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Security and co-operation in Europe

Recommendation 1158 (1991)

Author(s):
Parliamentary Assembly
Origin
See Doc. 6464, report of the Political Affairs Committee, Rapporteur : Mr Schieder. Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 28 June 1991.
Thesaurus
1. The Assembly recalls its debate hosted by the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki on 25 June 1991 as well as the resolution on security and co-operation in Europe adopted in Strasbourg on 27 September 1990 by representatives of thirty-three European and North American parliaments, calling for :
1.1 continuous parliamentary involvement in the CSCE process ;
1.2 full account to be taken of existing European and Atlantic organisations
1.3 the creation of new institutions only where necessary.
2. It considers that the Paris Charter for a New Europe, adopted by heads of state and government of CSCE participating countries in Paris on 21 November 1990, and the subsequent meeting of Foreign Ministers in Berlin on 19 and 20 June 1991 correspond very largely with the wishes expressed in that resolution
3. The Assembly notes that the new system of co-operation in the CSCE, to which Albania has just been welcomed as the thirty-fifth member, remains the widest forum where questions of common interest concerning stability and security in Europe can be discussed with the United States of America and Canada.
4. It reaffirms the pan-European vocation of the Council of Europe which, thanks to its progressive enlargement and to the special guest status instituted by the Parliamentary Assembly, brings together almost all the European countries.
5. It further underlines the unique synthesis achieved in this Organisation between, on the one hand, the essential commitment to pluralist democracy, respect for social and human rights and the principles of the rule of law and, on the other hand, the flexibility of its structures and working methods, and the wide range of its activities.
6. It also considers that this combination gives member governments the possibility to adapt the Council of Europe to the present needs, global as well as specific, of European co-operation, thus avoiding the difficulties and costs linked to the creation of any new institutions.
7. Where the parliamentary dimension of the CSCE is concerned, the Assembly notes with satisfaction that the resolution adopted by the parliamentary delegations in Madrid on 3 April 1991 (and welcomed by the ministers in Berlin on 20 June) stressed, while deciding to set up a CSCE parliamentary assembly to meet once a year, ‘‘willingness to use the resources of other European parliamentary institutions'', of which the first to be mentioned is that of the Council of Europe. The Assembly also welcomes the rejection of the ‘‘consensus principle'' where the CSCE Assembly is concernedWhere the parliamentary dimension of the CSCE is concerned, the Assembly notes with satisfaction that the resolution adopted by the parliamentary delegations in Madrid on 3 April 1991 (and welcomed by the ministers in Berlin on 20 June) stressed, while deciding to set up a CSCE parliamentary assembly to meet once a year, ‘‘willingness to use the resources of other European parliamentary institutions'', of which the first to be mentioned is that of the Council of Europe. The Assembly also welcomes the rejection of the ‘‘consensus principle'' where the CSCE Assembly is concerned
8. The Assembly warmly welcomes, in this connection, the adoption by thirty-five ministers in Berlin of a crisis intervention mechanism, under whose provisions emergency meetings can be convened at the request of any thirteen participant states, in the absence of consensus. This decision to some extent complements the results of the meeting on the peaceful settlement of disputes (Valletta, 15 January8 February 1991) which, less than two months after the signature of the Paris Charter, sought to satisfy that document's proclaimed ambition regarding a mechanism for ‘‘mandatory third-party involvement'' in the settlement of disputes.
9. The Assembly deplores the tragic events in Yugoslavia and condemns all use of force following the unilateral declarations of independence by the Republics of Croatia and Slovenia. It calls for the immediate cessation of all military action, urges the resumption of genuine negotiations and requests European mediation to find a peaceful solution acceptable to all sides in the conflict.
10. The Assembly welcomes the decision taken in Paris and Berlin by the newly institutionalised CSCE to invite the Council of Europe to contribute for the first time to expert meetings, in 1991, in :
Cracow (the cultural heritage, 28 May - 7 June) ;
Geneva (national minorities, 1 - 19 July)
Moscow (the human dimension, 10 September - 4 October) ;
Oslo (democratic institutions, 4 - 15 November).
