Monsieur le Président,
I have the honour to inform you that the Committee of Ministers has approved the text of a draft agreement governing relations between the Council of Europe and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Before concluding this agreement the Committee of Ministers would like to have the opinion of the Assembly.
The text of this document, together with an explanatory memorandum prepared by the Secretariat-General, is enclosed.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
Signed: A. H. LINCOLN.
Deputy Secretary-General.
Draft Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Explanatory Memorandum by the Secretariat
In its Supplementary Report to the Consultative Assembly of 13th September, 1954 (Document 272) the Committee of Ministers informed the Assembly, in paragraph 93, as follows :
" In view of the interest of the Council in European agriculture, which has been manifested particularly in relation to the Conference on the Organisation, of Agricultural Markets, the Committee of Ministers has considered that it would be useful to develop closer relations with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The Committee has therefore instructed the Secretary-General to open negotiations with the Director-General of F. A. 0. for the conclusion of an agreement providing for collaboration between the two Organisations. This agreement should be drafted to take account of paragraphs 16-21 of the " Special Message ". Proposals in this sense have been transmitted to F. A. 0. whose reply is now awaited. "
In the intervening months the Director-General of F. A. 0. has indicated his readiness to conclude an agreement for collaboration with the Council of Europe and, as a result of consultations between the two Secretariats, a draft agreement has been prepared and submitted to the Committee of Ministers for approval. The Committee has approved it and decided to submit it to the Assembly for its opinion. The Committee of Ministers hopes that it may be possible for the Assembly to give its opinion during the first part of the Seventh Session in May. If this opinion is favourable, the draft Agreement will then be submitted to the Council of F. A. 0. in June, 1955 and can then enter into force, subject to subsequent ratification by the Conference of F. A. 0., which will be meeting in November, 1955.
The reasons which led to the proposal for the conclusion of this Agreement are that arrangements have already heen made (either by formal agreements or by exchange of letters) to establish collaboration between the Council of Europe, on the one hand, and the United Nations and several of the Specialised Agencies (f. L. 0., UNESCO and W. H. 0.), on the other hand, fn view of the interest taken by the Council, and more particularly by the Assembly and its Special Committee on Agriculture, in the situation of European agriculture and in the work of the Conference on the Organisation of Agricultural Markets, which led to the creation of a Committee of Ministers of Agriculture within the framework of 0. E. E. C, it seemed desirable that the Council of Europe should be more fully informed about the work of F. A. 0. in relation to Europe and should be able to call on F. A, 0. for expert advice and assistance. This would correspond to the desire expressed by the Assembly " that it should be able to follow the work of the chief European or international organisations Note ", with which the Committee of Ministers expressed its agreement in stating that " the object of such agreements would be, as proposed by the Assembly in November, 1950 in Recommendation 55, to make available to the Council of Europe the knowledge and experience of other international organisations, to avoid duplication of work, to keep the Assembly informed of the activities of the other organisations and to utilise the consultative function of the Assembly to a greater extent than has hitherto been the case Note ...
As regards the text of the draft Agreement, it follows in its general lines the agreements already concluded with 1. L. 0. and UNESCO. Thus, it includes the usual provisions about exchange of information (Article 1), mutual consultation (Article 2), the exchange of observers (Article 3), the reference of a matter by one organisation to the other (Article 4), technical co-operation (Article 5) and administrative arrangements (Article 6). In addition, the third paragraph of the Preamble and the second paragraph of Article 2 are a reflection of the statement of policy on relations with other international organisations communicated by the Committee of Ministers to the Assembly in May, 1954 Note, the objective being " to make of the Council of Europe a framework for the elaboration of common solutions of European problems, to be sought and put into effect by the international organisation most appropriate in each case. "
The text of the draft Agreement with F. A. 0. is set out below. For purposes of comparison, the Agreements already concluded with I. L. 0. and UNESCO and the informal arrangements made by exchange of letters with the United Nations and W. H. 0. are reproduced as Appendices.
