The Assembly
The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers, on behalf of the Council of Europe, adopt the principles set out above.
(i) The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers examine with the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Powers the methods whereby the social and cultural organisations of the Treaty might be incorporated in the Council of Europe and the activities of these organisations continued within the framework which the Council supplies,
and expresses the hope that this transfer be accomplished within a reasonable period
(ii) The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers examine with the Council of the 0. E. E. C. the methods whereby close liaison at all levels might be established, as soon as possible and in any case before the end of the European Recovery Programme, between the 0. E. E. C. and the Council of Europe,
Expresses the belief that this close liaison might take the form of a single " Council ", which would replace the present Council of the 0. E. E. C. and Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and would assume the functions and powers of both although each of the parent Organisations would retain its own structure and personality,
Asks to be kept informed of the development of negotiations.
(iii). The Assembly
Considering that it is desirable that close co-operation be continuously maintained between the democratic nations of Europe and the countries of North America,
Considering that the only way of consolidating such co-operation is through closer union between European nations,
Declares that to this end existing European organisations must be maintained and strengthened,
Considers that a close liaison must also be established between these organisations and the nations of North America,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers adopt this declaration on behalf of Member States,
Requests that it be kept regularly informed of the progress made towards such co-operation with the nations of North America, and of the way in which it is being achieved.
(iv) The Assembly
Recommends to the Committee of Ministers that before each Session or Plenary Conference of certain international organisations whose activities are especially related to the aims of the Council of Europe,
Preparatory Conferences be organised within the framework of the Council of Europe, with a view to holding prior discussions on questions contained in the Agenda of these meetings,
Considers that this method of procedure should apply from now on to the Plenary Conferences of the U. N. E. S. C. 0., to the International Labour Conferences and to the Annual Session, of the Economic Commission for Europe.
(v) The Assembly
Considering that the conclusion of " partial agreements " between certain democratic European nations may represent a practical form of procedure which should be encouraged, provided that these agreements are not likely to hinder or retard the union of all European States,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should consider and, if practicable, formulate proposals as to the circumstances and methods whereby such agreements as are of major importance and concern European unity may be reported to the appropriate European intergovernmental organisations, and especially to the Council of Europe, so as to enable all Members
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should consider and, if practicable, formulate proposals as to the circumstances and methods whereby such agreements as are of major importance and concern European unity may be reported to the appropriate European intergovernmental organisations, and especially to the Council of Europe, so as to enable all Members to consider the practicability of adhering to such agreements and thereby widen the area of European co-operation,
Asks to be kept informed of the action taken on this Recommendation.
2. (i) The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers submit to it at each of its Sessions, at the same time as the Report it is required to furnish under the Statute, a Report on the steps taken towards the realisation of a closer union between Member States within the framework of other European intergovernmental organisations or of regional agreements concluded between certain Members,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers grant its present Chairman authority to transmit immediately to the organisations concerned, for their consideration, any Recommendations which the Assembly may draw up as a result of examining these Reports.
(ii) The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers refer to it requests for an opinion on those items on the Agenda of international organisations which in the opinion of the Committee fall particularly within the scope of the work already undertaken by the Assembly,
Requests that it be furnished with the appropriate supporting documents on each occasion so that its competent Committees may be in a position to give the opinion requested,
Recommends that this procedure be applied particularly in respect of the activities of the U. N. E. S. C. 0., the I. L. 0. and the Economic Commission for Europe.
3. The Assembly,
Anxious to hasten progress towards a closer union between the Members of the Council of Europe, in particular by strengthening the bonds between the Assembly and the Parliaments of Members, part in favour of such union and the social and economic progress of the peoples of Europe,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers by a majority of its members, invite Governments to submit to their Parliaments such Recommendations or draft Conventions as the Assembly may recommend for public debate and, in due course, for adoption by them.
4. The Assembly
Submits the following Recommendation to the Committee of Ministers :
That the Committee of Ministers recommend that each Member nominate a Minister, Secretary or Under-Secretary of State who, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, should be charged with the supervision of European Affairs.
The special task of the holder of this post should be :
to co-ordinate the activities of his Government in the field of European co-operation;
to ensure the diffusion of decisions or suggestions made by the various organs of the Council of Europe amongst members of Parliament and the public in the participating countries ;
to act, if necessary, and with the same terms of reference as deputy for the Minister for Foreign Affairs within the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
5. (i) The Assembly
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers add the following provisions to its Rules of Procedure :
Article 7 (a) : One or more members may vote in principle in favour of the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of an Agreement, and at the same time reserve the right, for reasons inspired by practical difficulties, not to apply it immediately, either in whole or in part.
In this case, members will apply the Agreement subject to the reservations made by each of them.
(ii) The Assembly
Considering that it is necessary that Article 15 of the Statute should be so amended that the conclusions of the Committee of Ministers may carry the weight of decisions reached by mutual agreement between Member States, and will be implemented by Member States,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take all necessary measures to this end.
6. The Assembly
Recommends that, in all eases where the Recommendations of the Consultative Assembly are not completely acceptable, the Committee of Ministers should refer such items back to the appropriate Assembly Committee for further consideration.
7, The Assembly
Recommends once again that the Committee of Ministers consider the following proposed Amendments to the Statute of the Council of Europe, originally adopted by the Committee on General Affairs during its First Session :
(i) Proposed amendment to Article 23.
The Consultative Assembly may discuss and make Recommendations upon any matter within the aim and scope of the Council of Europe as defined in Chapter I; it shall discuss and may make Recommendations upon any matter referred to it by the Committee of Ministers with a request for its opinioon.
(ii) Proposed amendment to Article 4.
After " may ", insert : " with the approval of the Consultative Assembly, such approval to be by a simple majority."
(iii) Proposed amendment to Article 5.
After " may ", insert : " with the approval of the Consultative Assembly, such approval to be by a simple majority."
8. (i) The Assembly
Submits the following Recommendation to the Committee of Ministers :
That the Committee of Ministers recommend that each Member State take appropriate action to ensure that its Representatives to the Consultative Assembly be elected by its Parliament, or according to a procedure fixed by the latter.
(ii) The Assembly
Recommends to the Committee of Ministers the following Amendment to the Statute of the Council of Europe :
Proposed amendment to Article 34.
Leave out Article 34 and insert the following-new Article :
" Th e Consultative Assembly may be convened in Extraordinary Session on the initiative of the Committee of Ministers or of the President of the Assembly at such time and place as are mutually agreed."
9. The Assembly,
Considering that it and its Committees must be able to call on the services of experts of the European intergovernmental organisations to help in the study of problems submitted to it,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite each of the Members to give the necessary instructions to their representatives in the European intergovernmental Organisations, so that these Organisations adopt resolutions by which the services of the experts of their Secretariats-General are placed at the disposal of the various organs of the Council of Europe.
10. The Assembly,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take all necessary steps to ensure that :