Application by Hungary for membership of the Council of Europe
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 2 October 1990 (15th Sitting) (see Doc. 6288, report of the Political Affairs Committee, Rapporteur :Mr Schieder ; and Doc. 6306, opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Rapporteur : Mr Jansson). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 1990 (15th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
1. The Assembly has received from the Committee of Ministers a request for an opinion on the accession of Hungary to the Council of Europe (
Doc. 6154), in pursuance of Statutory Resolution (51) 30 A adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 3 May 1951.
2. It recognises the transformation in Hungary, especially the development of parliamentary democracy, illustrated in particular by constitutional provision for the separation of powers, a democratically elected parliament following a universal, free and secret ballot, observed by an ad hoc committee of our Assembly, and by the organisation of local elections on 30 September.
3. The Assembly notes the readiness of Hungary to guarantee the principle of the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, which is demonstrated in particular by the new legislation already in force and in Hungary's firm intention to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights.
4. It expresses its appreciation for the co-operation of the Hungarian special guest delegation in the work of the Assembly and the hospitality offered by Hungary to several Assembly committee meetings as well as to the Conference on Economic Reform in Central and Eastern Europe : a challenge for all Europe (May 1990) and that foreseen for May 1991 on Parliamentarians and NGOs : politics and citizens.
5. It also welcomes the fact that Hungary has signed the following European conventions drawn up in the Council of Europe :
5.1 European Cultural Convention ;
5.2 European Convention on Information on Foreign Law ;
5.3 Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Information on Foreign Law ;
5.4 Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats ;
5.5 Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats ;
5.6 Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe ;
5.7 European Convention on Transfrontier Television, and appreciates the declarations made before the organs of the Council of Europe by former Prime Minister Nemeth and former Foreign Minister Horn and the commitment to Europe expressed by Prime Minister Antall when introducing his government's programme in May 1990.
6. The Assembly considers that Hungary is able and willing :
6.1 to fulfil the provisions of Article 3 of the Statute which stipulates that ‘‘every member of the Council of Europe must accept the principles of the rule of law and of the enjoyment by all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms'' ;
6.2 to collaborate sincerely and effectively in the realisation of the aim of the Council of Europe as specified in Chapter I of the Statute of the Council of Europe, there by fulfilling the conditions for accession to the Council of Europe as laid down in Article 4 of the Statute.
7. The Assembly welcomes the fact that with the accession of Hungary to the Council of Europe the first and certainly not the last of the states of the former Eastern bloc is joining this forum of European democracies, a fact which illustrates and underlines the great transformation in Europe.
8. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers at its next meeting :
8.1 invite the Republic of Hungary to become a member of the Council of Europe forthwith ;
8.2 attribute Hungary seven seats in the Parliamentary Assembly.
