I t was with particular satisfaction that the Assembly took note of the second Progress Report transmitted to it by I.C.E.M. and it wishes to express its thanks for this comprehensive document which has supplied full information on a problem of which it has often emphasised the importance.
The Assembly would point out that it has, on various occasions, stated its view that I.C.E.M. should increase its activities in connection with migration.
The Assembly supports the Resolution adopted by the Committee in question on 19th October, 1953, recommending Member Governments, as soon as possible, to accept the Act of Incorporation submitted for their approval. Since effect will be given to this instrument when two-thirds at least of the members of I.C.E.M. and a number of members whose contributions represent at least seventy-five per cent of the administrative section of the budget, have notified their acceptance, the Assembly emphasises the extreme importance of speedy ratification by all the Governments of countries which are members both of the Council of Europe and I.C.E.M. The Assembly is glad to note that eleven Governments, five of which are of member countries of the Council of Europe that is to say Italy, Canada, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, Australia, Switzerland, Paraguay and Austria — have already ratified.
The Assembly now strongly urges the Governments which are not yet members to accede to I.C.E.M. The need for a common European policy on the question of national refugees and over-population, to which the various organs of the Council of Europe have recently devoted much discussion in connection with the work of the Special Representative, makes it imperative that all the member countries of the Council of Europe should help to solve this distressing problem.
The Assembly notes with satisfaction the progress made in respect of migration and particularly the fact that I.C.E.M. has not only provided transport for emigrants who otherwise, would be unable to leave, but has also been empowered to increase European emigration by providing the essential services for the work of preparation and inception, and of finding initial employment for, and installing the emigrants, none of. which could have been accomplished by any other international organisation.
Similarly, the Assembly hopes that the Committee will be able to increase the volume of migration by introducing plans for agricultural colonization by immigrants. It is keenly interested in the preliminary work of the Committee in this field and hopes the necessary funds for the development of this new form of activity will be made available to it.
The Assembly is of the opinion that the emigration figure of 10,000 departures a month attained by the Committee during the last four months of 1953, while satisfactory within the limits of the present financial resources of I.C.E.M., should be considerably increased.
On this point, the Assembly has noted the necessity for further efforts, and particularly a financial effort, on the part of the Governments of Member States of the Committee.
The Assembly reaffirms the importance which it attaches to the work of the Committee, and is convinced that a fresh impulse Avill be given to European migration by the maintenance of increasingly close co-operation between the Committee and the Council of Europe, particularly as forming part of the policy which the Special Representative of the Council of Europe proposes to submit to the Committee of Ministers for approval.