Creation of a European Co-ordinating Committee for the preservation and development of ancient buildings and historical or artistic sites

Resolution 269 (1964)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 16th January 1964 (23rd Sitting) (see Doc. 1711, report of the Cultural and Scientific Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 16th January 1964 (23rd Sitting).

The Assembly,

Having regard to the report of the Cultural and Scientific Committee on the preservation and development of ancient buildings and historical or artistic sites (Doc. 1570);

Having regard to the progress report on recent activities in this field (Doc. 1711);

Noting with satisfaction that Recommendation 365, referred by the Committee of Ministers to the Council for Cultural Cooperation for an opinion, is being sympathetically examined by that body, which proposes to include in its programme a number of inter-governmental discussions on protection and development;

Considering that the Committee of Ministers is examining the possibility of implementing Recommendation 366 relating to a pilot-project for the preservation of a historical quarter of Venice;

Considering that the European Conference of Local Authorities has taken account of Resolution 249 by placing the question of the preservation and development of ancient buildings and historical or artistic sites on the agenda of its 5th Session, and has furthermore invited the Civic Trust to organise an exhibition and film displays during that session;

Considering that, in consequence of Order No. 216, a European Federation of private organisations for the preservation and development of ancient buildings and historical or artistic sites has been formed under the title "Europa Nostra";

Considering that the proposal for a Conference in 1965 to be held in Oxford has been accepted;

Considering that the problems of preservation and development in a very large number of European cities are increasing and often acquiring an acutely urgent character;

Considering that the press, which has given wide publicity to the action taken by the Council of Europe in this field, is laying more and more stress on the importance and gravity of the problems arising in Europe with regard to the preservation of her cultural and historical heritage;

Reaffirming the urgent need for a coordinated campaign by all interested circles;

Considering the desirability of coordinated action at the European level,

Decides to establish, through its Cultural and Scientific Committee, a "European Committee for the Co-ordination of Protection", formed of experts and representatives of the interested parties, including:

the Cultural and Scientific Committee,

the Council for Cultural Co-operation,

UNESCO,

the International Federation for Housing and Planning,

the Europa Nostra Federation,

the European Conference of Local Authorities;

This "Co-ordinating Committee" shall be responsible for:

a co-ordinating protection schemes within the context of a European campaign;

b preparing the European Conference on the preservation and development of ancient buildings and historical or artistic sites to be held in Oxford in 1965;

c examining all cases referred to it by interested parties with a view to recommending solutions in keeping with the principles of protection and development expounded in the report referred to above (Doc. 1570);

Instructs the Cultural and Scientific Committee to draw up and distribute a prospectus announcing the establishment of the Co-ordinating Committee and the programme for the European protection campaign;

Instructs the Cultural and Scientific Committee to report back on the implementation of the present Resolution.