6. Our study of the programme of work has led us to consider the general problems which confront the Council of Europe. One of the most important seemed to us to be that of the respective roles of the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers. Of these the latter is the easier to distinguish, because international organizations which provide precedents have long existed. The Committee is there to initiate and pursue intergovernmental action tending towards a greater unity between its Members. Its success can be fairly judged by its tangible results.
7. As far as the Assembly is concerned, it should continue to make suggestions to our Committee for action by member Governments. There will be discouragements. Notwithstanding the possibility of concluding partial agreements, the operation of the unanimity rule in the Committee and the diverse customs and traditions of member countries often unite to raise obstacles against implementation in full of the Assembly's proposals. Yet some progress there has been. And the Assembly has had a large share in bringing it about. As regards the programme of work, it is clear that the Assembly should play a part not only in its drafting but also in its implementation.
8. To make recommendations to our Committee is not, in our view, the only task of the Assembly. It has an equally important task in guiding public opinion by debating the broad issues of the day. We should therefore like to record our particular satisfaction with the fact that a major political debate took place last September. We also congratulate the Assembly on the particularly important woi'k it has done in connection with the Saar question and express the hope that a solution based on that work will soon be reached. Debates on the reports of O.E.E.C. have also been most valuable. We hope the Assembly will increase the proportion of its time devoted to debates of this kind.
9. We believe that Assembly debates make their impact on public opinion in two ways : first, through the normal channels of publicity ; secondly, by promoting among Representatives a greater understanding of their country's neighbours with beneficial effects on proceedings in national parliaments. We think the impact would be increased if national parliaments could be persuaded to devote more time to discussing Council of Europe questions. We propose to recommend to Member Governements that they should do what they can to bring this about and we hope that Representatives will individually take steps to the same end.
10. Our examination of the respective roles of our Committee and the Assembly led us in turn to consider closer co-operation between the two. We decided to invite the Assembly to give its views and make any suggestions that it might consider useful on the two following points.
11. We have noticed that we are often inadequately informed of the work of the Assembly Committees. We should be glad to learn what proposals the Assembly may have to offer in order to enable our Deputies to follow .their work more closely. We also suggest that all papers of Assembly Committees should be made available to Member Governments.
12. We are confident that it would be in the interests of the Assembly to examine these two points. Member Governments would then be in a better position to appreciate the reasons underlying Assembly resolutions and recommendations and would be able more,rapidly to acquaint the Assembly Representatives with their own views on thé proposals in question. The result would very probably be to increase the number of resolutions and recommendations which we are able to approve.
13. During the debate which preceded the adoption of the Assembly's reply to our Message and Fourth Report, several Representatives expressed impatience at the apparent, dila-toriness with which Assembly recommendations and resolutions had in the past been handled by our Committee. Bearing these views in mind, we propose, in future, when considering Assembly recommendations, to adopt in each case one of the following procedures :
14. We have reviewed the machinery at our Committee's disposal for the implementation of the tasks laid upon it. Our Deputies meet frequently and settle all minor and many major problems on our behalf. For expert advice we can already rely on the services of six committees of officials. They deal respectively with cultural questions, the reciprocal treatment of nationals, the peaceful settlement of disputes, extradition, patents, and social security. We have decided that, in the light of the new tasks which the execution of the programme will lay upon us, a, committee should be set up to deal with social questions (other than social security). For the moment Ave think this committee structure satisfactory, but we shall add to it if at any time the need for an addition becomes apparent.
15. We have decided that a knowledge of the experience of tho Scandinavian countries might help our committees in their labours and especially the social and cultural committees, with particular reference to arranging direct contacts between national administrations. We are therefore transmitting to them, for their information, and so that they may see what ideas contained therein might be put into effect on a European seale, the memorandum on Scandinavian co-operation which was presented to the Assembly by the representatives of the Nordic countries.
16. We were deeply concerned to find some procedure for securing co-ordination between" the work of the Council and that of other international organizations — a coordination particularly necessary in view of the wide terms of reference of the Council of EuropeNote. Because of the differing characters of our Committee and the Assembly this, problem affects them in differing degrees. Almost all other international organizations have a Ministerial body ; very few, a parliamentary. It will usually be undesirable for our Committee to study the same problem at the same time as the Ministerial body of another international organization. But it may often be helpful -for the Assembly to do so, because it looks upon the issues before it from a different angle. Our conclusions can therefore only be applied directly to the activities of our Committee. But the Assembly might find it useful to adapt some of the underlying principles for application in their own case.
17. In the fields set out in Article 1 (b) of the Statute, the Council is concerned with any problem, even of a technical nature, the solution of which might promote greater unity among its Members. It follows that .it may, at the European level, study matters- which are the concern of larger or more specialised international institutions, if such a study might result in useful intergovernmental action which would not otherwise be possible. An examination of the work already carried out or contemplated in the same field by other international organizations is a necessary preliminary. To assist us in this, we have instructed the Secretariat to draw up periodically a detailed list of the questions of European interest being handled by other international organizations at the time; This list may.also be helpful to the Assembly, and we have asked the Secretariat to transmit copies to all Representatives.
18. Where erar examination reveals that no other international organization is competent in the field there can evidently he no problem of co-ordination. Where another international organization is competent, the next step will be to ascertain what work it has done or is contemplating in the matter. At this stage our Committee may either find that there is no more work which could usefully be undertaken, or it may urge the organization in question to extend its labours in one direction or another. If the organization is unable or unwilling to respond, our Committee could itself take up the question without fear of overlapping.
19. All these cases call for prior understanding between the Council and the organization in question, and this can be achieved through negotiation between the Council and that organization.
20. We believe that this procedure will help to make of the Council of Europe a framework for the elaboration of common solutions of European problems, to be sought and put into effect by the international organization most appropriate in each case.
