A Draft Resolution - presented, with a request for urgent procedure, by the Social Committee
1. In accordance with the Joint Resolution adopted on 12th February 1957, by the Bureaux of the Consultative Assembly and the WEU Assembly concerning collaboration between the two Assemblies in cultural and social matters, the Consultative Assembly has considered the draft Reply of the General Affairs Committee of the WEU Assembly to the Social Chapter of the Annual Report which the Council of that Organisation is to submit to the WEU Assembly.
2. With regard to social questions, the Assembly notes that the following are among the items placed on the WEU Agenda :
a Public health;
b Drafting of a European Convention on Social Security;
c Manpower mobility;
d Vocational training;
e Application of ILO Conventions, Recommendations and Resolutions;
f Problem of a European Social Charter;
g Harmonisation of legislation concerning atomic protection.
The Assembly draws the attention of the competent organs of W. E. U. to the fact that Items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (/) have already been the subject of careful study, and indeed of decisions, not only by the Council of Europe itself, but also b y other organisations, such as 0. E. E. C, the I. L. 0., the E. C. S. C, etc. As for item (g), it is likely, of course, to come within the scope of Euratom.
3. The Assembly therefore feels bound to express concern that several organisations should be devoting their energies to the study of the same questions. This concern is increased by the fact that the Common Market Organisation will shortly be required, in its turn, to deal with the same social questions. In these circumstances it is to be feared that there will be an increasing degree of overlapping among these organisations in the social field. This duplication, even on a multilateral scale, will gradually lead to a state of confusion and thus not merely impede progress but bar the way to European unification, the purpose for which all these organisations were created.
4. With special reference to social security questions, the Consultative Assembly agrees with the WEU Assembly that such questions will assume increasing importance on the establishment of the Common Market. It believes it would be most regrettable, however, if the work done by the Council of Europe in this field, with which 15 member countries are associated, should lapse owing to poor coordination among the various international bodies, following upon the inauguration of the Common Market which it is the natural task of the Council of Europe to supplement and extend.
5. As for manpower mobility problems, they could more easily be solved within the framework of the fifteen Council of Europe countries than on a narrower scale. Here again, therefore, the Assembly would be sorry if the work of the Council of Europe were unable to go forward smoothly and in harmony with that of the other organisations.
6. On these grounds, and in view of the vital importance to the future of Europe of ensuring co-ordination between the various international and intergovernmental organisations, the Assembly :
a Stresses the gravity and urgency of this problem and trust that the Ministers will give it their full attention;
b Appeals to all parliamentarians to seek ways and means of solving it;
c Considers that measures for improving the present situation should include :
6.3.1 arrangements whereby observers from the secretariats of each of the two organisations may attend meetings of the social organs of the other;
6.3.2 the holding, whenever deemed appropriate, of joint meetings of the Social Committees of the two organisations;
6.3.3 the organisation of such a meeting with the minimum of delay, for the purpose of joint examination of this Resolution;
d Hopes that, in accordance with the spii'it of co-operation shown by the adoption, on 12th January 1957, of the joint Resolution of the Bureaux of the two organisations, this serious problem may be solved in a manner consonant with the interests of European unity.
