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Seven Resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ministers at its 13th Session

Communication | Doc. 220 | 08 January 1954

Author(s):
Committee of Ministers
Thesaurus

1 Letter from the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe to the President of the Consultative Assembly, dated 31st December, 1953

The Committee of Ministers, which held its Thirteenth Session on 11th and 12th December, 1953, at Paris, instructed me to transmit to you its decisions on the following points :

1. In reply to Resolution 44, adopted by the Assembly in September, 1953, setting- out the policy of the Council of Europe in the light of recent developments in the international situation, the Committee of Ministers adopted the following Resolution :
RESOLUTION (53) 34

The Committee of Ministers,

Having considered Resolution 44 of the Consultative Assembly, defining tlio policy which, in the view of the Assembly, should be pursued by membor countries in the light of recent developments in the international situation,

Resolves to approve the broad lines of to policy defined in this Resolution and to express its earnest hope that the Assembly will continue to debate major political questions of this kind, thus affording guidance to European publie opinion.

2. In pursuance of Recommendation 55, adopted by the Assembly in September, 1953, on the help to be given by the Council of Europe to the victims of the Greek earthquake disasters, the Committee adopted the following Resolution :
RESOLUTION (53) 32

The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to Recommendation 55 of the Consultative Assembly on the help to be given by the Council of Europe to the victims of the Greek earthquakes ;

Recalling its Resolution (53) 27 dealing with the same disaster and recommending that Member Governments should furnish Greece with the largest possible measure of practical assistance required for the reconstruction of the devastated areas ;

Being desirous to impart a symbolic character to this aid by the Council as an illustration of the spirit of European solidarity,

Resolves that the Council of Europe shall adopt the Island of Ithaca ;

Recommends that the Governments should asssist, as far as lies in their power, in reconstructing this island, due consideration being given to the steps already taken and the efforts made by certain member countries to assist the victims of the Greek earthquakes.

3. Having considered the requests formulated by the Bureau of the Assembly in the course of its meeting on 23rd November, 1953, with regard to the budgetary system of the Assembly, the Committee of Ministers responded with the following Resolution :
RESOLUTION (53) 38

The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to Article 38 of the Statute of the Council and Articles 2 to 7, 11, 13 and 19 of the Financial Regulations ;

Having regard to requests formulated by the Bureau of the Consultative Assembly in the course of its meeting of 23rd November, 1953 ;

Considering it to be desirable that the opinion of the Assembly should be obtained with regard to appropriations to be included in the Budget of the Council of Europe connected with the operation of Assembly Services, and that the Clerk to the Assembly should, by delegation from the Secretary-General, be entrusted with the duties of 'ordonnateur' empowered to incur financial commitments in respect of such appropriations,

Resolves :

1 When drawing up the draft Budget for the Council of Europe, the Secretary-General shall consult the Assembly on that part of the draft Budget which comprises the relevant operational appropriations. Such consultation shall take place in accordance with a procedure to be laid down by agreement between the President of the Assembly and the Secretary-General. The opinion of the Assembly shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers at the same time as the draft Budget. Any appropriations proposed by the Assembly which, by the purpose served or the amount involved, may be considered by the Secretary-General to be unsuitable for inclusion in the draft Budget, shall also bo transmitted to the Committee of Ministers at the same time as the draft Budget.
2 A list of members of the staff of the Secretary-General placed wholly at the disposal of the Assembly Services shall be appended each year to the Budget.
3 The Secretary-General shall, within such limits as ho may determine, delegate to the Clerk of the Assembly the duties of 'ordonnât ew' empowered to incur financial commitments in respect of appropriations figuring in the Vote of tho Budget relating to the operation of the Assembly and its Committeos.
4 Tho Secretary-General shall submit for approval by tho Assembly the name of an official of tho Finance Department of the Secretary-General to act as comptroller, responsible for giving tho approval required for the incurring of financial commitments connected with tho appropriations mentioned in (3) above.
5 The abovo provisions shall in no way affect the responsibility of tho Secretary-Gonoral in respect of budgetary and administrative matters, as they are laid down in tho Statute of the Council and tho Financial Régulations.

