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European Conference on the Organisation of Agricultural Markets

Report | Doc. 301 | 17 September 1954

Committee
(Former) Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Rapporteur :
Mr Pierre de FÉLICE, France
Thesaurus

A Explanatory Memorandum

1

During the first part of the Sixth Ordinary Session, the Assembly referred to the Special Committee on Agriculture the draft Resolution contained in the Report, Doc. 256, on the organisation of European agricultural markets,

Following the European Conference on the organisation of agricultural markets, held in Paris from 6th to 10th July, 1954, and the Resolution adopted by that Conference, the Special Committee on Agriculture has, with one abstention, unanimously adopted the following draft Recommendation :

B Draft Recommendation

The Assembly has duly noted the final Resolution of the European Conference on the organisation of agricultural markets held in Paris from 6th to 10th July, 1954.

The Assembly would emphasise that, broadly speaking, this Resolution embodies the general principles which it has advanced in the past for the progressive organisation of the agricultural markets.

The Assembly confirms the urgent need, in view of the present trend of world markets, to establish a European organisation capable of solving by joint action the production, consumption and marketing problems which now confront the agricultural economies of the countries of our Continent.

I t welcomes the statement made in the Resolution of die Conference that " countries desirous, within the framework prescribed by the Conference, of becoming linked by individual agreements concerning agricultural produce and foodstuffs must be free to define their methods of co-operation " and considers that the pro-. gressive extension of such agreements may gradually lead to the desired goal.

The Assembly also notes — and with the keenest satisfaction — that the Resolution is not confined to pioiis hopes, but that the decision has been taken to put into effect a coherent programme and apply measures based thereon, and that a new organisation is now being set up in the form of a Ministerial Committee for Aigriculture and Food, with a Committee of Deputies, to be equipped with an effective secretariat possessing the necessary qualifications ;

Therefore considers it essential that, for the successful performance of its appointed task, the new organisation should be given the widest facilities and possess real powers within its field of competence ;

Emphasises the need for the close association of the Council of Europe with the work of the proposed Committee and Secretariat and endorses the declaration at the Conference made by the representatives of the Consultative Assembly, of which the Conference took due note ; and

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers

1. implement the Resolntion of the European Conference as soon as possible.
2. apply the suggestions of this Resolution in the most liberal spirit and, in particular, authorise the Committee of Ministers of Agriculture, in the framework of O.E.E.C. and within the limits of its competence, to take all steps necessitated by the situation in the member countries ;
3. accord the proposed Committee of Ministers of Agriculture, Committee of Deputies and secretariat a status in keeping with the importance of agriculture in the European economy ;
4. take all appropriate steps to enable a delegation of Representatives appointed by the Consultative Assembly to attend sessions of the Committee of Ministers of Agriculture or of their Deputies in an advisory capacity.