21. We should like very briefly to mention a connected problem which has attracted the Assembly's attention, namely that of consultation between the Representatives in wider organizations of member countries of the Council of Europe. We are agreed that consultations may be held between Members of the Council with a view to preparing the ground for meetings of larger international organizations and defining a common attitude in various technical fields, whenever such a necessity is felt. Furthermore, it is evident that when the Coiui-cil has itself referred a problem to another organization of wider membership, consultation will normally be useful and desirable between the representatives to that organization of the Members of the Council of Europe. In this context, Ave should lilie to recall that arrangements already exist whereby Member Governments can, and very frequently do, discuss between themselves current problems in general, and problems likely to be discussed in larger-scale organizations, particular.
22. So much for the problems of a general or political character. We' now turn to the programme proper and have devoted a chapter of this Message to each of the several fields of the Council's activity.
23. Certain conclusions, applicable in the economic field clearly follow from the general principles we have enunciated in Chapter I of this Message.
24. The Council has a right to political initiative and intervention on all questions arising out of the economic organization of Europe, including questions under discussion by other international organizations. In particular we think the Assembly has a most important role to play : first, by bringing to light the political and social consequences of economic measures proposed, to which more technical organizations, on account of their differing constitution, cannot devote the same degree of attention ; second, by informing and influencing · European public opinion on economic issues.
25. We therefore consider that it would be of value if the Assembly increased the proportion of its debating time devoted to' the discussion of major economic questions, basing itself on reports of E.C.E., O.E.E.C. and E.C.S.C. Our Committee suggests that economic debates could cover, inter alia, the following problems :
26. Our Committee intends, in suitable cases, in the future as in the past, to refer to other international organizations for a consultative opinion any useful economic ideas that may emerge during discussions within tho Council.
27. As Ave stated in our Message to the Assembly of May, 1953, we have referred to O.E.E.C. for study Recommendation 26 (1952), known as the Strasbourg Plan. We would particularly call to the attention of the Assembly, to whom they have been forwarded, the comments made by the Council of the O.E.E.C. on this Recommendation. Our Committee will give careful consideration to any proposals the Assembly may have to make on the subject.
28. One problem of particular importance to several Members of the Council of Europe and which affects the prosperity of Europe as a whole has recently been discussed by certain world economic organizations. This is the question of the economic development of Southern Europe, on which the Economic Commission for Europe adopted .a Resolution last March. Our Committee feels that it could not but be beneficial for the Assembly to examine this question and make such suggestions as it thinks fit.
29. We wish to emphasise the importance which we attach to solving the problem of convertibility. This would also lead to closer cooperation between the Members of the Council. The · Assembly will be able to follow, in the Reports of O.E.E.C, the progress made in this field in the framework of that Organization.
30. The Council of Europe has invited G-.A.T.T. to study its proposal concerning the establishment of a Low Tariff Club. This organization has agreed to deal with the matter and study the substance of the proposal ; it has, to this effect, referred the proposal to its inter-sessional Committee, which also has the so-called Pflimlin Plan on its agenda.
31. In fact, one of the main principles of the Low Tariff Club — ceilings on tariffs on raw materials, semi-manufactured and manufactured products — has already been inserted in a project aiming at tariff reductions elaborated by the intersessional Committee, and circulated to Member Governments of G.A.T.T. for consideration.
32. Under these circumstances it seems appropriate :
that the substance of the proposal should, for the time being, be left with the competent organization in this field, that is to say with G.A.T.T.; and
that the Council of Europe should await the results of the present negotiations among the members of G.A.T.T. before taking any new steps. It would not seem useful to undertake parallel negotiations within the Council, before the outcome is known of the GATT discussions on this subject.
33. Furthermore, the O.E.E.C. is at present engaged in establishing a European Commodity List, that is a list of products of interest to intra-European trade, for which OEEC Member Governments would lilie to obtain tariff reductions.
34. The Assembly has suggested the possibility of establishing European Companies with a legal and administrative status jointly defined by Member States. Our Committee would be glad to receive specific proposals from the Assembly on the subject as soon as possible.
35. We consider that it would be useful that the Council of Europe should follow very closely the activity of the international and supranational organizations dealing with transport, particularly the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, the Committee on Inland Transport of E.C.E., O.E.E.C, the E.C.S.C, and the I.D.O. ; it should endeavour to ensure that the problem of co-ordinating European transport should be further studied and, more particularly, that a co-ordinated policy should be established in order to harmonise the projects of the Six with those of all the member countries of the Council of Europe.
36. Our Committee will continue to follow closely the work of the European Conference on the Organization of Agricultural Markets. We shall inform the Assembly of tho progress made in its work.
37. We intend to submit to the Member Governments for signature, in the near future, a draft European Convention on the Classification of Patents, prepared by the Committee of Experts.
Moreover, we are continuing to lend our support to the work of the Committee of Experts on Patents, which is trying to work out interim solutions such as may prepare the way for the institution of a system of European patents.
38. We propose to encourage Member Governments to co-operate fully in the work of the Pood and Agriculture Organization of the United. Nations, the International Office of Epizootics and the European Plant Protection Organization for the prevention of the spread of animal epidemics and the protection of plants and, with this end in view, to implement the recommendations of these organizations and ratify such agreements as they elaborate with the minimum of delay.
39. We also intend to recommend to Member Governments to use their influence in these organizations to secure the widest possible extension of measures designed to prevent the spread of animal and plant diseases. In particular, we shall invite Member Governments which have not already done so, to consider accepting at the earliest possible date the Constitution for the European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease drafted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, so that the Commission may be established shortly and its activities may have the widest application possible in Europe.
40. Moreover, we propose to request the European Plant Protection Organization for its views on the possibility of co-ordinating the rules and regulations of Member Governments on plant inspection at their frontiers, if necessary by amendment of the Conventions on the International Protection of Plants signed on 18th April, 1951, and also of taking further steps towards exterminating harmful agents and combating plant diseases.
