A Explanatory Memorandum
1
1. On the 24th June, 1953, the Assembly referred to the Special Committee the following Motion tabled by Major Tuf ton Beamish and several of his colleagues : " Possibility of allowing nationals, including exiles, from non-Member countries to compete for Council of Europe Research Fellowships, " and instructed it to consider the question and report thereon. Accordingly, the Special Committee presents the following Report to the Assembly.
2. The Assembly will doubtless recall that in its Fourth Report to the Consultative Assembly (paragraph 48, subparagraph vii) the Committee of Ministers announced that they had decided to create Council of Europe Research Fellowships to be awarded in 1953 for research on problems of European integration and co-operation. The Assembly welcomed this proposal, which is in line with the policy it has constantly advocated. The Special Committee shares the Assembly's satisfaction, but it has noted with concern that one of the conditions which candidates must fulfil in order to be eligible to apply for a fellowship is that they must be nationals of a Member State of the Council of Europe. The full regulations governing the award of Council of Europe Research Fellowships are appended to this paper.
3. On the assumption that the Council of Europe will again be authorised by Member Governments to offer Research Fellowships in 1954 and in subsequent years, the Special Committee wishes to make certain proposals, in accordance with its terms of reference which are contained in the Assembly Resolution of 28th August, 1950, and whereby the Special Committee is instructed " to ensure that the interests of certain nations which are precluded from participating in the work of the Council of Europe but which, nevertheless, form an integral part of Europe... shall be considered in every proposal which may be formulated by the Assembly and its Committees. This Resolution goes on to say that " the Special Committee shall be kept informed of the activities of other Committees of the Assembly and shall be authorised to offer them its observations for the achievement of its purpose. "
4. The Special Committee feels strongly that, in view of the resolution adopted by the Consultative Assembly last year on the unity of the whole of Europe and the solemn declaration of the Committee of Ministers contained in the Message to the Consultative Assembly on the occasion of the Fifth Ordinary Session, " that the Council of Europe remains open to the accession of all European nations, which, as the Statute requires, acknowledge the rule of law and the sanctity of fundamental freedoms, " it has a clear duty to intervene whenever it appears possible to give a practical meaning to these pronouncements.
5. Such an occasion has, in its view, arisen with the creation of the Council of Europe Fellowships. The Special Committee believes that there would be real advantage not only from the psychological but also from the practical point of view in making it possible for nationals, including refugees, from European non-Member States to compete for the Fellowships. It is indeed clear that such a measure would give concrete form to the Council of Europe's often-expressed concern for the rest of Europe.
6. The Special Committee also believes that in the case of research in so wide and so varied a field as European unity it is not the best policy to impose a nationality test on candidates. There might, indeed, be solid grounds for suggesting that the fellowships should be awarded solely on the merits of the applicants and regardless of nationality. But the Special Committee is not competent to make such a recommendation. It is only charged with watching over the interests of European non-Member States. It thus confines itself to pointing out the considerable advantage of allowing a Swiss or a Yugoslav or, indeed, suitable exiles from Poland or Hungary or any of the other satellite countries, subject, of course, to the normal requirements, to undertake research on European co-operation. There is no doubt that the problem of European unity ought to take into account the interests of States which, at the moment, are either unable or hesitate to join the Council of Europe, and it is unwise and unnecessary to exclude nationals from these States.
7. The Special Committee has not discussed the financial implications of this proposal. It will no doubt be observed that the funds for the Fellowships are contributed by the Member States of the Council. This is not, in the view of the Special Committee, a valid argument under present circumstances, for confining the awards to nationals of Member States. The Special Committee appreciates, however, that as a result of its proposal, a larger number of applicants is to be expected in- subsequent years. It therefore recommends to Member Governments that they should consider the possibility of increasing the number of Fellowships in order to take into account the new situation.
8. The present report was unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Special Committee held in Paris on 20th and 21st July, 1953.
