Ecologist movements in Europe
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 21 March 1984. See Doc. 5157, report of the Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities.
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Recalling that since 1961 it has taken a constant interest in questions of environmental protection in Europe ;
2. Noting that in recent years a great many associations in all the member states have taken up the cause of nature protection, and that some of them have become movements with an increasing political commitment ;
3. Realising that these politically oriented ecologist movements have undoubted influence in many areas of political affairs ;
4. Welcoming the efforts made by the established political parties to incorporate the new ideas on the environment into their programmes, pointing out, however, that merely making declarations in programmes in favour of environmental protection is not sufficient, and that only concrete measures can save the environment and the natural basis of human life ;
5. Considering that the appearance and development of the ecologist movements constitute a Europe-wide phenomenon whose importance must be properly gauged, taking into account differences between the member states ;
6. Noting that, although it may be difficult to accept some of the views and demands put forward by certain of these movements, it would be politically unwise to ignore their aspirations ;
7. Regarding participation by the ecologist parties in elections as a sign of the vitality of parliamentary democracy, which is able to find room even for those who openly oppose traditional industrial society ;
8. Alarmed by the fact that some ecologist movements and parties propose programmes whose economic goals might conflict with the interests of a great part of the population in the highly industrialised countries who depend for their livelihood on industries which have to be competitive in world markets ;
9. Recalling the principles of democracy proclaimed in its
Resolution 800 (1983), and in particular those concerning the participation by citizens in political and institutional life ;
10. Believing that no discrimination may be exercised between all those who observe the rules of a democratic society ;
11. Considering that political co-operation between parties is based on political considerations which reflect similarities or differences between programmes as well as differing local, regional or national requirements,
12. Urges its members to take the existence of ecologist movements into account when analysing the political and social situation in their countries and when defining their political objectives.