41. In preparing this social chapter of the Programme of Work our Committee was greatly helped by the suggestions of the Secretariat-General and the Assembly's opinion thereon (Memorandum by the Secretariat-General on the activities which the Council of Europe could properly carry out in the social sphere — Document 140 — and Opinion No. 5, adopted by the Assembly on 23rd September, 1953). A part of this chapter is based on these two documents, while the remainder stems from separate suggestions by Member Governments. We hope that the Assembly will be able to give a final opinion on this chapter during the first part of its Sixth Session.
42. Our Committee has been impressed by the Assembly's frequent recommendations for the establishment of a Social Committee which should have more continuity than the several ad hoc Committees we have in the past set up in the social field. We have accordingly decided that a Social Committee, reporting to ourselves, should be set up. It will be composed of Senior Officials from the appropriate departments cf Member Governments. We consider its constitution to be an essential part of the programme in the social field.
43. The Committee's members would be entitled to call on the assistance of other officials, or to be replaced by them, as and when the topics under discussion render this desirable.
44. The Committee's functions would be :
45. Our Committee will endeavour to elaborate a European Social Charter which would define the social objectives aimed at by Members and would guide the policy of the Council in the social field, in which it would be complementary to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
46. The preparation of thé Charter would be entrusted to the Social Committee, which would decide on the form and content of the document and, in particular, consider whether, in addition to general principles, it should contain more definite provisions binding . xrpon the signatories.
47. Information would be exchanged at, and in connection with, meetings of the Social Committee on the social policy and developments of member countries so : that the experience acquired might be of benefit to all.
48. The Social Committee, guided by the methods employed among the Brussels Treaty Powers, would also be able to discuss the reasons for the difficulties found in ratifying certain international Conventions and so possibly facilitate such ratification.
49. We do not propose for the moment to give the new Social Committee any competence in the particular field of social security. The Committee of Experts on Social Security has been working for a long time, in close liaison with the I.L.O., on the preparation of a European Code of Social Security. It will continue . with its work.
50. The conclusion within the framework of the Council of Europe of special conventions in other fields is also contemplated with a view to establishing European standards higher than those reached on the general international plane.
51. Our Committee has decided, in accordance with the Opinion of the Consultative Assembly, to approve the proposal for the creation of a Social Documentation Centre, which would not overlap with the services available through other organizations but would be intended particularly to provide members of the Assembly with the necessary material for their work. This centre will be established as a section of the Library of the Council of Europe.
52. Our Committee recognises the advantage of convening conferences on the lines envisaged in Article III of the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the I.L.O.Note, as and when suitable and sufficient subjects for their consideration arise. We shall therefore ask the Social Committee to consider and report on tho need for an early conference under Article III, of the Agreement, bearing in mind the I.L.O.s decision to convene, a conference outside thé context of the agreement during 1954.
53. We are agreed that this represents a fundamental principle, which has already found expression in the Interim Agreements on Social Security and in the Convention on Social and Medical Assistance.
54. Our Committee has noted the Assembly's view (Para. 5 (iv) of Opinion No. 5) that a comparative table showing the present extent of discrimination in the social field between nationals of the Member States of the Council should be drawn up as soon as possible to allow the Council to consider to what extent such discrimination may be aboHshed or attenuated. We agree that we should in general seek to remove such discrimination. We think that the solution to the problem would be facilitated by the early conclusion of a Convention on the Reciprocal Treatment of Nationals.
55. A proposal for a reduction of chancery dues payable by workers from abroad and their dependants wñl be referred to the Social Committee, which will examine it in co-operation with the Manpower Committee of O.E.E.C.
56. We are agreed that it might be valuable, before the sessions of larger international organizations which deal with social problems, to hold consultations on the lines of those which now take place between the Brussels Treaty Powers or the Scandinavian countries. This question will be submitted to the Social Committee.
57. We feel it would be useful for the Council to study the problem of the employment of the older worker. The increase during recent years of the proportion of older persons in the countries of Western Europe, and the statistical evidence which shows that this is part of a continuing trend, have made the problem highly topical. A preliminary study of the situation in the Brussels Treaty countries has been carried out. We think consideration could now be extended to cover all the member countries of the Council. We therefore propose to instruct the Social Committee to give it its early attention.
58. We are unanimously agreed that tho question of full employment, which has been the subject of several recommendations of the Assembly and resolutions of our Committee, is of such importance that the Council of Europe could not remain indifferent to it.
59. Several other international organizations are engaged on this problem (I.L.O., O.E.E.C, N.A.T.O., U.N., and I.C.E.M.). At tho European level the problem for the Council of Europe is primarily one of co-ordination. This question will be put before the Social Committee.
60. In connection with the present trend towards industrial rationalization and increase of productivity, it is necessary to take steps to ensure that this process shall not have harmful effects on the workers. It is particularly important to ensure that workers who do not possess the necessary technical skills shall not be thrown into unemployment. All member countries should in collaboration, develop to the highest possible perfection their facilities for vocational rehabilitation. We agree, therefore, to refer this question to the Social Committee which should consider what the Council of Europe could usefully do in this field, taking into account the activities of other international organizations, particularly the I.L.O. and the O.E.E.C.
61. We wish to re-affirm in this context the importance we attach to these problems, which we are maintaining on our Agenda. We are devoting special attention to the need to enlighten European public opinion on these questions and to take practical steps for the integration of refugees. The action to be taken by the Council of Europe will depend principally on. the results of the work of the Special Representative, to whom we are giving all the assistance he requires.
62. We have decided to include in the Programme of Work the study of the problem of the adjustment of the individual and of families to the new conditions resulting from the growth of industrialisation and migration. Since the Assembly will shortly be discussing report on this subject by its Committee on Social Questions, we have decided to await its opinion thereon.
63. We have decided to submit to a working party certain proposals to establish organized and automatic co-operation and assistance whenever a natural disaster is suffered by a member country of the Council of Europe. This working party would prepare a preliminary study of the problem and make suggestions for its solution. We have instructed the Secretary-General to get into touch with the international organizations concerned. The results of this study will be submitted to the Consultative Assembly.