Draft Agreement bettveen the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Council of Europe
THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (hereinafter referred to as " FAO ")
and
THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (hereinafter referred to as " the Council ")
Considering that F. A. 0. has been established as a Specialised Agency of the United Nations to secure improvements in the efficiency of the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products, with a view to raising levels of nutrition and standards of living and thus to contribute toward an expanding world economy;
Considering that the Council is a regional organisation whose aim is to achieve a greater unity between its Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress ; that this aim is to be pursued through the organs of the Council by discussion of questions of common concern, and by agreements and common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters, and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms ;
Considering that the Council is thus qualified to deal with any problem in those fields, the solution of which might promote greater unity among its Members, and that it is therefore interested in studying, at the European level, matters within the competence of F. A. 0. if such studies would result in intergovernmental action which would not otherwise be possible;
Recognising their mutuality of interest and being desirous of co-ordinating their efforts with a view to pursuing their common aims along agreed lines within the framework of the United Nations' Charter, the Constitution of F. A. 0. and the Statute of the Council of Europe; which implies that they should keep each other informed of their programmes and activities, and avoid unnecessary duplication,
Have agreed as follows :
Article 1
Exchange of Information and Documents
1. Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary in certain cases for the safeguarding of confidential material, F. A. 0. and the Council will ensure prompt and full exchange of all information and documents concerning matters of common interest.
2. F. A. 0. and the Council will concert their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legal information and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information, with a view to reducing the burden on the Governments and other organisations from which such information is collected.
Article 2
Mutual Consultation
1. F. A. 0. and the Council will consult each other at all stages of the preparatory work and execution of projects of common interest, with a view to securing effective co-ordination between them; each organisation will consider any observations on such projects which may be conveyed to it by the other.
2. If the Council is interested in promoting at a European level projects within the competence of F. A. 0., it will first ascertain what action the latter has taken or is contemplating in the matter. The Council may subsequently request F. A. 0. to extend the activities in question, in which case the Council will utilise the procedure set out in Article 4 below. If F. A. 0. is unable or unwilling to comply with such a request, it is understood that the Council may itself deal with the matter. In either event, all other provisions of this Agreement will still apply.
Article 3
Reciprocal Representation
1. F. A. 0. will invite the Council to be represented at the sessions of the Conference and Council of F. A. 0., as well as any other conferences or meetings held under its auspices which consider matters in which the Council of Europe has an interest. The representatives of the Council of Europe may participate .without vote in the deliberations of these bodies and of their committees with respect to matters in which the Council of Europe is interested.
2. Whenever questions of common interest are under discussion representatives of F. A. 0. will be invited to attend meetings of committees of Governmental Experts convened by the Committee of Ministers of the Council and may also be invited to attend other meetings or conferences held by or under the auspices of the Council.
Article 4
Proposal of items for inclusion in the Agenda
1. Subject to such preliminary consultation as may be necessary, the Committee of Ministers of the Council may, on its own initiative or at the request of the Consultative Assembly, propose items for inclusion in the agenda of the Council of F. A. 0., or in the agenda of the F. A. 0. Conference.
2. Subject to such preliminary consultation as may be necessary, the Director-General of F. A. 0. may, on his own initiative or at the request of the F. A. 0. Council, propose to the Committee of Ministers items for discussion by the Committee or by the Consultative Assembly.
3. Each organisation will have recourse to the provisions of this article for the purpose of referring to the other matters which it considers can be more appropriately dealt with by that organisation.
Article 5
Technical Cooperation
In so far as their resources permit, and within their terms of reference and programmes, F. A. 0. and the Council will cooperate in studying technical questions applying to Europe and will assist each other in the implementation of the results of such studies. If any such cooperation involves extra expenditure, consultation will take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.
Article 6
Administrative Arrangements
The Director-General of F. A. 0. and the Secretary-General of the Council will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective cooperation and liaison between the Secretariats of the two organisations.
