Economic development of Southern Europe

Recommendation 91 (1955)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(see Doc. 462, draft Recommendation of the Committee on Economic Questions). This Recommendation was adopted by the Assembly at its 26th Sitting, on 26th October, 1955

The Assembly,

Noting the provisions of Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe;

Noting the suggestion made to it in the Special Message (paragraph 28) of the Committee of Ministers on 20th May, 1954 (Doc. 238) and recalling Order 57 adopted by the Consultative Assembly on 29th May, 1954, directing the Committee on Economic Questions to study ways and means of furthering the economic development of Greece, Italy and Turkey;

Noting the Ten-year Italian Economic Development Plan prepared by the Italian Government;

Noting the Resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the O. E. E. C. of 14th January, 1955 and of 10th June, 1955 concerning the Italian Plan;

Noting the views of the Working Party set up by the Committee on Economic Questions on the basis of Mr. MacBride's Report dated 15th October, 1955 (Doc. 428);

Taking into account the fact that, in the case of Italy, the Italian Economic Development Programme has reached a stage at which its implementation can be undertaken;

Awaiting the completion of comprehensive plans for the economic development of Greece and Turkey, and their examination by the O. E. E. C;

Having noted particularly the declared intention of members of the German Bundestag to table a motion to apply counterpart funds derived from Marshall Aid to assist in the development of the countries under review,

Regards it as being essential to the welfare of Europe to ensure that every possible step be taken to secure the improvement of economic conditions in Southern Europe;

Endorses in full the decision of the Council of Ministers of the O. E. E. C. of 10th June, 1955 concerning the Italian Plan;

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers that it should use its best endeavours to focus, again, the attention of the Governments of the Member States upon the recommendation embodied in the said Resolution of the Council of the O. E. E. C. and should request the Governments of the Member States to indicate as soon as possible the manner and the degree to which each of them can extend the aid requested in the said Resolution and otherwise assist Italy in the implementation of its Economic Development Programme;

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers :

a that it should invite the Governments of Greece and Turkey to submit programmes of economic development to the O. E. E. C. for urgent study and action;

b that it should invite Member Governments before framing their programmes of technical assistance to under-developed countries - be they programmes of a national character or international programmes in which Member Governments participate - to consult with the Governments of Greece and Turkey and to give high priority to suitable projects requiring technical assistance in these countries; and

c that it should invite Member Governments to promote measures suitable for increasing trade between Greece and Turkey, on the one hand, and other Member States of the Council of Europe, on the other hand, with a particular view to stimulating exports from Greece and Turkey;

Requests members of the Assembly to call attention in their national parliaments to the present Recommendation.