INTRODUCTION
Establishment
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) was created as a result of the major political changes of the late 1980’s, when the nations of the Black Sea Region re-emerged on the world scene. The search of the countries of the region for ways of meeting the challenges regarding the national development and the European integration paved the
way for combining their efforts aiming at turning the Black Sea Region into an area of stability, prosperity and peace. Taking advantage of common denominators such as geographic proximity and shared cultural and historical heritage, the countries of the region have expedited the establishment of bilateral and multilateral relations. The Summit Declaration of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Bosphorus Statement, signed in Istanbul, on the 25th of June 1992, defined the basic principles and objectives of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), formally instituting a new regional cooperation process with the participation of eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine. In 2006, after Montenegro declared its independence, the Republic of Serbia became the legal successor of the former state, both in the BSEC and in the PABSEC. On the 26th of February 1993, in Istanbul, the Speakers of the Parliaments of nine countries – Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine – adopted the Declaration on the Establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC). In June 1995, Greece joined the Assembly as the tenth full-fledged member. Bulgaria became the eleventh full-fledged member, in June 1997. In November 2004, Serbia and Montenegro joined the Assembly, thus becoming the twelfth full-fledged member. The Parliamentary Assembly is composed of 76 parliamentarians representing the twelve BSEC Member States. Principal aims
Being an inter-parliamentary consultative body of the BSEC, the Assembly has united the efforts of the national parliaments to pursue the following aims, as stated in the preamble of the PABSEC Rules of Procedure: to secure the understanding and adoption, by the peoples, of the ideals and aims of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation; to provide a legal basis for economic, commercial, social, cultural and political cooperation among the member countries; to enact the legislation needed for the implementation of the decisions taken by the Heads of State or Government or by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs; to provide assistance to the national parliaments so as to strengthen the parliamentary democracy; to promote the cooperation with other international and regional organizations. Languages
The working languages of the Assembly are English, French, Russian and Turkish. The official language of the PABSEC documents and correspondence is English. MAIN BODIES OF THE PABSEC
General Assembly
The PABSEC General Assembly convenes twice a year in ordinary plenary session (spring and autumn sessions). A session consists of meetings of the Bureau and the Standing Committee in the first day, and the plenary meeting of the General Assembly in the next two days. The venue of the General Assembly is the country of the President of the Assembly, who is the speaker of the parliament of a member country, by rotation for a period of six months. The General Assembly’s sessions are open to the public, unless otherwise decided by the Assembly. The Standing Committee proposes the agenda and the order of business of the session, although the Assembly, which adopts the final agenda, may amend them. In the sittings, the proposals of the Standing Committee, the recommendations, declarations, opinions, decisions and reports of the Committees and/or election of the candidates for the Bureau are submitted to the General Assembly, for approval. Standing Committee
The Standing Committee consists of the President of the Assembly, the Vice-Presidents, the Chairmen of the three Committees and the Heads of the National Delegations. The Speakers of the national parliaments who are not members of their national delegations have the status of special guest at the Standing Committee meetings. The Standing Committee supervises the implementation of the Assembly decisions within the powers vested in it by the latter, draws up the agenda, the calendar and the venue of the Assembly meetings, coordinates the activities of three Committees, endorses the budget of the Assembly, ensures the coordination between the BSEC and the PABSEC and the cooperation between the PABSEC and other international organizations. The Standing Committee takes decisions according to the principle of unanimity (consensus). The Bureau
The Bureau of the Assembly consists of the President and six Vice-Presidents. The Bureau is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the decisions of the Standing Committee and for the effective functioning of the Assembly between the meetings of the Standing Committee. It determines the agenda and the venue of the Standing Committee meeting and takes decisions regarding the PABSEC representatives or observers at other international gatherings. The Bureau of the Assembly meets twice a year – on a day preceding the General Assembly – and takes decisions by simple majority vote. Its meetings are held in camera, in the country of the President of the Assembly. Committees
The Assembly set up three specialized committees: the Economic, Commercial, Technological and Environmental Affairs Committee; the Legal and Political Affairs Committee, and the Cultural, Educational and Social Affairs Committee. Each Committee elects from among its members, the Chairman and two Vice-Chairmen, each from a different national delegation. Each Committee designates a Rapporteur on each subject. Subjects are chosen from a list drawn up and periodically updated according to the main themes and projects of the BSEC agenda. Final reports and draft recommendations are approved by absolute majority and are submitted to the General Assembly for discussion and adoption. The President
The President of the Assembly is the Speaker of the Parliament of a member country, by rotation for a period of six months and acts as the highest representative of the Assembly. The duties of the President are: to preside over the meetings of the Assembly; to guide the debates; to ensure observance of the Rules; to maintain order; to call on speakers; to close debates; to ascertain whether a quorum exists; to put questions to the vote and announce the results of votes. The President performs a similar role in relation to the Bureau and the Standing Committee, and further, represents the Assembly, at the BSEC Summits, at the Meetings of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and at other international gatherings. The Secretary General
The Secretary General is elected for a term of office of five years, by the General Assembly, upon the proposal of the Bureau. In the exercise of his duties, the Secretary General is responsible to the General Assembly. Three Deputy Secretaries General are also elected by the General Assembly for a term of office of three years.