64. Several Governments have submitted 'to our Committee proposals for encouraging closer European co-operation in the field of health, through exchange of information, coordination of . research, standardisation of methods land pooling of human and material resources. We submitted these proposals to the European Regional Office of the W.H.O. in a letter of which a copy is appended to this Message. (Appendix I.)
65. The reply of the W.H.O. is also appended. Before replying to this letter, we should be glad to learn the opinion of the Assembly as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first part of the SessionNote.
66. We propose subsequently to convene without delay a Committee of governmental experts to study proposals from the Governments, the reply of W.H.O. and the opinion of the Assembly.
67. This is the first field in which ia plan of -European co-operation was devised, such a plan having been submitted to the Assembly as far back as its Second Session. The Committee of Cultural Experts — also the first of its kind to have been created in the Council of Europe — has since used this plan constantly as a guide for its activities
68. The Assembly has been kept informed of the development and results of these activities by our periodical reportsNote
69. We have, moreover, instructed the Committee of Cultural Experts to examine the new proposals of Member Governments and the numerous suggestions made by the Experts themselves. During their deliberations, the Experts also took into account certain proposals of UNESCO.
70. The Cultural Experts have established a gradation, ranging from immediate tasks to long-term projects. This was particularly necessary since, while new projects in this field come easily to mind, their execution requires careful study and sometimes considerable funds, to be found either in national budgets or the Council budget.
71. The cultural programme .we propose, which covers the usual six fields of activity (artistic, literary, educational, exchange of persons, recognition and equivalence of university and professional degrees, presentation of the European idea) would be divided into four categories of proposals.
72. The first category should not involve the Council of Europe as such in either committee work or expenditure. It comprises a number of measures whereby Members may contribute to that multilateral cultural cooperation which the Committee of Experts is to study and, where necessary, co-ordinate. We have already transformed this list of proposals into a recommendation to Member Governments in the form of a Resolution appended to this Message. (Appendix II.)
73. The second category enumerates the activities which have airead}' been undertaken and which the Committee of Experts intends to continue and in some cases develop in the light of past experience. A list of these activities is given in Appendix III.
74. The third category, given in Appendix IV, consists of a short list of proposed new activities, limited to important questions, which are comparatively easy to set in train without entailing a notable increase in the cultural budget of the Council of Europe. We propose to instruct the Experts to examine how these new proposals may be put into effect.
75. The fourth category, contained in Appendix V, lists a series of proposals which, after the first three lists had been drawn up, were regarded ias being too important to be omitted but too complex and costly for implementation at this stage. We, nevertheless, intend to request the Experts to make a detailed study of all these proposals in order to allow us to put the more practical ones into effect when the necessary funds can be found.
76. The Experts drew up pari passu with the four categories mentioned above another list of projects for inclusion in the agenda of their ordinary sessions. This list is given in Appendix VI.
77. Any increase in the cultural budget of the Council of Europe which may prove necessary for the gradual implementation of the programme of work in this field should, nevertheless, be kept within reasonable limits in relation to the budget for 1954.
78. The Assembly will note that the new proposals in the third and fourth categories may be reduced to certain common denominators which have hitherto guided the cultural activities of the Council : to preserve and turn to good account the European cultural heritage, to strengthen cultural relations with a view to developing European culture, to make Europe a single cultural entity without thereby sacrificing its remarkable diversity, to disseminate the idea of European unity and to foster the European spirit in this and future generations.
79. In paragraph 21 of this Message AVO have examined the general question of consultation, between representatives in larger-scale organizations of the Member States of the Council of Europe. We agreed that consultations might be held in appropriate cases beween Members of the Council with a view to preparing the ground for meetings of the larger international organizations and defining a common attitude. We feel that the cultural field would lend itself particularly well to this methods of procedure.
80. In addition to these proposals, we shall shortly submit to the Assembly the draft European Cultural Convention already referred to in. paragraph 42 of our Fourth Report. This multilateral Convention will provide a framework for all future cultural activities of the Council.
81. Europea n co-operation in the scientific field is a most complex question to which the experts have turned their attention only in recent months.
82. This part of the programme also contains a number of interesting proposals which will, however, require careful study and should be undertalten as far as possible in consultation with UNESCO.
83. The Council may thus hope to play a pioneer role in a field where, more than in any other, co-operation appears to be a pre-requisite for the achievement of progress in preserving Europe's leading position.
84. Appendix VII contains four proposals of the khid likely to arouse most interest. These are followed by four others which we intend to ask our experts to examine in detail.
85. The work of the Council of Europe in the legal and administrative fields has in the past been devoted to a number of distinct topics which have been considered in isolation (for the most part at the suggestion of the Assembly) without any general plan. Our Committee has reached the conclusion that the time lias come to review the whole field and consider what should bo the role of the Council of Europe in the legal and administrative fields, or, in other words, what activities the Council can usefully carry out in this domain.
86. Several suggestions have been made by Governments as to particular tasles which could usefully be undertaken. When considering these suggestions we have been conscious that much valuable work has been done by other international organizations both governmental and non-governmental (such as the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the Rome Institute for the Unification of Private Law, l'Institut de Droit International, the International Law Association and the International Committee for Comparative Law) in considering questions of a legal nature which require international action. In a number of cases conventions and agreements have been prepared but have not entered into force through lack of sufficient signatures or ratifications. In other cases problems have been stated and solutions suggested but legal instruments to give them effect have not yet been prepared. We have therefore decided to consider the possibility of giving effect, in the framework of the Comicii, to appropriate suggestions and proposals of the specialised international organizations already working in the legal field, some of them with great distinction for many years.
87. Apart from the conclusion of international agreements, much iiseful work remains to be done in the field of unification or harmonisation of national legislation. The Scandinavian and Benelux countries have had valuable experience in co-operation of this sort and other Members may be able to profit by their example. We have therefore decided to institute a study of - the possibilities of this character and should particularly welcome the Assembly's proposals in this matter.