4. Recommendation 40 (1952) of the Consultative Assembly concerning the Cultural Fund for Exiles was discussed during- the meeting of the Joint Committee on 12th December, 1953. On this occasion the representatives of the Committee of Ministers on the Joint Committee made the following observations : Tho Committeo of Ministers has given careful consideration to Recommendation 40 (1952) of the Consultative Assembly relating to tho creation of a European Cultural Fund for Exiles. In its Fourth Report to tho Assembly of May, 1953, it oxplained tho reasons why it felt unable to give effect to this Recommendation. It would appear, howovor, that a certain confusion may have arisen in tho courso of tho Ministers' deliberations, which would account for tho negative roply given to the Assembly. For tho moment this roply still stands. Before reviewing its decision the Committee of Ministers would like the Assembly to explain more clearly the aim and character of the proposed fund — that is, whether it is to be used solely, as stated in Recommendation 40 (1952) "to preserve among tho exiles now in Western Europe their cultural inheritance and national civilisations", in which case it will bo necessary to define concrete methods for achieving this aim, or whether, as certain remarks made in tho Assembly seem to imply, it is intended rather as a relief fund with a view to enabling exiles to continue their studies or re-settle themselves in their country of asylum. In the first case the question of establishing a special fund might be reconsidered, in. the sense that Member States not wishing to contribute thereto could perhaps agree to its establisment by the other Members. In the second case, the Committee of Ministers would be constrained to adhere to its previous decision, considering that, by instituting an international fund, Member Governments would not wish to duplicate the aid already granted on the national plane. The Committee of Ministers would therefore be grateful if the Assembly would explain its point of view more clearly in the light of the above remarks.
5. In its Resolution 22 of May, 1953, transmitted to the Assembly together with the Message from the Committee of Ministers, the latter decided to appoint,'for a period of one year, a distinguished European personality who would be especially concerned with the problem of refugees and surplus elements of population. The Committee of Ministers accordingly appointed M. Pierre Schneiter by virtue of the MIOAV-ing Resolution : .
RESOLUTION (53) 35

The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to the importance and urgency of the problem of national refugees and the problem of over-population in Europe;

Having regard to the fact that there are at present certain gaps in the system of international cooperation in these matters;

Having regard to Recommendation 13 (1951) of te Consultative Assembly and its Resolution (51) 57 as also to the final Report of the Committee of Governmental Experts (Doc. CM (51) 69), and to Resolutions (52) 11, (53) 19, 20 and 22 of the Committee of Ministers;

Being resolved to take early and effective action, without prejudice to the functions and activities of other international organisations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Resolves :

1 To entrust M. Pierre Schneiter for a period of one year beginning the 1st February, 1954, with the task of studying the problem of national refugees and the problem of over-population in Europe ;
2 To accord him the title of ''Spécial Representative of the Council of Europe for national refugees and over-population' ;
3 To request him
a to take steps to arouse public interest in this matter;
b to study these problems, in order to avoid overlapping, in consultation with the Governments and international organisations concerned;
c t o put forward to the Committee of Ministers proposals for their solution of the outstanding problems within te framework of Resolutions (52) 11 and (53) 19 and 20.

6. In reply to Recommendation 57, adopted by the Assembly in September, 1953, on the future position of the Saar, the Committee of Ministers adopted the following Resolution :
RESOLUTION (53) 36

Tho Committee of Ministers,

Having considered Recommendation 57 (1953) of the Consultative Assembly;

Conscious of the gravity of tho problem which the Saar represents and of the urgent need to find a solution,

Resolves to inform the Governments of the French Republic and of the German Federal Republic of its satisfaction at tho resumption of bilateral negotiations between them, and of its hope that these may soon lead to a solution acceptable to all parties.

7. Having considered Recommendation 49 adopted by the Assembly in September, 1953, the Committee of Ministers adopted the following Resolution with regard to the appointment and promotion of officials on the Council of Europe staff :
RESOLUTION (53) 33

The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to Articles 36 and 37 of the Statute of tho Council;

Having regard to Resolution (49) 20 of the Committee of Ministers;

Having regard to Article 7 of Part 2 of the Administrative Regulations;

Having regard to Recommondation 49 (1953) of tho Consultative Assembly;

Considering that it is in tho general interest of tho Council to adopt all such measures as may be conducive to tho development of harmonious relations between tho Consultative Assembly and tho Committee of Ministers,

Resolves :

1 Before transmitting to the Consultative Assembly a recommondation for tho appointment of tho Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General or Clerk to tho Assembly having tho rank of Deputy Secretary-General, the Committee of Ministers will consult tho Assembly on the subject, normally through the medium of the Joint Committee.
2 No appointment to the Secretariat shall be considered to be the prerogative of any particular Member State.
3 In appointing all officials of the Council of Europe and in filling vacancies the qualifications and experience of persons already employed by the Council of Europe shall be taken into consideration insofar as this is compatible with the desirability of recruiting fresh talent from time to time, and of ensuring an equitable geographical allocation of appointments among nationals of the Member States.

I should add that the following Agreements and Conventions, prepared by the Council of Europe, were signed by the Foreign Ministers of the Member States on Uth December, 1953 :

  • Accord intérimaire européen concernant la Sécurité sociale, à l'exclusion des régimes relatifs à la vieillesse, à l'invalidité et aux survivants, et protocole additionnel audit Accord.
  • Interi m Agreement on Social Security other than Schemes for Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors, with Protocol.
  • Interi m Agreement on Social Security Schemes relating to Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors, with Protocol.
  • Conventio n on the equivalence of Diplomas leading to Admission to Universities.
  • Conventio n relating to the formalities required for Patent Applications.

These texts were also signed by the Belgian Foreign Minister, M. van Zeeland, on behalf of the Government of the Saar, as had been decided by the Committee of Ministers in agreement with the Governments directly concerned.