explore the possibility of replacing the present annual budget with a two-year or even multi-annual budget, following the example of countries like the United Kingdom and other international organisations like the United Nations or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which have two-year budgets, or the European Union which, if the European Constitution is adopted, envisages having multi-annual budgets. This would enable the Organisation to plan and implement multi-annual projects with the certainty of adequate funding ;
review the criteria set out in Resolution (94) 31 whereby the contributions of the five major contributors were reduced to only 12.32% of the ordinary budget and to revise the method for calculating contributions through the inclusion of a clause setting a minimum contribution to be paid by each member state which would cover the actual cost of its membership. Countries unable to meet this outlay would be granted a rebate. In this context, the Assembly wishes to underline that any possible changes in the criteria set out in Resolution (94) 31 should not be used to reduce the Organisation’s overall budget.
“The Assembly shall determine the amount of its expenditure, the growth rate being agreed between the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly.”
In this connection, the Assembly points out that the simplified procedure provided for in Article 41.d was already used to supplement this article in 1951 and that the full procedure for amendment of the Statute is not required.
13. As regards the 2005 ordinary budget, the Assembly welcomes the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation to maintain its financial contribution at the same level as those of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, but regrets its use of blocking tactics, which resulted in the late adoption of the budget. Having regard to the interests at stake and to its chairmanship of the Organisation in 2006, it trusts that the Russian Federation will not forfeit its status as a major contributor.
14. The Assembly notes with interest the efforts made to achieve administrative modernisation within the Secretariat, and particularly the new presentation of the 2005 budget which highlights objectives and results. In this connection, it would like to be kept regularly informed of progress made and difficulties encountered in implementing projects in the programme of activities (evaluation of results). It also stresses that modernisation entails expenditure and requires appropriate financial resources. 15. By focusing on expected results, the new budget method gives the Assembly the information it needs to assess the soundness of the Council of Europe’s programme of activities. This is why it would also like to receive the Secretary General’s evaluation report for the Committee of Ministers which would allow it to assess the validity and outcome of the Council’s various activities and make any necessary recommendations on improving, rectifying, redirecting or even dropping some of them, for the purpose of ensuring that the programme fully meets the needs and expectations of member states, in keeping with the aims of the Organisation.
16. The Assembly unreservedly supports the action priorities aimed at maintaining assistance to South-East Europe and the Caucasus, as well as Moldova and Ukraine, in their democratic and peaceful development, and contributing to the democratic rehabilitation of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. Other priority areas include promoting social cohesion, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue and continuing the Organisation’s fight against terrorism, including its financing.
17. The Assembly welcomes the furthering and deepening of co-operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union, which has led to the completion of a number of joint programmes, particularly those conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo). It is also convinced that the Council of Europe’s field policy, which has resulted in the establishment of Council of Europe offices and the appointment of the Secretary General’s special representatives, has significantly enhanced the implementation and pursuit of the Organisation’s assistance programmes and made for better on-the-spot co-ordination between international organisations, thereby strengthening the Council of Europe’s co-operation with the countries concerned.
18. The Assembly considers the signature of a joint declaration between the Council of Europe and the OSCE on co-operation and complementarity between the two organisations as a step in the right direction. In this context, it strongly encourages the Committee of Ministers to continue intensifying and rationalising co-operation between the Council of Europe and the OSCE, with a view to generating new synergies and co-ordinating their respective activities more effectively and to draw up an outline agreement for this purpose.
19. While welcoming the European Commission’s decision to appoint a Strasbourg-based representative to the Council of Europe, the Assembly further recommends that the Committee of Ministers develop the closest possible links with the European Union, as well as more diversified forms of co-operation, especially as regards intergovernmental and assistance programmes. In particular, it thinks it vital that the Council of Europe’s Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers open negotiations with the European Commission on an institutional partnership, giving the Council of Europe a unique and special link with the European Union and allowing it to work with the latter as a full partner. Such a link is fully justified not only by the Council of Europe’s pan-European dimension but also by the wealth of experience and expertise it has built up over a long period in dealing with the democratic, human rights and rule of law issues which underpin the types of programme on which it co-operates with the European Union.
20. In this context, the Assembly welcomes the guidelines on the relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union as defined in the action plan adopted at the Warsaw Summit and the decision taken by heads of states and governments of member states to instruct Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Luxembourg, to draw up, in a personal capacity, a report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union on the basis of the decisions taken at the summit.
21. Finally, the Assembly encourages the Committee of Ministers to continue to make provision for the field mission reserve which enables the Council of Europe to react swiftly to unforeseen political developments.
22. The Assembly notes with satisfaction the progress made in the reform of human resources policy and particularly the emphasis on skills management, career development and mobility, not forgetting the integration of people with disabilities. It recommends that the Council of Europe pay special attention in its future recruitment policy to the principles of equal opportunity and fair geographical distribution which is based on member states’ mandatory contributions.
23. The Assembly also notes with satisfaction the decisions taken to assist the early departure of permanent staff members. It accordingly proposes that the Committee of Ministers adopt a standing arrangement available to all staff for early termination of service and suggests that the existing appropriation in the ordinary budget be made an item of recurrent expenditure in order to speed up the turnover of the Organisation’s human resources and promote systematic and efficient redeployment of staff.
24. The Assembly also asks the Committee of Ministers to increase the aggregate financial resources allocated to staff members’ training which amount to only 0.5% of the Organisation’s payroll. Here it should be pointed out that in many member states the financial resources allocated to this head of expenditure represent 1% to 2.5% of the total wage bill.
25. In view of the ongoing negotiations on future salary adjustments for all six co-ordinated organisations – the Council of Europe, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the European Space Agency, NATO, the OECD and the Western European Union – the Assembly urges the governments of Council of Europe member states to participate fully in the work of the Co-ordinating Committee on Remuneration as the appropriate forum for discussion of all questions relating to the remuneration of staff of the co-ordinated organisations. In this connection, the Assembly restates its view, already set out in Recommendation 1488 (2000), that an objective and mathematical method for salary adjustments must be established in order to enable the secretaries general of these six international institutions to recruit, retain and motivate highly trained, competent and independent staff. It is therefore crucial that staff remuneration remain competitive with regard to three recruitment markets, namely the private sector, national civil services and international civil servants, also taking the European Union into consideration.