting,requestingthattheEUrecognizetheCouncilofEuropewhenrevisingtheMayo.Theroleandresultsachievedindeterminingthelegal,judicialanddemocraticstandardsofEuropeansociety.
OnApril1,1998,theEuropeanUnionpresidencyoftheUnitedKingdom,MinisterofStateforEuropeanAffairsAnderson,MemberoftheEuropeanCommissionVandenBroek,thePresidentoftheCouncilofMinistersoftheEuropeanCommission,theGermanMinisterofStateSchäfer,andtheSecretary-GeneraloftheEuropeanCommissionTarcisheldafour-partymeetinginStrasbourgtodiscussissuessuchasstrengtheningmutualcooperation,theprocessoftheEU'seastwardexpansion,andjointlyadvocatingcooperativesecuritywiththeOSCE.ThemeetingemphasizedthatthecooperationbetweentheCouncilofEuropeandtheEuropeanParliamentshouldbestrengthened,andsuggestedthatthefour-partymeetingofthetwoorganizationsshouldincludeparliamentaryrepresentativesfromtheEuropeanUnionandtheEuropeanCommission.
OnFebruary10,1999,therotatingchairmanoftheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion,theGermanMinisterofStateforForeignAffairsVerheugen,theEuropeanCommissionmemberVandenBroek,therotatingchairmanoftheCouncilofMinistersoftheEuropeanCommission,thePermanentRepresentativeofHungarytotheCouncilBereniandtheSecretary-GeneraloftheEuropeanCommissionTarcisheldthe13thQuartetmeetinginStrasbourg,affirmingthepositivesignificanceoftheEU’seastwardexpansion,andbelievingthatthismovewillbringprosperityandstabilitytotheEuropeancontinent;ontheKosovoissueExchangeofviews;consultationswereheldontheestablishmentofthe"CharterofFundamentalRightsandDuties."
OnMarch14,2000,Costa,SecretaryofStateforEuropeanAffairsofPortugal,therotatingpresidencyoftheEuropeanCouncil,Patten,memberoftheEuropeanCommission,IrishMinisterofStateKitt,rotatingpresidencyoftheCouncilofMinistersoftheEuropeanCommission,SecretaryoftheEuropeanCommissionPresidentSchwimmerheldafour-partymeetinginStrasbourg,sayingthatthetwoorganizationsshouldworktogethertoavoidviolationsofdemocracy,lawandhumanrights.ThetwosidesexpressedconcernabouttheChechenissueinRussia.WhilereiteratingtheirrespectforRussia'sterritorialsovereignty,theyalsodemandedthatRussiaresolveconflictspeacefully,guaranteefreedomofthepress,andsafeguardhumanrights.ThetwosidesalsoexpressedthattheywillfurtherstrengthencooperationinSoutheastEuropeandaffirmthecontributionoftheEuropeanCommissiontotherealizationoftheobjectivesoftheStabilityPactforSoutheastEurope.
OnApril3,2001,DarnielsonoftheSwedishPrimeMinister’sOfficeinchargeofEUandinternationalaffairsintherotatingpresidencyoftheEuropeanCouncilofYekksinsandtheSecretary-GeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeSchwimmerheldafour-partytalksinStrasbourgandissuedthe"PartnershipandCooperationStatement",proposingtojointlypromoteregionaldemocracyandstability,andcooperateinthepromotionofhumanrights;emphasizingthemaintenanceoftheSoutheastTheimportanceofstabilityinEuropewelcomesthearrestofMilosevicinYugoslaviaandurgesYugoslaviatocooperatefullywiththeInternationalTribunalinTheHague.TheEuropeanUnionalsoinformedtheEuropeanCommissionofitsinvitationtoRussianPresidentPutintoparticipateintheEuropeanUnion'sStockholmsummit.
OnNovember20th,therotatingpresidencyoftheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion,theBelgianMinister-levelForeignAffairsAssistantMs.Netz-Yotbruck,EuropeanCommissionerPatten,andtheChairmanoftheCouncilofMinistersoftheCouncilofEurope,LithuanianForeignMinisterValionisHeldafour-partymeetinginBrusselswiththeSecretary-GeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeSchwemer,andproposedtostrengtheninternationalcooperationandjointlyfightterrorism.ThetwosidesalsodiscussedissuessuchasRussia,Ukraine,SouthCaucasus,andtheeastwardexpansionoftheEU.
