Draft European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 11 October 1979 (19th Sitting) (see Doc. 4402, report of the Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities). Text adopted by the Assembly on 11 October 1979 (19th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Stressing the importance it attaches to transfrontier co-operation in Europe ;
3. Welcoming the completion by the Committee of Ministers of a draft European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities, and expressing its thanks for having been asked for an opinion on it ;
4. Deploring the undue length of time it has taken to draw up this instrument, and regretting that the Committee of Ministers' text falls well short of the objectives set by the Assembly's draft ;
5. Regretting the fact that the outline convention contains numerous extremely vague terms, and that the convention thus lacks precision and compelling force ;
6. Believing, however, that the adoption of the outline convention represents a substantial step forward in European co-operation, and particularly in the development of genuine solidarity among the citizens of Europe ;
7. Considering that the principles stated in this text may afford a basis for a new doctrine of international law governing neighbourly relations across frontiers and the division of responsibilities among local authorities,
8. Expresses a favourable opinion on the draft European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities ;
9. Requests that, when reaching a decision on this draft, the Committee of Ministers agree :
a to open the outline convention for signature by member states before the end of the year, and to call upon them to submit it to ratification procedure promptly ;
b to see that arrangements are made as from 1980 to circulate information on transfrontier co-operation among member states and the local and regional authorities concerned as provided for in the convention (Articles 1, 6, 7 and 8) ;
c in so doing, to bear in mind previous recommendations by the Assembly, the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT), the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Local Government and the Steering Committee for Regional and Municipal Matters ;
d to instruct the Steering Committee for Regional and Municipal Matters to prepare, within three years of the entry into force of the outline convention, a protocol clearly recognising the right of territorial communities or authorities to engage in transfrontier co-operation on the lines of the Scandinavian Convention of 26 May 1977 on Transfrontier Co-operation.
