Euthanasia. The examination of Report no. 9898 (‘Marty Report’) on euthanasia has been removed from the order of the day of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the proposal of the Commission for social questions, health and the family. The Report, which contradicts Recommendation no.1418/1999 of the Council of Europe, contrary to the legalization of euthanasia, will be examined by the Commission at its forthcoming meetings; the first is scheduled for 25 March 2004. Human rights in the world: 18 February has been fixed as the deadline for the presentation of amendments to the annual report “on human rights in the world in 2003 and on the policy of the European Union on the matter” (2003/2005), currently under examination by the Commission for foreign affairs, human rights, common security and defence policy of the European Parliament. The text contains some provisions on “reproductive health” that are controversial, since they are aimed, inter alia, at facilitating access to every form of contraception and the use of modern methods of family planning.
