Development of Africa

Recommendation 159 (1958)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(a) 16th October 1957, Report of the Study Group for the Development of Africa, Doc. 701, referred to Economic Committee (see 11th Sitting of the 9th Session).<br>(b) 1st April 1958, tabling of the Report of the Economic Committee, Doc. 798.<br>(c) 30th April 1958, debate in the Assembly (see 5th Sitting of the 10th Session). The Recommendation was adopted by 73 votes, with 5 abstentions (see 6th Sitting of the 10th Session, 2nd May 1958).

The Assembly,

Convinced that the economic and social development of the less developed countries and the improvement of the living conditions of their peoples are also in the interest of the more highly developed countries;

Recalling the terms of its Recommendation 26, known as the Strasbourg Plan;

Recalling the terms of its Recommendation 61 concerning the special report by the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation on the Strasbourg Plan;

Convinced that member countries as a whole are capable of more active co-operation towards promoting the economic and social progress of the less developed countries;

Emphasising, however, that the limited extent of the additional possibilities open to member countries makes it imperative to strive for maximum efficiency, in particular by a co-ordination of effort;

Recognising the effectiveness of efforts already made or about to be made, through multilateral and traditional bilateral channels, and the importance of continuing these efforts;

Emphasising, nevertheless, that gaps and efficiencies still exist, which it would, for the time being, appear easier to fill by concerted action at regional level;

Reaffirming the principles enunciated in its Order No. 105 concerning the elaboration of ways and means of promoting the economic and social development of Africa;

Noting the Report by the Study Group for the Development of Africa set up in pursuance of that Order;

Endorsing the proposals for action set forth in that Report;

Emphasising that the object of the proposals in question is essentially to complement present methods of assistance to less developed countries,in particular within the framework of the United Nations and the European Economic Community, and to increase their effectiveness, but not to replace them;

Considering that these proposals require in the first instance a political decision,

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers:

a That it adopt the two fundamental principles :

a of a joint effort by all the member countries and all the African countries concerned towards the economic development of Africa and the improvement of the living conditions of the African peoples; and

b of co-operation, on a footing of equality, among the countries participating in this joint effort;

b That it convene, under the joint auspices of the Council of Europe, the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of Sahara a conference to be attended on a footing of equality by all the member countries of those organisations and all the African countries willing to take part, for the purpose of implementing the proposals for action formulated in the Report by the Study Group for the Development of Africa, namely :

c the drafting of an investment statute;

d the establishment of a Guarantee and Financial Assistance Fund (or possibly two separate Funds);

e the expansion of technical assistance by the European countries, in particular through the Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa South of Sahara (C.C.T.A.) whose competence and means of action should be correspondingly enlarged; and

f the setting in motion of adequate machinery for co-operation.