Relations Council of Europe, Canada and the USA (General policy of the Council of Europe)

Recommendation 771 (1975)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 7 and 8 October 1975 (16th and 17th Sittings) (see Doc. 3657, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 8 October 1975 (17th Sitting).

The Assembly.

1. Expressing its satisfaction that Canada and the United States took part on an equal footing with European states in the activities of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe and demonstrated thereby the importance they attach to co-ordinating with their Western European partners their policies in all matters affecting East-West relations ;

2. Recalling that in several of its press communiques, particularly since 1964, the Committee of Ministers has pronounced itself in favour of expanding participation by non-member states in the technical intergovernmental activities of the Council of Europe ;

3. Noting with interest that at its 53rd and 54th Sessions, in 1974, the Committee of Ministers reiterated its concern that member states not belonging to the European Communities should be able to join with the Nine in an examination of relations with the United States, and decided that this item should remain on its agenda ;

4. Welcoming the official arrangements agreed in Ottawa on 13 February 1975 between the President of the Assembly, the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons for more continuous and substantial co-operation between the Canadian Parliament and the Assembly ;

5. Recalling with pleasure that delegations from the Canadian Parliament and the United States Congress have on several occasions taken part in parliamentary debates and specialised conferences held under the auspices of the Assembly ;

6. Noting that the North American states, and especially Canada, have shown considerable interest in the Council of Europe's intergovernmental activities,

7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers :

7.1 welcome the interest expressed by Canada and the United States and consider close co-operation with them ;

7.2 instruct the Secretary General to pursue exploratory talks with both the Canadian and United States Governments, with a view to sub-mitting specific proposals for active participation by those states in the intergovernmental activities of the Council of Europe whenever this would be of mutual interest.