Russia
SinceRussiaformallyrequestedtojointheEuropeanCommissioninMay1992,theEuropeanCommissionhasdiscussedtheissueofabsorbingitsmembershiponvariousoccasions.TheParliamentoftheCouncilofEuropepassedaresolutioninFebruary1995tosupporttheEuropeanParliament’sresolutionrequestingthattheEUnotapprovethesigningofa"PartnershipCooperationAgreement"withRussia,anddecidedtotemporarilysuspendthereviewofRussia’saccessiontotheCouncilofEurope.Russiamaintainsdialogueandcontacts,andcontinuestoimplementthe"IntergovernmentalAssistanceProgram"aimedatstrengtheningRussia's"democracyandhumanrights."
InApril1995,theforeignministersoftheEuropeanCommissionmetwiththeRussianforeignministersinStrasbourgandreiteratedtheirhopetoresolvetheChechencrisisassoonaspossible.RussiaalsoexpresseditsdesiretojointheEuropeanCommissionagain.OnJanuary25,1996,Russiawasadmittedasthe39thmemberstateattheParliamentaryMeetingoftheCouncilofEurope.Atthesametime,theCouncilofEuropehasputforwardmanyconditionstoRussia.InadditiontorequiringittocomplywiththeEuropeanConventiononHumanRightsdrawnupbytheorganization,italsorequiresittoratifytheConventionfortheProtectionofNationalMinoritieswithinoneyearafterbecomingafullmemberstate,andfrombecomingafullmember.StartingfromthedateofChina,theexecutionofthedeathpenaltywillbepostponed,thedeathpenaltywillbeabolishedwithinthreeyears,prisonconditionswillbeimproved,theprisonwillbeplacedunderthemanagementofthejudiciary,theChechenconflictwillberesolvedpeacefully,theextraditionconventionwillberatified,disarmamentcommitmentswillbefulfilled,andthepropertyofsomememberstateswillbereturned.
OnSeptember28,1999,theSpeakeroftheCouncilofEurope,Johnston,issuedastatementstatingthattheCouncilofEuropeexpressedconcernabouttheviolentconflictsinChechnyaandsupportedRussia’santi-terrorismstance,butaskedittostopblindairstrikes.,Toavoidciviliancasualties,andurgeRussiatoresolvetheprobleminapeacefulmanner.OnNovember4,theCouncilofEuropeParliamentpassedResolution1204,demandingthatRussiastopitsmilitarystrikesagainstChechnyaandachieveaceasefire.OnDecember13,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropeissuedastatementwarningthatifRussiadoesnotachieveaceasefire,itwillconsiderwhethertocontinuetoallowRussiatoparticipateintheworkoftheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope.
OnApril6,2000,theCouncilofEuropeParliamentmadeadecisioninStrasbourgtotemporarilycancelthevotingrightsoftheRussianParliamentdelegationintheCouncilofEuropeonthegroundsthatRussiawillnotstopmilitaryoperationsinChechnya.Inthefirsthalfof2001,theEuropeanCommissionrestoredRussia’svotingrights,butonJune28andJuly12,theSpeakeroftheCouncilofEuropeLordJonesandtheSecretary-GeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeSchwimmerissuedastatementonRussia’shandlingoftheChechenissue.HeexpresseddissatisfactionwiththeactionandurgedRussiatoresolvetheissuethroughpoliticalmeans,andsaidthatfrequentexchangesbetweentheEuropeanCommissionandRussiawouldhelpRussiatoconverge.OnSeptember13-16,somemembersoftheCouncilofEuropeandtheRussianStateDumaformedadelegationtovisittheChechenregionandtheNorthCaucasus.MembersoftheCouncilofEuropeonceagainproposedthattheyshouldseekapoliticalsolutiontotheChechenissue.
InApril2014,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropepassedaresolutiontocancelRussia’svotingrightsandotherrightsonthegroundsoftheCrimeaissue.
OnJune30,2017,RussiadecidedtosuspendthepaymentofmembershipfeesuntiltheEuropeanCommission"unconditionally"restoredallthelegalrightsoftheRussiandelegationattheCouncilofEuropeParliamentaryAssembly(PACE).TheParliamentaryAssemblyinJune2019fullyrestoredtherightsoftheRussiandelegation.TheRussiandelegationbegantoresumenormalwork.
OnJanuary29,2020,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropevotedinaplenarymeetingtopassaresolutionapprovingthefullrestorationoftheauthorityoftheRussiandelegation.
Amongthem,96parliamentarianssupporttherestorationoftheauthorityoftheRussiandelegation,44votesagainstand7abstentions.