88. In order to examine more fully the possibilities of action by the Council on these and similar lines, we have instructed the Secretariat-General to study them and prepare a memorandum on the role of the Council of Europe in the legal field. This memorandum, when it is completed, will be submitted to the Assembly for its opinion. When Ave have studied this memorandum, we shall decide whether it is desirable to set up a permanent committee of legal experts to advise our Committee on the future legal work of the Council.
89. Apart from this general study, our Committee has decided to include in the programme of work certain other specific topics of a legal and administrative character and to complete certain other projects already under way, such as the draft conventions on the peaceful settlement of disputes and the reciprocal treatment of nationals and the proposals on extradition.
90. We feel this question to be of genuine importance since the grant of new facilities in this field would no doubt be one of the surest means of making the general public aware of the progress being made towards European unity.
91. We are glad to note that Member Governments have been responding more and more favourably to the appeal of the Consultative Assembly for the abolition of visas. We regard this as toeing a particularly valuable contribution to the establishment of closer rela-tions between the nationals of Member States.
92. We are considering what measures could be taken in the field of passport, customs and currency control with the aim of reducing to a minimum the delays and hindrances to which travellers in Europe are subject. The Assembly's recommendations are a valuable source of inspiration to us and we hope the Assembly will continue its studies on this subject.
93. The administrative work involved in the production of evidence in one country relating to official acts in another country (such as the registration of births, deaths and marriages, the granting of patents and trade-marks and the entering of judgments) would be facilitated by suppression of the requirement for the legislation of such documents by a series of officials in both countries. "We therefore hope to see concluded a multilateral convention to this effect.
94. Another useful administrative step of the same nature would be to facilitate the direct interchange between the competent authorities of member countries of information relating to the registration of births, deaths and marriages. Por this purpose we have invited Member Governments which have not already done so to accede to the Protocol of 25th September, 1950 setting up the International Commission on Civil Status.
95. We have undertaken the study of the creation of a European civil service for the largest possible number of European organizations. At the present initial stage, the object is to find out how far such an idea is feasible. We have therefore instructed the Secretary-General to approach the main Europaan organizations on an informal basis and ask whether they would be prepared to collaborate with the Council in studying the question of a European civil service and to obtain their preliminary views. The Secretary-General's inquiry will cover inter aim the following points :
96. We shall decide how to proceed with our study in the light of the replies received.
20th February, 1954.
Sir,
Following the decision of the Committee of Ministers in May, 1953 to prepare a programme of work for the Council of Europe, several Governments have formulated proposals for the development of European co-operation in the field of public health. Three groups of proposals have been made by the Governments. or France, the German Federal Republic and the United Kingdom. They may be summarised as follows :
French proposal :
The United Kingdom proposal suggests arranging for exchango appointments of, say, six months' duration in hospitals and laboratories of other countries for ]Durposes of siiecialiscd study in various branches of medicine.
French proposal :
It has been suggested that there is room for considerable progress in tho co-ordination of scientific research and its application to public health and social welfare.
It is proposed to examine the possibility of setting up centres for the study of problems not easily solved by individual countries, such as :
cancer,
mental disorders,
tuberculosis,
drug-addiction,
emergenc y treatment (blood transfusion, shock treatment, resuscitation),
the physically or mentally handicapped,
radio-active elements (standards of protection against radiation),
silicosis .
It is suggested in the French proposal that tho exchange and pooling of resources in Europo would undoubtedly be facilitated by adopting common rules and standards in :
national legislation and regulations,
medical and public health equipment,
national pharmacopoeia (with special reference to the work of the Scandinavian countries).
The United Kingdom proposal makes suggestions concerning :
Thirdly, the proposal of the German Federal Republic contains suggestions for uniform health regulations on preventive measures (regular medical check-up, hygiene instruction, precautions- against epidemics) and the rehabilitation of incapacitated workers (corrective treatment, rehabilitation courses, artificial limbs, orthopaedic treatment, assistance at place of work, etc.), in all Member States.
French proposal :
The proposals on matters of public health put forward by certain Members of the Council thus cover a very Avide field. Before deciding on the procedure to be adopted for the study of this programme, the Committee of Ministers has decided to consult the Regional Oiffice for Europe of the World Health Organization, in accordance with paragraph 2 of the letters exchanged on 9th and 12th September, 1952, for co-operation between our two Organizations.
The Committee of Ministers would be grateful in the first place for the advice of the Regional Office for Europe of the W.H.O. on the following points ;
The Committee of Ministers proposes to resumo consideration of the programme of work of tho Council of Europe in the field of public health beforo tho end of March and would therefore bo most grateful if you would bo so good as to let it havo your answers to these three questions as soon as possible. In the event that the World Health Organization does not contemplate taking action on the European plane with respect to any of the problems mentioned in the proposals of the Member Governments of the Council, the latter would consider the possibility of taking these matters up itself, subject, of course, to' the provisions of the agreement concluded between our two organizations.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
L. MARCHAL
Secretary-General.
Norman D. BEGG,
Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the W.H.O.
Geneva.
Geneva, 23rd March, 1954
Sir,
Your letter of 20th February, 1954 has been studied with great interest. I write now to thank you for your invitation to submit comments on the proposals which, have been submitted by three Governments to the Council of Europe. The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization is ready fully to associate with you in a study of these proposals for the further development of European co-operation in the field of public health. The objectives of these proposals coincide conrpletely with those of the World Health Organization, which has. been working towards these ends in Europe during the past seven years, both during the period of the Interim Commission and since the establishment of the permanent Organization in 1948.
