The Assembly has duly noted the final Resolution of the European Conference on the organisation of agricultural markets held in Paris from 6th to l0th 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.
It welcomes the statement made in the Resolution of that 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 considera that the progressive 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 pious 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 Agriculture and Food, with a Committee of Deputies, to be equipped with an effective secretariat possessing the necessary qualifications ;
Considers it essential, accordingly, 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 :