The Assembly,
2. Recalling its previous Recommendations on the problems of co-operation with newly developing countries, in particular Recommendations 158, 159, 211, 222, 223 and 243;
3. Considering that a part of these Recommendations is being implemented in the Development Assistance Group but that recent developments in the policy of the U.S.A. place new responsibilities on the Council of Europe;
4. Considering that Europe must state its views on President Kennedy's plan "The Decade of Development", in particular because the United States expects a large increase in Europe's contribution to the effort of cooperation with newly developing countries;
5. Considering that the European and North American points of view will normally be confronted within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), whose main aims should be to coordinate the various assistance projects, to increase their efficiency, and to ensure that the contributions of the member States are proportional to their wealth,
6. Recommends the Committee of Ministers :
7. to express its agreement with the main lines of President Kennedy's plan, which is in accord with the policy previously advocated by the Council of Europe:
respect for the independence of States;
assistance to be on the basis of plans prepared by Governments representative of their peoples and willing to play their part by taking necessary measures of governmental, social and fiscal reform;
control over the funds made available by donor organisations;
assistance to be adapted to the different situations and to include :human infrastructure (cultural development, food, sanitary improvements);special educational schemes to train key personnel;economic infrastructure;grants;long-term loans at low rates of interest but repayable in strong currencies;
possibility for private investments to be used on condition that such projects are within the framework of development plans;
guarantees to be given by States to private investments;
8. to increase multilateral aid to the maximum and, at least, within two years, to 15% of the total amount of bilateral aid;
9. Considering that negotiations will open shortly with a view to the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community,
10. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should invite the Governments concerned to :
11. work for a merger of the preference systems affecting English-speaking and French-speaking African States, thereby creating a factor of unity both in Africa and in Europe;
12. follow, inside the Community, perhaps enlarged, a policy liberal enough not to impede in any way the normal industrial expansion in newly developing countries not associated with the European Economic Community;
13. Considering that the European Economic Community, even enlarged, will not be competent to devise a special regime for the exports of countries which are not members of the Community or are not linked to it by association agreements;
14. Considering that it has not been possible so far in the United Nations, ECOSOC or GATT to reach agreement on the stabilisation of raw material prices on a world-wide basis;
15. Considering that adequate support for the exports of outside countries, in particular those of Asia, Australasia and South America, is essential and can, moreover, assist in improving general economic conditions,
16. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to propose in the Council of OECD the opening of negotiations on the means of remedying instability in the markets of raw materials.