General policy of the Council of Europe

Recommendation 488 (1967)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly Debates on 24th, 25th and 26th April 1967 (1st, 2nd and 3rd Sittings) (see Docs 2202Docs 2202 and 2203, report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 26th April 1967 (4th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Regretting the dividing factors that have weakened the influence of Europe as a whole and of the member countries in particular on world political developments;

2. Considering that there cannot be any contradiction between a policy of "detente" and a policy of closer co-operation in Western Europe;

3. Believing that the expansion of the European Communities by the inclusion of the United Kingdom and other countries is essential for strengthening Europeboth politically and economically;

4. Noting with concern that in spite of the progress made in Europe the technological disparity between Europe and the United States has not been reduced; but welcoming the initiatives taken by the British and Italian Governments to rectify this situation;

5. Convinced that it is worth while for the Governments to pay increasing attention to the present and future opportunities provided by the Council of Europe both for a policy of co-operation in Western Europe and for technical contacts with Eastern Europe;

6. Welcoming the forthcoming summit meeting of the Six and hoping that it will not only be a commemorative ceremony, but will lead to a renewed effort to achieve European political unity,

7. Recommends the Committee of Ministers:

a to concert the policies of member countries in the light of the principles of the Statute of the Council of Europe and to review all its possibilities in particular from the point of view of technological co-operation;

b to intensify its own political function so as to be able to review the present means of furthering a policy of progressive co-operation taking into account inter alia thepossibility of the accession to orassociation with the Treaties ofRome and Paris on the part of other European countries;

c to make use more fully than at present of the opportunities provided by the Council of Europe for the purpose of exploring ways and means of consolidating the present "detente", without prejudice tothe ever-increasing unity of Western Europe;

d to encourage member countries of the Council of Europe to develop technical contacts with the States of Eastern Europe.