As you know, the World Health Organization, from its inception, had the objective of decentralising its work to a very great extent on a regional basis. The Regional Organization in Europe, consisting of a Regional Committee of Member States and a Regional Office, plans an annual programme of detailed work within a framework of agreed long-term objectives which, up to the present time, have been directed mainly to studying common health problems, exchanging experience thereon and stimulating activities towards the strengthening of National Health Services with emphasis on broad aspects of training medical and auxiliary health personnel. The whole process of planning and imŗdementing the programme is carried out on a continuous basis with individual Governments and groups of Governments as well as in the regular meetings of the Regional Committee. The emphasis throughout is to assure the greatest co-operation possible on health matters between Member Governments in the region of Europe.
In carrying out these tasks, the Regional Organization has full access to a range of technical services which are rendered by the W.H.O. ón a world basis and many of which have relevance to the particular proposals which have now been raised.
The Regional Office co-operates also with the United Nations, its Specialised Agencies and numerous organizations, governmental and nongovernmental, with common interests in health problems in Europe, The relevant chapter of the Constitution of W;H.O. on regional arrangements describes as a function of the Regional Committee (Article 50 (đ) : "to co-operate with the respective regional committees of the United Nations and with those of other specialised agencies and with other regional international organizations having interests in common with the Organization ".
As you have noted in your letter of 20th February, 1954, the RN'oposals which have been submitted to the Council of Europe cover a very wide field. In commenting on them, it seemed preferablo at this stage not to enter into too great detail but rather to indicate in a more general way their relationship to activities now being earned out or planned by the World Health Organization and the – sibility for future development.
The existing services of W.H.O. incorporate range of technical health and medical publications, a system öf expert committees and panels, regular epidemiological and statistical reporting and many other services related to the exchange of scientific information. Each unit of the Organization and its Regional Offices regards this as an essential aspect of its work.
The possibility of developing a specific Documentation Centre (or Centres) in Europe has been proposed on more than one occasion as an activity öf the Regional Office and is now under study, following a recent renewed request by a Member State. Data already collected in connection with this proposal indicates the desirability of associating the work of a Documentation Centre with an established and well-developed medical library and reference unit of which there arc several in Europe. Essential preliminaries to bo studied further are the range of the existing services of a similar character in Europe and a determination of tho scope and character of services to be provided, should it be considered desirable to establish a new Documentation Centre in Europe.
The Regional Office regularly arranges individual or collective visits to other countries for information purposes. This is one of the major activities of the Regional Office. It embraces an extensive individual fellowship programme in Europe and tho organization of a series of group study tours in public health and related 'fields.
Comment on the proposal to arrange for exchange appointments will be made later in connection with other proposals of a related character under point No. 4 (Pooling of Resources).
In general international co-ordination of research, W.H.O. is already functioning in many fields, and these cover some of the specific examples given but also many others.
In addition to "W.H.O.-sponsored centres engaged in co-ordination of research (many of which are in Europe), W.H.O. publications, particularly those representing the reports of various expert groups, regularly outline programmes of research. Two other aspects of W.H.O.'s work offer important contributions to international medical and health research. In the first piace, activities of W.H.O. going back many years in the field of morbidity and mortality statistics provide information without which no reliable health research can be developed. The Organization has easy access also to the valuable collections of statistical material of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and others. A second fundamental contribution to international health research is the basic work done by W.H.O. on terminology and standards in such matters as morbidity and mortality statistics, drugs, antibiotics and other subjects — all essential preliminaries to any co-ordination or correlation of research work.
An important factor also in further developing this kind of work would be the official relations already established between W.H.O. and nongovernmental international organizations with interests in medical and scientific fields including those mentioned as examples of possible centres · to be established.
With this background, it would be possible to concentrate on specific topics for which co-ordination of research required more active development on a regional basis in Europe. Among the examples quoted, it .can be said that W.H.O. is already functioning to a considerable extent in the fields of mental disorders, tuberculosis, drug addition and the physically or mentally handicapped, has initiated studies on the need for a broader programme of activities in the great problem of cancer and is now engaged on a preliminary study towards the possible development of standards of protection against radiation.
The Regional Office would be fully prepared to consider further European development in co-ordination of research, bearing in mind the contributions already made and the continuing interests of other organizations, such as the International Labour Organization, in problems such as silicosis as well as the role to be palqed by the numerous non-governmental interantional organizations with which W.H.O. stands in official relationship.
In considering the further development of European centres for the co-ordination of research, it would appear desirable to think principally, although not necessarily exclusively, in terms of expanding existing centres so that they fulfil an international role rather than to establish separate new centres which might raise serious problems of finance and staffing.
Reference has already been made to the broad work of W.H.O. in suggesting standards in terminology and procedures — important traditional international functions which W.H.O. has carried forward and expanded from earlier international health bodies such as the Health Organization of the League of Nations and the Office international d'Hygiène publique in Paris. This work has already entered into a variety of fields covering the health aspect of travel and trade, standards of professional education and training, standard items of design and operation of equipment and chemicals, biological standardisation (drugs and therapeutic substances), quality standards for water and food, standards of a variety of laboratory procedures, standard disease control methods and many others.
W.H.O. fully intends to expand this type of work on a regional basis in Europe, with tho object of developing recommended standards which Member Statos of the region may adopt in accordance with their particular situation and possibilities. This iDľoeess of developing recommended standards can be regarded as a normal function of the Regional Office in which considerable progress can bo anticipated in Europe. It will be greatly assisted by tho availability of international standards already developed or being developed by W.H.O. on a world basis.
These wholly desirable objectivos require to be viewed in a long-term way and the achievement of such aims is normally very much helped by а preliminary free exchange of information — in which process W.H.O. is also in a position to assist.
Frequently, progress can be made more rapidity within a group of countries having roughly similar health problems rather than to attempt initially a wide attempt at standardisation on a regional basis. This applied not only to the development of a pharmacopoeia for use in serverai countries but also to attempts to arrive at uniform teaching methods, health regulations, and so forth.