Article 7
Entry into Force and Duration
1. This Agreement will enter into force as soon as it has been approved by both the Council of F. A. 0. and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, but shall remain subject to subsequent confirmation by the Conference of F. A. 0.
2. Either of the Parties may denounce the Agreement by giving six months' notice to the other Party.
Whereas the International Labour Organisation, as a universal organisation attaches the greatest importance to the maintenance and advancement in the social and labour field of world standards based on the principles set forth in the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and the Declaration of Philadelphia, and, while co-operating with the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, remains outside political controversy between nations or groups of nations, and is at the disposal of all its member nations to co-operate with them either severally or through regional organisations of which they are members in implementing, in the light of the world standards evolved through the International Labour Organisation, the objectives for which the International Labour Organisation itself exists, and
Whereas the Council of Europe is a regional organisation the aim of which is to achieve a greater unity between its Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress, this aim being pursued through the organs of the Council by discussion of questions of common concern and by agreements and common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters, and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Therefore the International Labour Organisation and the Council of Europe, Wishing to co-ordinate their efforts to give effect, within the terms of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation, the Statute of the Council of Europe and other applicable instruments, to their respective principles and objectives, Desirous of avoiding unnecessary duplication and overlapping and of facilitating concentration of efforts with a view to securing the most effective use of the resources available to all international and regional organisations,
Have agreed upon the following :
The International Labour Organisation and the Council of Europe will seek the greatest possible co-operation to eliminate all unnecessary duplication of work; they will combine their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legislative information and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information with a view to reducing the burden on the governments and other organisations from which such information is collected.
The Council of Europe will discuss with the International Labour Organisation the most appropriate arrangements for co-operation between the International Labour Organisation and any European Specialised Authorities operating under the auspices of the Council of Europe with regard to matters in which the International Labour Organisation has an interest, and will facilitate the conclusion of any necessary supplementary arrangements for co-operation between the International Labour Organisation and such specialised authorities.
The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective collaboration and liaison between the staffs of the two organisations.
If compliance with a request for assistance made by either organisation to the other would involve substantial expenditure for the organisation complying with the request, consultation shall take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Council of Europe,
Considering that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation was set up for the gradual achievement, through the co-operation of the nations of the World in the educational, scientific and cultural fields, of the aims of international peace and the common prosperity of humanity for which the United Nations was established and its Charter provides;
Considering that the Council of Europe is a regional organisation whose aim is to achieve a greater unity between its Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress ; that this aim is to be pursued through the organs of the Council by discussion of questions of common concern, and by agreements and common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters, and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Considering that the Council of Europe is called upon to undertake certain tasks and activities of a regional nature in harmony with those pursued on a worldwide scale by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation;
Being desirous of co-ordinating their eiforts with a view to pursuing their common aims within the framework of the United Nations Charter, the Constitution of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Statute of the Council of Europe;
Having regard to the decision 32.2 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, on 10th July, 1951 and the decision adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 17th March, 1951,
Have agreed as follows :
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Council of Europe may, in appropriate cases, agree to convene under their auspices, according to arrangements to be made in each particular case, joint meetings of technical experts concerning matters of interest to both Organisations. The manner in which measures proposed by such joint meetings may he put into effect will be determined jointly between the two Organisations.
The Council of Europe may ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for its assistance in the technical study of educational, scientific or cultural matters.
Any request to this effect submitted by the Council of Europe will be examined by the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which, within the framework of the programmes adopted or work authorised by the General Conference, will make every effort to give appropriate assistance in such a manner and along such lines as may be agreed upon by the two Organisations.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Council of Europe will concert their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legal information and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information, with a view to reducing the burden on the governments and other organisations from which such information is collected.
The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective co-operation and liaison between the Secretariats of the two Organisations.
Strasbourg, 15th December, 1951
Sir,
According to Article 1 of the Statute :
It is plain that in order to give effect to these provisions and in particular paragraph (c), the Council of Europe has a duty to co-ordinate its work with that of the international organisations concerned, and in particular with the United Nations.
