The Assembly,
Having regard to Article 36 (c) of the Statute of the Council of Europe, Articles 6 and 7 of the Staff Rules, Recommendation 49 of the Assembly, paragraph 3 of Resolution (53) 33 of the Committee of Ministers and paragraphs 116 and 117 of the 6th Statutory Report of the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly, relating to the appointment and promotion of Council of Europe staff ;
Considering that doubts have arisen with regard to the interpretation and comparative legal force of these texts, and that it is therefore in the interest of the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly, as well as of the staff of the Council of Europe, that the principles governing the appointment and promotion of staff be stated unequivocally ;
Considering that this could best be achieved by amending Articles 6 and 7 of the Staff Rules,
Recommends to the Committee of Ministers that they should amend Articles 6 and 7 of the Staff Rules of the Council of Europe as follows :
Appointments to all posts on the staff, other than those of the Deputy Secretary-General and the Clerk of the Assembly, shall be made by the Secretary-General.
The Secretary-General shall fill vacancies either by engaging new staff from outside the Council of Europe or by promoting persons already employed by the Council of Europe.
Both in making new appointments and in promotions the Secretary-General shall as far as possible be guided by the following considerations :
He shall regard as of first importance the need to have the services of persons of the highest ability and integrity.
Where candidates are equally qualified he shall preferably fill posts by promotion.
In addition, he shall secure that posts are distributed fairly among nationals of member States of the Council of Europe.
Finally, he shall bear in mind the desirability of introducing fresh talent from time to time.
He may recruit the subordinate staff from persons available locally at the seat of the Council.