Role of the CE intensification of co-operation between North/South Europe
Recommendation 861
(1979)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 10 May 1979 (6th and 7th Sittings) (seeDoc. 4310, report of the Political Affairs Committee and of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development). Text adopted by the Assembly on 10 May 1979 (7th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Having taken note of the report on the role of the Council of Europe in the intensification of cooperation between the countries of Northern and Southern Europe, presented by its Political Affairs Committee and by its Committee on Economic Affairs and Development (
Doc. 4310) ;
3. Recalling Article 1 of the Statute, which declares that the aim of the Council of Europe is "to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress... by agreements and common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms" ;
4. Considering that democracy in the countries of Southern Europe and, hence, their membership in the Council of Europe are of vital importance for security, co-operation and the maintenance of democracy in Europe ;
5. Considering that the return of Greece and the entry of Portugal and Spain into the family of European democratic nations have represented major political events enlarging and strengthening the mission of the Council of Europe ;
6. Considering that this situation, together with the project for the enlargement of the European Communities, warrants a rechannelling of the Council of Europe's activities towards economic and social justice which must benefit all its member states ;
7. Emphasising that the insufficient economic and social development in the countries of Southern Europe is an obstacle to the process of achieving greater political stability and unity among Council of Europe member states ;
8. Considering that the defence of human rights and democratic institutions demands greater economic and social justice throughout the continent, both within member states and among them, and considering also that shortcomings in the field of economic and social justice never can serve as excuse for lack of defence of human rights, democratic values and institutions ;
9. Considering that economic development and better living standards for the peoples of the southern countries should help overcome the northern countries' economic difficulties through the creation of new markets ;
10. Recognising that problems of underdevelopment in Europe are not peculiar to only the Mediterranean regions, but that it is in those regions that they are particularly acute ;
11. Considering that the problems created by international migration of manpower are an important subject for discussion in the dialogue and co-operation between the emigration countries of Southern Europe and the immigration countries of Northern Europe ;
12. Strong in its support of the candidatures of Greece, Portugal and Spain for membership of the European Communities, an enlargement which should help redress European balance and which would create new opportunities for close co-operation in Europe ;
13. Taking the view, however, that the enlargement of the Community must not engender fresh economic and political difficulties for non-member countries, and that it should accordingly be accompanied by specific measures on their behalf ;
14. Considering that the problem of imbalances in Europe is not only economic, but has very significant social, human and cultural facets ;
15. Noting that the Council of Europe possesses means of action such as :
the Committee of Ministers, a decision-making body,
the Parliamentary Assembly, a political body responsible for initiating action,
the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, which produces proposals in a vital area,
the steering committees, highly qualified instruments for co-operation,
the Resettlement Fund, an operational instrument,
all of which could be better utilised for bringing about a more active solidarity among all Europeans ;
16. Resolved to continue its efforts to bring about a harmonious integration of societies in the member countries, and anxious in this connection to co-operate closely with the Committee of Ministers,
17. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers consider the setting-up of a working party to be responsible for studying, together with the appropriate Assembly sub-committees, the practical means of intensifying co-operation between countries of Northern and Southern Europe, in particular by preparing the ground for the following action :
a devoting a special ministerial level meeting to this matter, to be attended by a representative of the Commission of the European Communities ;
b giving consideration to a meeting of heads of government of the Council of Europe member countries, to provide a decisive impetus to the organisation's campaign on behalf of the least developed of its members ;
c co-ordinating member governments' policies within the international and European organisations and conferences to which they belong, so as to promote the economic and social development of the European countries with a Mediterranean seaboard, for instance by encouraging investment and the transfer of technology towards these countries ;
d attaching priority to activities that can contribute to the harmonious economic and social development of all the member countries in the 1980-85 medium-term plan ;
e working for a better balance between the countries of Northern and Southern Europe in the annual programmes of intergovernmental activities, including in those programmes concrete projects which have a bearing on the sectors of social policy, migrations, regional planning, regional problems, and cultural and scientific co-operation ;
f considering the setting-up of a technical co-operation programme in aid of southern countries, whereby experts are seconded and courses arranged for training staff, so that these countries can be helped to exploit their own resources to better effect ;
g ensuring that the Resettlement Fund can respond to the renewed interest being shown in it by a number of member states ;
h considering the appointment of a co-ordinator for the action so contemplated.