China
Inthelate1970s,ChinabegantoestablishcontactswiththeEuropeanCommission.Thetwosideshaveexchangeswitheachother.InFebruary1979,theSpeakeroftheCouncilofEurope,Kirst,visitedChina.InOctoberofthesameyear,theChineseAmbassadortoFranceattendedtheParliamentaryMeetingoftheCouncilofEuropeasaChineseobserver.InSeptember1980,HuangHua,VicePremierandMinisterofForeignAffairsoftheStateCouncil,wasinvitedtodeliveraspeechattheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope.
InOctober1985,Aarens,theSpeakeroftheCouncilofEurope,visitedChina.InMay1988,theParliamentoftheCouncilofEuropepassedthe"ReportonEconomicRelationsandCooperationbetweenEuropeandthePeople’sRepublicofChina",requestingthememberstatesoftheCouncilofEuropeandtheEuropeanCommunitytogiveChinamorepreferentialtreatment,expandthescopeoftheGeneralizedSystemofPreferencesforChina,andmakemoreManyChineseproductshaveenteredtheEuropeanmarket,supportingChina'sreturntotheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade.OnMay11-19ofthesameyear,LouisRong,PresidentoftheCouncilofEurope,ledaparliamentarydelegationtovisitChina.FromMarch27toApril2,1994,PresidentoftheCouncilofEuropeMartinezledadelegationtovisitChinaattheinvitationoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongressofChina.InSeptember1995,theSecretary-GeneraloftheCouncilofEuropeDanielleTarcisledadelegationtoBeijingtoparticipateintheFourthUnitedNationsWorldConferenceonWomen.
OnJune18-19,1998,JiangChunyun,ViceChairmanoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongress,ledadelegationoftheNationalPeople'sCongresstoconductafriendlyvisittotheEuropeanCommission.OnApril16-22,1999,attheinvitationoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongress,LordRussellJones,theSpeakeroftheCouncilofEurope,ledaneight-memberparliamentarydelegationoftheCouncilofEuropetopayanofficialgoodwillvisittoourcountry.InAugust2001,DeJongre,DirectoroftheExternalRelationsBureauoftheEuropeanCommission,visitedChina.InSeptember,LiShuzheng,vicechairmanoftheForeignAffairsCommitteeoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongress,ledadelegationtovisittheEuropeanCommissionandmetwithitsSpeaker,Secretary-General,etc.
Differences
The"4"institutionsoftheEuropeanUnion:EuropeanCommission,EuropeanParliament,EuropeanCouncil,EuropeanCourtofJustice.Innewspapersandmagazines,the"EuropeanCommission"isoftenreferredtoastheEuropeanCommission,whichisnotaccurate.TheEuropeanCommissionisactuallyanotherindependentinstitution.AlthoughitandtheEuropeanCommissionarebasedinStrasbourg,itshouldnotbeconfusedwiththeEuropeanCommission.TheEuropeanCommissionisequivalenttothe"government"ofEurope,butitsfunctionshavenotyetdevelopedtothestageofgovernment.TheEUhasanembassyinBeijing,andthelinkbetweenChinaandtheEUisalsoanintergovernmentallink.
Theso-calledCounciloftheEuropeanUnionisanorganizationformedbyeachcountrysendingaministertotheheadquartersoftheEuropeanUnion.Thejoboftheministersofeachcountryistorepresenttheircountry'sinterestswhenthecouncildiscussesspecificmatters.
TheEuropeanCourtofJusticewascreatedbytheItalianjuristGrarangel,andthestatuteofthecourtwasdraftedbyit.
ThedevelopmentoftheEuropeanParliamenthastwostages.ThefirststageoftheEuropeanParliamentiscomposedofpeoplesentbytheEuropeanParliaments.Thesecondstageistheresultofuniversalsuffragebymemberstates.Buttherearealsoproblems.Becauseafterall,Europeisstilldividedintodifferentcountries,anditisdifficultforresidentsofonecountrytoknowmuchaboutthesituationofcandidatesinothercountries.Thisbringsgreatdifficultytouniversalsuffrage.YoumaynothavenoticedsuchanexpressionthattheEuropeanCommissionrecommendsthattheEuropeanParliamentvote.ThisshowsthatthesovereigntyoftheEuropeanUnionhasnotbeencompletelytransferredfromthecommitteetotheparliament.ThisisbecausetheEUisstilldeveloping.Itsguidingideologyisveryclear,butitsspecificpracticeshavenotyetreachedtheultimategoal.YuLioncesaidthattheEUisonlya"receptionunit."