Number and Allocation of Seats in the Assembly

Report | Doc. 106 | 09 December 1951

Committee

Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

Rapporteur :

Mr Georges BOHY, Belgium, SOC

Origin

See 3rd Session, 1951 : Doc. 60 (Second Supplementary Report from the Committee of Ministers, Section II) and Doc. 74 (Communication from the Committee of Ministers) ; 1951 - 3rd Session - Second part

Thesaurus

A Explanatory Memorandum

1. The Committee on General Affairs, in its second report on constitutional questions (Doc. 105), suggested that the number of seats in the Consultative Assembly should be increased by 50 %.

2. The proposal transmitted by the Committee of Ministers, in its communication of 24th November, aimed merely at granting a limited increase, b y which one or t w o additional seats would be granted to certain States, to facilitate a balanced representation of their political parties in the Assembly.

3. The Committee on General Affairs decided that it would be advisable to accept the proposal of the Committee of Ministers, in order that the Member States concerned might immediately be granted the additional concessions they desire. It considered, however, that the Assembly should reserve the right to submit, at a later date, a proposal of wider scope for an increase in the number of seats.

4. The Committee unanimously approved the motion for a Resolution which it now submits to the Assembly.

B Draft Resolution

" The Assembly,

Having been requested by the Committee of Ministers, in accordance with Article 41 (d) of the Statute, to consider a proposal for the amendment of Article 26 of the Statute, Reserving its right to submit at a later date a proposal of wider scope for the amendment of the distribution of seats in the Assembly,

Being desirous of immediately granting the Member States concerned the additional concessions they desire,

Approves the following text for the amendment of Article 26 of the Statute :

Article 26 shall be worded as follows :

Members shall be entitled to the number of Representatives given below :

Belgium - 7

Denmark - 5

France - 18

Germany (Federal Republic) - 18

Greece - 7

Iceland - 3

Ireland - 4

Italy - 18

Luxembourg - 3

Netherlands - 7

Norway - 5

Saar - 3

Sweden - 6

Sweden - 10

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - 18