Calling of a European Conference at Ministerial level to discuss and make proposals for a European science policy

Recommendation 320 (1962)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 17th May 1962 (6th Sitting) (see Doc. 1438, Report of the Cultural and Scientific Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 17th May 1962 (6th Sitting).

The Assembly,

Recalling that in its "Programme of Work" (Doc. 238, 1954) the Committee of Ministers expressed the opinion that co-operation in the scientific field "appears to be a prerequisite for the achievement of progress in preserving Europe's leading position" and endorsing this opinion ;

Recalling, further, the Recommendation of the London Parliamentary and Scientific Conference of 1961 that "the Assembly should thus be enabled to launch new proposals from time to time and stimulate Governments to take more common action to make good use of scientific discoveries" ;

Having taken cognizance of the activities in this field undertaken or planned by the various European and international organisations, in particular the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, the European Atomic Energy Community and the two bodies which it is proposed should work in the field of space research (ELDO and ESRO) ;

Expressing its satisfaction that so much valuable work is already being done in the scientific field in Europe and that there is a widespread realisation of the great benefits which European cooperation can bring in this domain ;

Believing that the time has now come to undertake at the highest level a survey of present activities and on this basis to draw up an agreed plan for European scientific co-operation in the coming years,

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers :

1 that a European Conference should be convened at Ministerial level to which all member States and States signatories of, or acceding to, the European Cultural Convention should be invited to send representatives in order to discuss and make proposals for a European science policy ;

2 that the delegations to this Conference should include senior representatives of all the departments and agencies which in each country are responsible for one or other aspect of scientific policy ;

3 that the preparation of this Conference should be entrusted to the competent European organisations, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe being instructed to co-ordinate the preparatory work and to provide such administrative help as may be necessary for the successful conduct of the Conference.