1. In reply to the
question put by the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Committee of
Ministers stresses that the purpose of the recommendations it addresses
to member States is to harmonise, on the basis of the Council of
Europe’s common values, European policies on important issues of
interest to all member States. It nevertheless points out that the
recommendations it addresses to member States are non-binding.
2. Recommendation Rec(2000)13, to which the Honourable Parliamentarian refers, applies
this approach to the adoption of a European policy on access to
archives, based upon common principles consistent with democratic
values. It accordingly recommends that the governments of member
States adopt “legislation on access to archives inspired by the
principles outlined in this recommendation, or […] bring existing
legislation into line with the same principles”.
3. The Committee of Ministers is fully aware of the importance
of returning cultural property to other European countries and of
access to archives and consequently calls on any member States which
have not yet done so to implement the principles set out in Recommendation Rec(2000)13.
It also asks the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape
(CDCPP) to consider conducting a study of the implementation of
the recommendation.
