The Assembly,
Considering that the simplification and, as far as possible, abolition of frontier formalities for travel between Member States of the Council of Europe are among the most effective methods of achieving closer unity between those States ;
Noting the creation, by Resolution (56)22 of the Committee of Ministers, of a Special Committee of Senior Officials for the simplification of Frontier Formalities ;
Having been informed by the Committee of Ministers of the progress made in simplifying frontier formalities thanks, above all, to the work of the said Special Committee (Docs. 710 and 770) ;
Congratulating the Committee of Ministers and its Special Committee on this progress,
Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the necessary steps to facilitate the work of the Special Committee set up under Resolution (56)22 and take immediate action on the following proposals by transmitting them, for study, to the said Special Committee.
In view of the European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States, signed in Paris on 13th December 1957, already ratified by Belgium, France and Italy and in process of ratification by Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany ;
Considering that, by the terms of this Agreement, nationals of the Contracting Parties, whatever their country of residence, may enter or leave the territory of any other Party by all frontiers on presentation of one of the identity cards listed in the Appendix to the said Agreement ;
Considering that the facilities provided under this Agreement should be enjoyed by nationals of all the Member States lawfully resident in the territory of one of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement of 13th December 1957,
The Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers that it consider the possibility of extending the European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe to cover nationals of all Member States of the Council lawfully residing in the territory of any of the Contracting Parties to the said Agreement.
Noting with satisfaction that nine Member States have, in accordance with the proposals contained in Assembly Recommendation 84(1955), already dispensed with customs documents for private motor vehicles registered abroad, national registration papers alone being required in order to cross their frontier ;
Considering that other Member States have announced their willingness to introduce similar measures ;
Believing that it would be well in these circumstances to standardise national motor registration papers as far as possible ;
Believing further that it is desirable to extend to other categories of vehicles the measures adopted in favour of private motor vehicles,
The Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers that it consider the possibility of standardising national motor registration papers and of abolishing customs documents for coaches and lorries.