Facts and figures

Legal Bases:

• Statute of the Council of Europe
• Law on the Election of German Representatives to the Parliamentary Assembly
• Rules of Procedure of the Assembly

Aims:

• Protection and strengthening of pluralistic democracy and human rights
• Discussion of topical political, economic and social issues and questions of common concern
• Promotion of European cultural identity

Number of Member States: 46 and three countries as observers German membership since: 1950 German contribution: 12.3 % (contribution to the Council of Europe, including the Assembly) Total number of seats 315 representatives and 315 substitutes German delegation: 18 representatives (7:6:2:2:1), 18 substitutes Head of delegation: Joachim Hörster (CDU/CSU) Deputy head Wolfgang Wodarg (SPD) Bodies

• Bureau (1 President, 20 Vice-Presidents, five chairpersons of the political groups and ten chairpersons of the general committees)
• Standing Committee
• Ten general committees

President: René van der Linden (Netherlands) Headquarters: Strasbourg Sessions: Four per year Place of meeting: Strasbourg Committees:

1. Political Affairs Committee
2. Committee on Economic Affairs and Development
3. Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee
4. Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
5. Committee on Culture, Science and Education
6. Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs
7. Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population
8. Committee on Rules of Procedure and Immunities
9. Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men
10. Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)

Committee meetings: Every 6 - 7 weeks Place of meeting: Strasbourg and Paris and in the individual Member States of the Council of Europe Official languages: English and French Working languages: English, French, German, Italian and Russian