Two specific proposals for study are made under this heading. The first on alternative methods for hospita! care is related to a number of present activées of the Regional Office for Europe such as the study of the type of worker required for the health and welfare of the family. (domiciliary servi¬ces) and a study conference which has been arranged this year on " Children in Hospitals ". Other related activities could contribute to the specific study pro¬posée
Generally, the whole range of activities of W.H.O. and its Regional Office for Europe repré¬sents a pooling of international resources in the interests of all member countries. The identification and use of world expert opinion, the mimerous inter-country programmes in Europe designed to exchange information and to promote professional education and training are all examples of pooling and conser-ving technical resources in the region Experience gained in this type of activity could readily be made available for expanded activities of a related charac-ter For example the machinery developed to operate a .large research fellowship programme could be utilised with the greatest economy in effort in admin-isterin praaïammes of exehange of personnel exPhanpe appointments or reeiprocal arrangements for oZelto undertake teaching or research In fect WHO is already administering the fellow-se progràmme' of another agenev This presents no mrticular problem from an administrative aspect but of course bilatéral and multilateral arrangement betwen coutries would have to be carefullv wolked out before any USEFUL programme for ex-change of personnel could implemented.
Pooling of material resources such as medi¬cal supplies and equipment requires careful study and at the same time presents important practical difficiles. Nevertheless, it might well be possible to envisage specific arrangements between countries, and indeed some are known to exist or to be under study. . The technical units of the Regional Office and the World Health Organization Supply Services Section could contribue towards the working out of specific arrangements. Possibly, the most appropriate method of "pooling" material resources would be for W.H O. to collect and distribue information on the availability of important medical supply items in the different countries of Europe.
Similarly, the extension of existing reciprocal arrangements for treatment facilities as between countries in the region appears wholly desirable and no doubt could be developed further, on a bilateral basis or in agreement between several countries.
With regard to the specific points on which you have requested the advice of the Regional Office for Europe, I believe these might be summarised as follows :
1. The World Health Organization and the Regional Office for Europe arc engaged in programmes of exchange of information as envisaged in your proposals and have specifically under study tho establishment of a Documentation Centre in Europe.
The Regional Office is conducting a large individual fellowship programme and also arranges collective visits of health loersonnel to other countries ļ for information purposes. Tho World Health Orga- • nization is actively engaged in the co-ordination oi research, in which programme existing centres in Europe are playing an important role. Tho Regional Office would be repared to study the desirability of extending tho co-ordination of research centres, with particular reference to the needs of Europe. Tho ; World Health Organization and the Regional Office for Europe are engaged in work considered as an ! essential preliminary to standardization of methods į and could, with a minimum of additional study, in- j corporate some additional aspects of this work within j regular programmes. The Organization is also eon- corned with the broad as]30cts of the pooling of j resources ; it might easily develop its work in this ļ connection and thus could assist to some extent in effecting a pooling of material resources
2. The Regional Office for Europe would bo ļ prepared further to study the proposals, if requested ! and would suggest that the following might receive priority attention — although not necessarily in the order given :
In suggesting these particular subjects, account has been taken of work already being done by W.H.O. on other important subjects included in the proposals of the three. Governments.
The selection of topics for priority attention within the above broad headings requires more detailed study and/consultations both with Member Governments in the region, and with other organizations with common interests.
Such a study might well reveal the desirability of introducing at a relatively early stage in the programme some subjects not awarded priority attention in the above list.
3. A great deal of the preliminary study required in connection with the above proposals has already been carried out by W.H.O. in its regular work during the past years. Further study and clarification would undoubtedly be necessary before arriving at a recommended programme of work, and this would be incorporated in the normal process of consultation with the Member Governments in the region, consultation with other agencies having common interests in the subjects proposed and programme planning within the Regional Committee for Europe.
In some cases where specialized and expert experience was required, the Regional Office would follow its normal procedure of convening on an ad hoe basis a small expert group to advice the Office on an appropriate course of action.
From the considerations set out above, it will 'be seen that a number of the activities proposed are already being carried out by W.H.O. It appears certain also that further study would reveal the pos-sibiLity of incorporating certain of the proposals within existing programmes of the Regional Office. Other problems could readily be implemented by the Regional Office if the necessary financial resources were available. Others still might be found more appropriate for action by individual countries within Europe, but could be developed with the co-operation at the technical level of the Regional Office.
hope that these preliminary comments will.ibe of-assistance to-the Committee of Ministers in studying the proposals which have been made to the Council of Europe. I am entirely at your disposal to supplement the information in any particular way which may be desired. Please be assured also of our willingness to co-operate with you in all respects in the further study of these proposals which are of particular interest to the Regional Office for Europe.
I have the honour, to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
Norman D. BEGG, M.D.
Director.
The Committee of Ministers,
Desiring to stimulate certain cultural activities by Member Governments, which could contribute to a greater unity between their countries,
encourage the exchange and loan to other member countries of works of art ;
encourage tho exchange of concert performances, in particular performances which would foster knowledge of contemporary European composers and artists ;
encourage the exchange of musical scores, orchestral material, recordings and exhibitions ;
make travel grants to young authors and creative artists to enable them to attend international gathering's of authors and artists ;
encourage the organization of further summer schools to introduce foreign students and young .workers to the economic, cultural and social' life of the various Member States ;
develop frontier exchanges, of an educational and cultural nature, particularly among artists, craftsmen, groups of school children and members of youth movements ;
encourage the introduction, in universities and similar institutions, of lectures on Europe ;
participate where occasion demands in the collaboration which has been instituted by the countries signatory to the Brussels Treaty in the domains of higher education, youth and sport ;
organize a "Europe Day" in their respective countries;
encourage national broadcasting and television companies to give broadcasts of a cultural and educational character, including popular lectures relating to the European idea, and to exchange broadcasts of this kind ;
encourage national broadcasting and television companies to organise broadcasts of popular lectures making use of films, film-strips and itinerant exhibitions, both for young people and adults with a view to spreading the European idea.
1. Periodical organization, in a different city each time, of a European Exhibition of Works of Art, to be followed by an itinerant exhibition of reproductions of the exhibits.
