Establishment of a European Refugees Office

Conclusions | Doc. 133 | 26 August 1950

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

See Doc. 102 , Report. 1950 - 2nd Session - First part

1 Resolution adopted 26th August 1930, at the conclusion of the Debate on the Report from the Special Committee on Refugee Questions

The Assembly,

Anxious to give proof of European solidarity towards refugees of all categories in Europe,

Considering that only a European Organisation can give greatest effect to the measures to be taken within the European framework for the alleviation of the sufferings of refugees,

Decides to instruct the special Committee on Refugees to study the legal issues involved in the problem and to draw up a draft Convention relative to the establishment of a European Refugees Office which will be empowered to do all that is necessary on behalf of all refugees, whatever their nationality, religion or race. The special duties of this organisation will be :

1 To make all necessary arrangements for the legal and political protection of refugees, possibly by aiding the Member Governments of the Council of Europe to draw up international agreements in this field;

2 To determine, in collaboration with other international organisations, in particular the 0. E. E. C, and if necessary with the Governments concerned, the main lines of a policy of re-classification and full employment of refugees, paying due regard le all aspects of the problem;

3 To work out, in collaboration with the Governments concerned and the competent international organisations, practical plans for such re-classification in Europe and in countries overseas, and to raise the funds necessary to finance these plans;

4 To establish contact with the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular the I. R. 0. and the High Commission for Refugees, so as to work out the ways in which co-operation may be achieved and to avoid any duplication of work.