This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.
The undersigned members of the Parliamentary Assembly:
honor the Council of Europe
institutional structure, the “quadrilogue” guaranteeing the synergy
between the highest levels of decision-making, citizens and the
grass-roots of the society;
underline the role of the International Non-Governmental
Organisations (INGO) Conference in this structure as a voice of
people in Europe of all political outlooks and all social and cultural
origins;
are concerned about the Council of Europe planned financial
reform, proposed within the framework of 2011 budget, foreseeing
over a 50% reduction in the INGOs Conference budget (which represented 0,52%
of the 2010 global budget);
underline that such budgetary cuts would sacrifice the
Conference of INGOs activities and means of subsistence;
urge the Committee of Ministers to consider other means
of rationalisation and saving and to review the draft budget for
2011 accordingly.