Reply to the Second Progress Report of UNESCO
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- (see Doc. 366, Report of UNESCO, and Doc. 417, draft Resolution of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions). This Report was adopted by the Assembly at its 12th Sitting, on the 14th October, 1955
1. The Assembly wishes to thank UNESCO for its Second Report which it has just presented and to proffer its warmest congratulations on the extensive work it has accomplished in Europe this year.
2. The Assembly feels particularly interested in this work in view of the fact that it has already expressed its intention of considerably developing its cultural activities and its collaboration with other international organisations active in the European cultural field.
3. The Assembly has, indeed, stated its determination to introduce a new phase in the cultural activities of the Council of Europe. The broad lines of the policy which must be followed during this new phase were laid down at the Special Meeting held at Strasbourg from 4th to 6th April, 1955 and the Assembly's cultural debate held on 7th July, 1955.
4. The Council of Europe was particularly glad to have the collaboration of UNESCO in the first case and to welcome an important UNESCO delegation headed by the Deputy Director-General, M. Maheu. The contribution of the members of this Delegation to the work of the various study groups was an invaluable help.
5. The precise aim of the Special Meeting was the co-ordination, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, of the activities of cultural organisations both governmental and non-governmental, in order to achieve concerted action in the cultural field. The Special Meeting concluded that in order to achieve this aim it was necessary :
a On the inter-governmental plane, to co-ordinate the cultural programmes of the Council of Europe and inter-governmental organisations such as UNESCO, the Western European Union, etc. ;
b In the field of non-governmental organisations, to secure action in respect of information, research and implementation of joint decisions. It was suggested, in this connection, that there should be convened a conference of such non-governmental organisations as might contribute to the implementation of the cultural programme of the Council of Europe.
6. During the cultural debate which followed, the Assembly voted in favour of the conclusions of the Special Meeting.
7. The Assembly is glad to note that the principle of co-operation on the inter-governmental level which it has adopted, and which has the effect of strengthening the cultural ties among member countries, in co-operation with UNESCO, is fully in accordance with the decision of the UNESCO delegations assembled at Montevideo who were in favour of encouraging important long-term projects where groups of countries wished to combine for the purpose of carrying out such projects in order to solve common problems in the fields of education, science and culture.
8. The Assembly proposes that the examination of the periodical general reports from the Director-General on the work of UNESCO should be included in the agenda of its competent bodies. It can then be kept fully informed of the activities of this organisation which are likely to interest the Council of Europe and on which it may wish to take action. It suggests that the delegations of the Member States to the UNESCO General Conferences should include at least one person who regularly takes part in the work of the Committee of Cultural Experts and of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions of the Council of Europe.
9. The Assembly was glad that at most of the functions organised by the Council of Europe UNESCO arranged to be represented by observers, whose experience was invaluable.
10. The Assembly considers it very important that joint meetings of the Secretariats should be held on the lines of the meeting which took place this year. Through such meetings it will be possible to co-ordinate activities which can be initiated and continued in common. The Assembly hopes that further meetings will be held as often as seems necessary.
11. The Assembly thanks UNESCO for the interest which that Organisation has shown in the work it has undertaken in the cultural field.
12. Finally, the Assembly begs leave to make a suggestion to UNESCO concerning the contents of the report addressed to it every year by the Director-General under the agreement concluded between the two Organisations. The Assembly wishes to help UNESCO in the most effective manner to realise its objectives. If the Director-General would indicate in his Annual Report those questions where, in his opinion, the aid and support of the Council of Europe might be particularly useful to him, the Assembly is prepared to undertake corresponding action, either by enlisting opinion in favour of the proposals indicated, or by taking appropriate steps with the Governments.
