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Political and parliamentary aspects of the OECD Convention

Recommendation 273 (1961)

Author(s):
Parliamentary Assembly
Origin
Assembly debate on 3rd March 1961 (24th and 25th Sittings) (see Doc. 1240, Report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 3rd March 1961(25th Sitting)

1. The Assembly,

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2. Welcoming the signature on 14th December I960 of the Convention setting up the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,

3. Invites member Governments to initiate the procedure so that ratification of the Convention takes place at an early date;

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4. Considering the importance which it attaches to joint parliamentary discussion of the reports of the OECD in order to permit constructive co-operation with the organisation, to stimulate the action of member Governments and to contribute to a proper understanding by public opinion of the aims and achievements of the OECD,

5. Regrets that the Convention does not provide for these reports to be debated at special meetings as envisaged in Recommendation 245;

6. Noting, however, that the matter is to be discussed further in the Interim Committee of the OECD

7. Recalls its opposition to any alternative proposal which would in effect create a new parliamentary Assembly, whether official or unofficial, largely European in character;

8. Stresses, in this respect, that the increasing number of international parliamentary assemblies inevitably leads to a waste of effort, duplication, a useless increase of expenditure and, in the end, to a loss of efficiency and prestige for European unity and international co-operation;

9. Invites the members of the Consultative Assembly to insist forthwith and at the latest when the debate in their Parliament on ratification of the OECD Convention takes place, on an undertaking by the Government to propose in the Interim Committee or in the Council of the OECD either the signature of a supplementary protocol in conformity with Recommendation 245 or the adoption of a decision binding on all Members;

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10. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to take steps to ensure that the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the OEEC of March 1951 and additional texts of July 1952 and November 1953 are deemed to apply to the OECD mutatis mutandis, until such time as a new agreement has been negotiated