2. Continuance, by means of courses, of the revision óf the text and the illustrations of history and geography text-books.
3. Organization of international meetings, lasting a day, a week-end or a week, of teachers, inspectors, directors and administrators in the various fields of education. The purpose of these meetings could bo instruction in the European idea and in international understanding, etc.
4. Increase in tho number of radio and television programmes for schools, youth, etc., dealing with tho structure of European Organizations.
5. Increas e of the number of Research Fellowships awarded by the Council of Europe.
6. Continuance and extension of the exchange of workers.
7. Study , in collaboration with UNESCO and tho Brussels Treaty Organization, of the means of removing tho obstacles to the free circulation of persons.
8. Consideration of the means of removing obstacles to the free flow of students among Member States, as regards the recognition of («) periods of study spent, and examinations passed, in a foreign university, and (b) degrees.
9. Appointment of an experimental working parly to consider effectus civilis as a practical problem and to advise whether future action by tho Council of Europe would be fruitful. Tho working party might consists of (say) ton persons drawn from four professions, under the chairmanship of а member of the Committee of Cultural Experts.
10. Examinatio n by Member States of the extension of the scheme whereby a limited number of doctors and engineers might be permitted to excrciso their profession in a Member State of tho Council of Europe other than their own.
11. Publication of the handbook on European Organizations.
12. Dissemination of the results of the Round Table, in collaboration with the publicists.
13. Preparation of a second Round Table and examination of the possibility of the organization of further gatherings of this kind.
14. Invitation to bo sent each year to an eminent European personality to give a lecture, at the regular European Short Course, on the European Idea.
1. Microfilming of the unpublished and out- of-print catalogues and indexes of the manuscripts and records in the libraries and archives of Member States.
2. Constitution, . i n collaboration with UNESCO, of a collection of the published results of the bilateral and multilateral consultations which have been held by various Member States on the revision of history text-books.
3. Organization of courses for student teachers who have completed their normal professional studies λνΜι a view to introducing them to the European idea.
4. Establishment of a list of universities and other institutions of higher education which include in their syllabuses courses on the European idea and the movement for European unity, with a view to encouraging the exchange of lectures and documents.
5.
5. Encouragement of tho translation into French and English, in collaboration with UNESCO, of great works written in the lesser known languages of Europe.
6. Study, with the technical assistance of UNESCO, of the possible foundation in Europe of an Instituto for Adult Education for the training of teachers and administrators and for tho execution of comparative studies in the field of adult education in urban and rural centres.
7. Possibility of the organization of European journeys by train or boat for groups of students.
8. Consideration of the possibility of the publication of a work of semi-popular nature on tho languages of Europe.
9. Study, in collaboration with UNESCO, of the problem of tho publication of technical dictionaries.
10. Extension to the Member States of the Council of Europe of the booklets on adult education published by the Brussels Treaty Organization.
11. Study of the extension to all Member States of the Council of Europe of the various publications already issued or about to be issued by the Brussels Treaty Organization, namely : pamphlets on the organization of youth movements and services, pamphlets introducing the cultural life of other countries, etc.
12. Study of methods to be taken to encourage the various youth movements and to interest youth in the European idea.
13. Development with the aid of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), of the. vocational training of students (a) Engineering and technical, (b) Commercial. Consideration of the granting of a subsidy to IAESTE for this purpose.
14. Encouragement of the extension of the University Interchange schemes on the lines of those already operating between the United Kingdom and certain other Member States.
15. Consideration of the publication of a "Book of Europe" containing an anthology of important European texts.
16. Consideration of the publication of a collection of European historical studies and of a' collection of biographies of eminent Europeans.
11. Publication of one or several collections of popular tales and legends of the various Member States of tho Council of Europe.
12. Constitution of European anthologies of tho works of contemporary poets and prose writers (books and records).
13. Study of the foundation of an Institute for Hellenic Studies in Athens.
14. Joint examination, by means of lectures or courses, of the problem of tho normalisation of technical education and of the adaption of the structure and methods of professional education to the new Europe.
15. Organization of an annual competition on a European subject in the domain of literature or art for pupils of primary or secondary schools or for students of universities.
16. Organization of itinerant exhibitions (a) on a given subject and to be accompanied by a lecturer, and (δ) on educational material.
17. Encouragement of European co-operation among members of the teaching profession.
18. Study of the setting-up of (a) a European educational film library, and (b) a European film library to preserve and distribute the best documentaries.
19. Establishment of libraries of recordings for the use' of educational institutions, youth movements and centres of adult education.
20. Study of the problem of the liaison to be established between research workers in the field of education and related scienees.
21. Organization of intinerant exhibitions of the artistic works of children, accompanied by a lecturer who would give commentaries on the exhibits.
22. Study of educational and vocational training through the. co-operation and mutual aid of members of the teaching profession.
23. Study of the possibility of co-operating in the work of the International Council of the Educational Film, and of the gradual extension to all Member States of some of the projects concerning education films now being put into operation by the Brussels Treaty Organization.
24. Institution of courses on questions relating to the history of civilisation (literary history, history of art, history of science) in order to bring about a better European understanding.
25. Encouragement of collaboration in the field of adult education by using the results of the Round Table discussion in co-operation with popular universities, centres of adult education, public libraries, trade unions, etc.
26. Organization of a film repository within the framework of the Council of Europe by means of a Convention ensuring in each Member State the preservation of national films.
27. Study of the institution of a cinema pool for cultural and non-commercial purposes.
28. Organization of international meetings, lasting a day, week-end or week, for youth and sports officials.
29. Examination of the possibility of instituting a prize to take the form of an organized journey for parties of undergraduates and pupils of secondary schools.
30. Reduction in postal rates in order to develop exchanges of correspondence among the youth of Member States of the Council of Europe.
31. Consideration of tho possibility of concluding a Convention on the equivalence of degrees qualifying for post-graduate study and setting out tho conditions under which such equivalences can operate in practice.