Creation of a Joint European Observatory in the Southern Hemisphere

Recommendation 319 (1962)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 17th May 1962 (6th Sitting) (see Doc. 1422, Report of the Cultural and Scientific Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 17th May 1962 (6th Sitting).

The Assembly,

Recalling that, in the chapter entitled "The Scientific Field" in the Programme of Work adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 1954 (Doc. 238), reference is made to "a number of interesting proposals which will... require careful study" and that among these proposals is one for the creation of a Joint European Observatory in the Southern Hemisphere ;

Having learnt that a draft Convention establishing a European Southern Observatory (ESO) was agreed upon in December 1960 by the representatives of five member Governments of the Council of Europe ;

Desirous that this example of European scientific co-operation should now make rapid headway, in the most favourable conditions,

Congratulates the astronomers and others concerned who have successfully accomplished the necessary preparatory work ;

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

1 should encourage the Governments of Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden rapidly to sign and bring into force the Convention establishing ESO and at the same time ensure that this Convention is open to accession by other European States ;

2 should bring this project to the attention of other member Governments and should encourage their participation ;

3 should invite participating Governments to provide all necessary means and help, particularly financial, to enable ESO to embark, with the minimum of delay and in the best conditions, on its programme of scientific work.