The Consultative Assembly thanks the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration for having submitted to it its draft Constitution for an opinion. It has examined this draft with considerable interest and welcomes the decision taken by the Member Governments of the Committee to grant the tatter a constitution and thus stress the vital importance of its work at the present time.
The Assembly has always followed most attentively the work of the I.C.E.M. in the field of emigration overseas. In this respect it would point to its Recommendation 34 of 26th September, 1952 on measures to be adopted for increasing emigration overseas. This Recommendation proposed that the mandate of the I.C.E.M. be extended for a minimum period of four to five years and that the Committee's financial resources be increased to enable it to intensify the present rate of emigration.
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, endorsing this Recommendation, appelaed to the Governments of countries outside Europe to encourage the immigration of Europeans to their shores. It also drew their attention to the advisability of increased financial support being given to international organisations concerned with migration (Resolution [53] 20 of the Committee of Ministers).
The Draft Constitution of the I.C.E.M., and more especially the principles set forth in the Preamble and Article 1 concerning the Committee's mission, accord with the ideas put forward by the Assembly.
The Assembly fully approves and endorses paragraph 4 of the Preamble to the effect that there is need to promote the co-operation of Governments and international organisations with a view to the emigration of persons who desire to emigrate to overseas countries, where they may achieve self-dependence through useful employment and live with their families in dignity and self-respect, thus doing their part to contribute to peace and order in the world.
The Assembly sincerely hopes that the Member Governments of the I.C.E.M. will do all in their power to intensify the present rate of migration and grant the Committee the necessary financial means for achieving these aims. It is convinced that they will prove equal to the gravity of the situation, in the interests of the countries concerned and the peace of the world as a whole.
The Assembly expresses the hope that the Member Governments of the I.C.E.M. will adopt the Draft Constitution, so that it may enter into force without delay and thus enable the Committee to continue its operations, uninterrupted, in the interests of all concerned.