The organs of the Council of Europe have in the event been led to consult studies already made by other international organisations or to call on their experience and services. This has resulted in a de facto form of co-operation for which it seems desirable to lay down a more formal method of procedure.
In the course of its Seventh Session on 17th March, 1951, the Committee of Ministers instructed me to establish contact with certain of these organisations, particularly the United Nations in order to draw up agreements for co-operation with them.
The scope of the Council of Europe, as defined in Article 1 of the Statute, is indeed such as to make it particularly valuable for the accomplishment of its mission that it be acquainted with the work carried out by the United Nations in the economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative fields, as well as those of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Both the Consultative Assembly and its Committees and the Committee of Ministers and its Committees of Experts would bene fit from receiving exact information of these activities from the Secretariat-General. This aim might be achieved by an exchange between the two organisations of all documents likely to he of mutual interest, by consultation between them whenever it were felt necessary, and by arranging for observers from the Secretariats-General to attend such meetings of either organisations as arc of interest to the other.
I have the honour to inform you that, for my part, in order to facilitate such co-operation with the Secretariat-General of the United Nations, I am prepared to make the following arrangements :
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will transmit to the Secretariat-General of the United Nations, subject to any measures which might be necessary to safeguard the confidential nature of certain documents, all publications and documents relating to its activities on subjects of interest to the United Nations. This exchange of documents will be supplemented, if thought necessary, by periodical contacts between members of the two Secretariats-General for the purpose of consultation as regards projects or activities of common interest.
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will take part in any consultations which may be deemed necessary at all stages of the preparatory work and the execution of programmes being carried out by the two Organisations. The Secretariat- General will, in particular, submit to the Committee of' Ministers those suggestions which may be transmitted to it for that purpose by the Secretariat-General of the United Nations.
Consultations will take place with a view to arranging for attendance of the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations at sessions of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe and meetings of committees which may be convened to study questions of interest to the United Nations. When appropriate, the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations will also be invited to attend meetings of committees of governmental experts convened by the Committee of Ministers.
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will afford to the Secretariat-General of the United Nations any technical co-operation which may be asked of it for the purpose of studying questions of common interest and the execution of certain projects.
I take leave to hope that these measures may contribute to the establishement between the Council of Europe and the United Nations of the means of profitable collaboration, and that it may, be possible for you to reinforce them by granting similar facilities to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
J.-C. PARIS
Secretary- General
Monsieur Trygve Lie
Secretary-General of the United Nations
PARIS
UNITED NATIONS
SG 324/080
Paris, 15th December, 1951
Sir,
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 15 December, 1951 in which you have suggested ways and means of establishing working relationships between the Secretariat of the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations.
I fully agree with you that it would be most valuable for the Secretariat of each Organisation to be acquainted with the work carried out by the other especially in the economic and social fields, and that this aim might be achieved by an exchange between the two organisations of all documents likely to be of mutual interest, by consultation between them whenever it were felt necessary, and by arranging for observers from the Secretariats-General to attend such meetings of either Organisation as are of interest to the other.
The proposals contained in your letter for the establishment of working relationships with the United Nations Secretariat are acceptable to me, and I shall make reciprocal arrangements in regard to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe.
Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Signed : THYGVE LIE
Secretary-General
Mr. J.-C. Paris
Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
STRASBOURG
9th September, 1952
Sir,
According to Article 1 of the Statute :
It is plain that in order to give effect to these provisions and in particular paragraph (c), the Council of Europe has a duty to co-ordinate its work with that of the international organisations concerned, including the World Health Organisation.
In the course of its Seventh Session on 17th March, 1951, the Committee of Ministers instructed me to establish contact with certain of these organisations, particularly the United Nations, in order to draw up agreements for co-operation with them. An agreement with the United Nations was concluded by an exchange of letters between the two Secretaries-General on 15th December, 1951. Subsequently, I have been authorised to open negotiations with the World Health Organisation.
