Functioning of the Council of Europe

Recommendation 177 (1958)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(a) Subject introduced on 20th December 1957 by the tabling of the Report of the Bureau of the Assembly, Doc. 763, on the institutional reform of the Council of Europe. <br>(b) 16th January 1958, the question was the subject of Order 115. <br>(c) 5th September 1958, tabling of the Report of the Bureau of the Assembly, Doc. 845,elaborated in accordance with Order 115. <br>(d) 16th October 1958, debate in the Assembly (see 20th Sitting of the 10th Session). The Recommendation was adopted unanimously.

The Assembly,

Having undertaken a study of the problem of the institutional reform of the Council of Europe ;

Considering that the rule of secrecy in the deliberations of the Committee of Ministers is calculated to facilitate intergovernmental negotiation, but that the principle of the responsibility of the executive is thwarted if the position taken by Member Governments at the conclusion of their debates remains shrouded in secrecy ;

Considering, moreover, that greater continuity would be achieved in the work of the Committee of Ministers if it had a permanent chairman and that better liaison would be maintained between the Committee and the Assembly if that Chairman were the Secretary-General -an arrangement which would follow the precedents of N.A.T.O. and W.E.U.,

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers that it should :

1 make a practice of informing the Assembly -as permitted by Article 21 (b) of the Statute -of the votes of each Member Government on the Assembly's recommendations, provided, however, that such information may be withheld or refused when special circumstances so require ;

2 appoint the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe as permanent Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, whether meeting at ministerial or official level -as permitted by Article 18 of the Statute -without prejudice to the right of the Ministers to retain the chairmanship on particularly important occasions.