Maltese Parliamentary Delegation to the Council of Europe

A Maltese Parliamentary delegation will be attending the 1st Partof the 1998 Ordinary Session of the Council of Europe, to be held in Strasbourg from the 26thto the 30th January 1998. The delegation which is led by the Hon. Karl Chircop,comprises the Hon. Maria Camilleri, the Hon. Guido de Marco, the Hon. ChrisCardona, the Hon. Alex Sceberras Trigona, and the Hon. John Vella.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will beaddressed by Mrs Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Amongst the subjects to be discussed are:

- the setting up of a committee on equal opportunities for womenand men;

- the future of the European Social Charter;

- the introduction by Ukraine of a moratorium onexecutions and the abolition of the death penalty

- the election of judges to the new European Court of HumanRights;

- the follow-up of the 2nd Summitof the Council of Europe;

- a debate on general policy: recent developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslaviaand their implications for the    Balkan region;

- fighting social exclusion and strengthening social cohesion in Europe;

- threat to Europe from economiccrime;

- Bosnia and Herzegovina: return of refugees anddisplaced persons;

- the democratic functioning of parliaments;

- the access of minorities to higher education;

- development of tourism in central and eastern Europe;and

- sustainable development of the Mediterraneanand Black Sea Basin.