Political co-operation between the states of Western Europe
Recommendation 726
(1974)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 24 January 1974 (24th Sitting) (see Doc. 3387, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 24 January 1974 (24th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Having regard to the report of its Political Affairs Committee on political cooperation between the states of Western Europe (
Doc. 3387) ;
3. Reiterating its faith in the values enshrined by the Statute and in the role of the Council of Europe as the only political organisation that brings together the democratic states of Europe ;
4. Considering that according to Article 1 of the Statute, the Council of Europe's aim is to be pursued through the organs of the Council of Europe by discussion of questions of common concern ;
5. Recalling its repeated invitations to the Committee of Ministers and governments of the seventeen member states to establish effective political cooperation on problems of concern to Europe as a whole ;
6. Recalling its resolutions on relations between Western Europe and the United States (524 (1973)), and the state of current East-West and transatlantic negotiations (556 (1973), and
Recommendation 692 (1973) on East-West relations in Europe ;
7. Regretting the failure of the Committee of Ministers so far to provide satisfactory follow-up to the Assembly's initiatives, and considering that insufficient use has been made by the seventeen member states of the framework for political consultation and cooperation provided by the Council of Europe institutions ;
8. Welcoming in this connection the intention of the Nine "to strengthen their links, in the present institutional framework, with the member countries of the Council of Europe" ;
9. More convinced than ever, following Europe's shortcomings and inadequacies in recent crises, that political cooperation between member states within the Council of Europe needs to be reinforced,
10. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
a invite the member governments to give an undertaking that they will make use of the Council of Europe and of its institutions for the purpose of consultations and cooperation on questions of common concern ;
b take appropriate measures to prevent the political dismembering of Europe by devising effective procedures enabling the Council of Europe to function as a liaison instrument between the member states of the Community and the other member states of the Council of Europe ;
c give full effect to the arrangement concluded on 18 August 1959 between the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Economic Community ;
d enhance the role and the function of the Joint Committee so that meetings can be called (at ministerial level) at the earliest possible juncture if a crisis occurs.