The scope of the Council of Europe, as defined in Article 1 of the Statute, is such as to make it useful for the accomplishment of its mission that it be acquainted with the work carried out by the World Health Organisation and, more particularly, by its Regional Office for Europe. This aim might be achieved by an exchange between the two organisations of documents likely to be of mutual interest, by consultation between them whenever it were felt necessary, and by arranging for observers from the Secretariats to attend such meetings of cither organisation as are of interest to the other.
I have the honour to inform you that, for my part, in order to facilitate such co-operation with the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation, I am prepared to make the following arrangements :
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will transmit to the Regional Office for Europe, subject to any measures which might be necessary to safeguard the confidential nature of certain documents, all publications and documents relating to its activities on subjects of interest to the World Health Organisation. This exchange of documents will be supplemented, if thought necessary, by periodical contacts between members of the Secretarial-General of the Council of Europe and of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation for the purpose of consultation as regards projects or activities of common interest, in addition, the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will make available to the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation any statistical and legislative information in its possession on subjects of interest to the World Health Organisation.
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will lake part in any consultations which may be deemed necessary at all stages of The preparatory work and the execution of programmes being carried out by either organisation. The Secretariat-General will in particular submit to the Committee of Ministers those suggestions which may be transmitted to it for that purpose by the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation.
Consultations will take place with a view to arranging for attendance of the representative of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation at sessions of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe and meetings of committees which may be convened to study questions of interest to the World Health Organisation. When appropriate, the representative of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation will also be invited to attend meetings of committees of governmental experts convened by the Committee of Ministers.
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe will afford to the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation any technical co-operation which may be asked of it for the purpose of studying questions of common interest and the execution of certain projects. If any such technical co-operation would involve substantial expenditure, consultation will take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.
I take leave to hope that these measures may contribute to the establishment between the Council of Europe and the World Health Organisation of the means of profitable collaboration and that it may be possible for you to reinforce them by granting similar facilities to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
J.-C. PARIS
Secretary- General.
12th September, 1952
Sir,
I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your "letter of 9th September, 1952 in which you have suggested ways and means of establishing working relationships between the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation.
I fully agree with you that it would be most valuable for each Organisation to be acquainted with the work carried out by the other in matters of common interest, and that this aim might be achieved by an exchange between the two Organisations of documents likely to be of mutual interest, by consultation between them whenever it were felt necessary and by arranging for observers from the Secretariats to attend such meetings of either Organisation as are of interest to the other.
The proposals contained in your letter for the establishment of working relationships with the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation are acceptable to me and I shall make in regard to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe the following arrangements :
The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation will transmit to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe, subject to any measures which might be necessary to safeguard the confidential nature of certain documents, all publications and documents relating to its activities on subjects of interest to the Council of Europe. This exchange of documents will be supplemented, if thought necessary, by periodical contacts between members of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe and of tho Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation for the purpose of consultation as regards projects or activities of common interest. In addition, the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation will make available to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe any statistical and legislative information in its possession on subjects of interest to the Council of Europe.
The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation will take part in any consultations which may be deemed necessary at all stages of the preparatory work and the execution of programmes being carried out by either organisation. The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation, in particular, will submit to the Regional Committee of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation those suggestions which may bo transmitted to it for that purpose by the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe.
Consultations will take place with a view to arranging for attendance of the representative of the Council of Europe at sessions of the Regional Committee of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation and meetings of committees which may be convened to study questions of interest to the Council of Europe. When appropriate, the representative of the Council of Europe will be invited lo attend technical conferences convened by the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation and he may also be invited to attend other meetings convened under the auspices of World Health Organisation.
The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organisation will afford to the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe any-technical co-operation which may be asked of it for the purpose of studying questions of common interest and the execution of certain projects. If any such technical co-operation would involve substantial expenditure, consultation will take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.
Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Norman D. BEGG, M.D.
Director