PDF - Armed forces and security services: what democratic controls? (2009)

Part 1
Democratic oversight of the security sector in member states
Report of the Parliamentary Assembly

Summary

Adopted texts
Recommendation 1713 (2005) of the Parliamentary Assembly to the Committee of Ministers and its reply

Explanatory memorandum

A. Introduction
B. Intelligence services
C. Democratic policing
D. Border management
E. Defence

Part 2
Democratic oversight of the security services
Report of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Executive summary

I. Introduction
II. Previous Council of Europe work in this area
III. The scope of the present study
IV. Is there a need for (improved) democratic control?
V. Accountability
VI. Accountability and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights
VII. Internal and governmental controls as part of overall accountability systems
VIII. Parliamentary accountability
IX. Judicial review and authorisation
X. Accountability to expert bodies
XI. Complaints mechanisms
XII. Concluding remarks

Part 3
Democratic control of the armed forces
Report of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Executive summary

I. Introduction
II. The scope of the study
III. The necessity for democratic control of the armed forces
IV. The role of the armed forces in Council of Europe member states
V. Actors, acts, moments and procedures of control
VI. Conclusions

Appendices
Appendix A: Overview of national legislation on the authority to decide participation in missions abroad
Appendix B: Overview of the constitutional rules of appointment of top commanders in selected Council of Europe member states
Appendix C: Overview of civil and political rights for armed forces personnel: selected examples