The Partial Agreements are a particular form of cooperation, which allows a greater unity between certain Member States and between them and some non-members on specific issues.
From a statutory point of view, a Partial Agreement is an activity of the Council of Europe as well as other activities included in the two-year program, but the Partial Agreement has its own budget, powered only by the States Parties, and adopts working methods decided by the members themselves. With this instrument several important organisms have been created, such as in the development of democracy area and in the fight against Corruption (Greco Group, Venice Commission, North-South Centre).
Depending on the type of the participating States, the agreements are defined:
•Partial, if they involve only a few members of the Council of Europe;
•Partial enlarged, if also non-Member States of the CoE are among the participants;
•Enlarged, which include, in addition to all CoE member States, also non-member States.
On the basis of resolutions (93)28, (96)36 and (2010)2, to establish a Partial Agreement it is necessary:
an authorization of the Committee of Ministers, which sets the minimum number of Member States required for the creation of a new Partial Agreement, and verifies that they are equally divided on a geographical basis;
a resolution establishing the Partial Agreement, which includes the Statute and is adopted by States that wish to participate. After three years of “trial” the Agreement is finally created.
Each year, the Partial Agreement shall submit to the Committee of Ministers a report on its work, financing and results.
Italy participates in the following Partial Agreements:
Development Bank of the Council of Europe (CEB);
European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission);
European Pharmacopoeia (EDQM);
European Support Fund for the Co-Production and Distribution of Creative Cinematographic and Audiovisual Works (Eurimages);
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO);
Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs (Pompidou Group);
Cultural Routes;
European Audiovisual Observatory.