The Assembly,
Welcoming the establishment of a European Universities Committee following the first conference of University Rectors and Vice-Chancellors held at Cambridge in July 1955 ;
Recalling the terms of Opinion No. 14 in reply to the cultural chapter of the Special Message of the Committee of Ministers, adopted on 7th July 1955 ;
Having regard to the "Conclusions" of the Special Meeting on European universities held in Paris from 11th to 13th June 1956,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should :
(i) henceforth regard this Committee as an independent body of experts on all questions concerning the European universities of member countries ;
(ii) contribute, in agreement with W.E.U., to the maintenance of this Committee by the grant of the necessary credits, whilst respecting its autonomous character ;
(iii) by an agreement between the Secretaries-General of the Council of Europe and W.E.U. ensure the closest possible cooperation between the two organisations with regard to the Secretariat of this Committee ;
(iv) make the necessary arrangements for the next meeting of Rectors and Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of member countries to be organised, if the Committee so desires, under the auspices of the Council of Europe ;
(v) establish, if necessary by the grant of consultative status, links between the Council of Europe and the other international organisations concerned with university matters, with a view to the implementation of the measures advocated in the "Conclusions" of the Special Meeting ;
(vi) instruct the Secretary-General to act as liaison officer between university authorities and organisations, on the one hand, and national and international authorities, on the other, with a view to carrying out the programme of work set forth in these "Conclusions" ;
(vii) give the Secretariat the facilities for carrying out these new functions and, specifically, provide the necessary funds.