Reply to the cultural section of the Fourth Report on the activities of the Brussels Treaty Organisation

Resolution 78 (1955)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(see Doc. 340, Report of the Brussels Treaty Organisation, and Doc. 416Doc. 416, draft Resolution of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions). This Resolution was adopted by the Assembly at its 12th Sitting, on 14th October, 1955

1. The Assembly has examined with keen interest the cultural section of the Report of the Brussels Treaty Organisation and has noted the various activities mentioned therein.

2. Among these the Assembly particularly welcomed the Cambridge Conference of Rectors and Vice-Chancellors of European Universities, an idea advocated by the Assembly itself in its Resolution 40 (1950). It wishes to thank the Brussels Treaty Organisation for inviting all member countries of the Council of Europe to participate in this Conference, which it regards as being of the greatest importance. For this reason the Assembly is glad to note that one of the recommendations adopted was that the Conference should hold periodical meetings.

3. In the general organisation of its activities, the Assembly will also take account of the other conclusions adopted by the Conference. It proposes to study them in the light of the results of the course organised under the aegis of the Council of Europe at the University of Saarbrücken, under the chairmanship of its Rector, M. Angelloz, on the theme : " The University and the European Idea."

4. The Assembly is grateful to the Brussels Treaty Organisation for having agreed to associate itself, through its Deputy Secretary-General, with the work of the Special Meeting held in Strasbourg from 4th April, 1955 for the purpose of formulating the principles to be applied during the new phase of cultural activity of the Council of Europe. These principles were adopted during the first part of the Seventh Session and form the subject of Opinion No. 14 (1955).

5. The Assembly considers that the main task during this new phase is to co-ordinate, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, the activities of other international organisations working in the European cultural field. The Assembly expresses its satisfaction at the results obtained by intergovernmental organisations grouping certain member countries of the Council of Europe, such as, for example, the former Brussels Treaty Organisation. It trusts that all member countries of the Council may be enabled to benefit from these achievements. It has always considered that all intergovernmental cultural activities should be developed on as large a scale as possible. It, accordingly, expresses the hope that, if the decision is taken to undertake some cultural activity in a more restricted framework, all member countries of the Council will be invited to take part.

6. With regard to the relations between Western European Union and the Council of Europe, the Assembly would recall the terms of its Resolution 67 (1954), which stipulates that : " The Agreement between the Secretary-General of the Brussels Treaty Organisation and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe shall continue to govern the mutual relations of the two Organisations, it being understood that the provisions contained in that Agreement in respect of the social and cultural activities of the Brussels Treaty Organisation shall apply pari passu to all future activities of Western European Union which fall equally within the competence of the Council of Europe. " The Assembly therefore expects to continue to receive the annual report provided for in this Agreement, as in the past.

7. The Assembly would recommend the Governments to appoint the same persons as experts to the respective organs of the two Organisations, this being a most valuable means of securing the closest possible co-operation between the Council of Europe and Western European Union in the cultural field.

8. The Assembly expresses the hope that Western European Union will remain wedded to the traditions of fruitful collaboration which characterised the relations between the Council of Europe and the Brussels Treaty Organisation.