- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 25 September 1974 (8th and 9th Sittings) (see Doc. 3466, Doc. 3466, report of the Committee on European Non-Member Countries). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 September 1974 (9th Sitting).
The Assembly,
2. Considering Spain's contribution to the work of the Council of Europe in certain technical fields ;
3. Observing with regret that Spain is still a long way from meeting the conditions necessary for full membership of the Council of Europe, as she has no democratic and representative institutions ;
4. Deeply concerned by such facts inter alia as that :
a censorship applied to criticism of the present Spanish regime is still severe ;
b political opponents- organisations and individuals- to the present Spanish Government are exposed to harsh repression ;
c democratically constituted political parties and trade unions are neither permitted to function, nor even legally to exist ;
d no truly democratic elections have been permitted by the Spanish authorities since the Civil War,
5. Expresses the hope that the Spanish authorities will firmly commit themselves to achieving a democratic form of representation reflecting the popular will and exercising real powers of decision ;
6. While condemning the acts of terrorism perpetrated by certain separatist groups, appeals to the Spanish Government to satisfy by appropriate legislation the legitimate aspirations of the country's regions to greater autonomy ;
7. Urges the Spanish head of state to declare a general amnesty for all persons imprisoned or exiled for political reasons especially in view of Holy Year 1975 ;
8. Affirms that accession by a democratic Spain to European political organisations would be in that country's interests as well as being likely to strengthen Europe's influence in the world ;
9. Declares that, if Spain were able to commit herself to democracy, the countries and organisations of democratic Europe should give her all necessary aid and assistance ;
10. Hopes that the day will come when Spain takes her place among the family of European democratic nations in the Council of Europe ;
11. Instructs its Committee on European Non-Member Countries and its Political Affairs Committee to continue to follow developments in Spain.
