The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 626 members from the national parliaments of the 45 member states of the Council of Europe.

Dr Pullicino Orlando, who was elected vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly earlier this year, chaired the Parliamentary Assembly when it was debating the report on the Euro and the Greater Europe, and the report on the Composition of the Bureau of the Assembly, wherein it was agreed to expand the Bureau from 25 members to 36 members and to create a new vice-president to represent smaller national delegations.

During this part session, the election for secretary-general was held. Three members contested this post, Mr Terry Davis, Mr Walter Schwimmer and Ms Kristiina Ojuland. Mr Davis was elected in the first round of voting having obtained an absolute majority of votes cast. During the session, all the members of the parliamentary delegation attended the meetings of the committees on which they are members.

The Maltese delegation participated in the meeting of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, wherein Mr Arrigo raised the point of the Malta Football Association’s regulation to limit to three the number of non-Maltese players on the pitch, claiming that it is in breach of Article 48 of the EC treaty.

During this session, the Malta delegation had an interesting meeting with a group of students from the NSTF who were visiting the Council of Europe and the EU institutions. These students had participated in the Mini European Assembly held earlier this year.