11. With regard to Cracow :
11.1 The Assembly welcomes the explicit recognition, for the first time, of the Council of Europe's special pan-European competence in this field, which includes the important field of youth co-operation. It also welcomes the fact that the Assembly's contribution to European cultural co-operation was included in the formal document presented by the Secretary General ;
11.2 It calls upon the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General to ensure that the passage in the Cracow concluding document (‘‘agree to consider appropriate ways in which they might make use of the Council of Europe ... in this area'') is translated into concrete activities implementing the projects proposed, and welcomes the fact that the CSCE does not itself propose to institute new structures ;
11.3 It calls upon the Committee of Ministers to study ways of including the United States and Canada in certain activities undertaken by the Council of Europe in the cultural field.
12. With regard to Geneva :
12.1 The Assembly calls upon the Committee of Ministers, and particularly its chairmanship (which was given a special role in the CSCE context in the political declaration and resolution adopted on the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe, 5 May 1989), to ensure that the work of the Assembly on the subject of minorities and particularly its Recommendation 1134 (1990) are taken into account. This recommendation expresses clear support for drawing up a binding legal instrument within the Council of Europe context, leaving it to the Committee of Ministers to decide whether this should take the form of a convention or an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights ;
12.2 The Assembly also recalls its full support for the initiative of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe in favour of a European charter for regional and minority languages, which should also be drawn to the attention of the experts in Geneva. The latter should also be made aware of the Assembly's support for the proposal contained in Resolution 224, adopted in March 1991 by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, proposing a ‘‘partial agreement'' between Council of Europe member states to set up a special forum for European regions which have legislative powers.
13. With regard to Moscow
13.1 The Assembly recalls the decision enshrined in the Paris Charter, in the context of the Vienna human dimension mechanism, for individuals to be involved in the protection of their rights, as well as the charter's welcome for the moves of several of the CSCE's participating states ‘‘to join the Council of Europe and accede to its European Convention on Human Rights'' ;
13.2 The Assembly therefore calls upon the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General to ensure at Moscow that, as regards individual complaints, specific linkage between the future CSCE mechanism and the European Convention on Human Rights, ensuring the latter's precedence, should be established as a safeguard against the erosion of standards of human rights protection in Europe ;
13.3 The Assembly looks forward to holding the regular meetings of its competent sub-committees in connection with the conference.
14. With regard to Oslo :
14.1 The Assembly calls upon the representatives of the Council of Europe at the seminar in question to ensure that all participants appreciate that the raison d'être of the Council of Europe, and its Assembly in particular, has, for more than forty years, been the exertion of constant pressure on its own members to ensure the maintenance of high democratic standards (even forcing withdrawal or suspension in cases of lapses). Developments since 1989 have prompted a special effort, in parallel with the intergovernmental Demosthenes programme, in favour of practical help in the democratic apprenticeship of the reforming countries, symbolised by the introduction of ‘‘special guest status'', destined precisely for the parliaments of countries which respect the Helsinki principles, without having yet achieved the standards necessary for full membership ;
14.2 The Assembly therefore seeks the support of the Committee of Ministers in ensuring that the voice of parliamentarians, and not only officials and academics, is heard.
15. With regard to current instability in the Mediterranean and Middle East region, and current discussions on a possible ‘‘Conference on Security and Co-operation in the Mediterranean'', as proposed by four Council of Europe Mediterranean states, the Assembly intends to contribute fully to the reflection which the Committee of Ministers decided to launch at its 88th Session (Strasbourg, 25 April 1991).
16. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
16.1 ensure that the new CSCE emergency mechanism is immediately invoked so that the solution to Yugoslavia's constitutional crisis is sought through dialogue and genuine negotiation, putting an end to all military operations ;
16.2 promote, in line with Recommendation 1139 (1991) adopted by the Assembly, a coherent European institutional order, making full use of existing organisations and only having recourse to the creation of new institutions when strictly necessary ;
16.3 negotiate with the CSCE bodies the appropriate institutional and working links, which should go beyond mere invitations to contribute to follow-up meetings (which have provided excellent publicity for the Council of Europe's work) in fields in which it has accumulated significant experience and results, for example in protecting Europe's environment and cultural identity, and in studying the essential link between democracy and social protection in a market economy ;
16.4 encourage member governments to ensure that the capabilities and potential of the Council of Europe, described among others by President Václav Havel as a European confederation in embryo, are fully exploited to enable the Organisation to integrate new member states in optimum conditions and thus fulfil its task of unifying the European continent.