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Sixth Report addressed by the Committee of Ministers to the consultative Assembly under Article 19 of the Statute

Statutory report | Doc. 357 | 21 June 1955

1 General Considerations

1. In accordance with Article 19 of the Statute of the Council of Europe the Committee of Ministers has the honour to address its Sixth Report to the Consultative Assembly, on the occasion of its Seventh Ordinary Session.

2. This Report is a continuation of the Supplementary Report transmitted to the Assembly in September, 1954 and covers the period from 14th September, 1954, the opening of the second part of the Assembly's Sixth Ordinary Session, to 20th June, 1955.

3. During the period under review the Committee of Ministers continued to pursue the aims set out in the Statute of the Council of Europe, seeking their fulfilment by the undertaking of common action in economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters. The Committee of Ministers held its Fifteenth Session in Paris on December 19th, 1954, and the Ministers' Deputies held eight meetings, the last one of which, from 15th to 20th June, was devoted to the preparation of the Sixteenth Session of the Committee of Ministers, to be held on July 4th, 1955. This Report summarises the work done during the period under review.

4. During its Fifteenth Session the Committee of Ministers, after hearing a statement by its Chairman, M. S. Stephanopoulos, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, held a general discussion on the rôle of the Council and its position in relation to other international organisations.

At the end of this discussion, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution (54) 26, which reads as follows :

" The Committee of Ministers,

Being desirous that the mission of the Council of Europe in the system of intergovernmental collaboration among European countries should be better defined;

Reaffirming that the task of the Council of Europe is, among other things, to serve as the general framework of European policy;

Considering that for this purpose it is necessary to enable the Assembly to fulfil more effectively its consultative rôle,

Resolves :

1 to refer to the Ministers' Deputies the speech of the Chairman of the Committee and the remarks made by the other members of the Committee during the meeting of the 19th December, 1954, with a view to extracting therefrom such conclusions as "will be calculated to improve the methods of work of the Committee of Ministers and establish closer relations with the Consultative Assembly;
2 to invite Member Governments to put forward their suggestions for the establishment of a list of questions which might usefully be submitted to the Consultative Assembly for its opinion;
3 to invite the Deputies,, when engaged in this study, to take account of the Special Message of the Committee of Ministers to the Consultative Assembly on the Programme of Work (Doc. 238) with a view to determining, on the plane of intergovernmental collaboration among the member countries, what should be the position of the Council of Europe in relation to other European organisations. "

Acting on these instructions, the Deputies have prepared a report for consideration by the Committee of Ministers at their Sixteenth Session.

5. On 19th December, 1954 the Committee of Ministers signed two more Conventions: the European Cultural Convention and the Convention relating to the International Classification of Patents for Invention. This brings to eight the number of European Conventions concluded in the framework of the Council of Europe. Document 332 of 10th February, 1955 informed the Assembly of various other decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers at that time. In addition, committees of governmental experts have prepared two draft conventions on Extradition and on the Reciprocal Treatment of Nationals. The Social Committee has also been created, and its work is summarised in Section I, Chapter 2, paragraph (b) below.

6. As in previous years, Section I of this Report deals with steps taken by the Committee of Ministers to achieve the aims of the Council of Europe in the various fields of its competence. Section II deals with the machinery of the Council and its methods of work. Section III reviews relations with other international organisations, both international and supranational.

1.1 SECTION I - Steps taken to achieve the aims of the Council of Europe

1.1.1 CHAPTER I - Economic Questions

1.1.1.1 (a) Strasbourg Plan

7. The Committee of Ministers has examined Recommendation 61 (1954) on the Special Report of the O. E. E. C. with regard to the Strasbourg Plan. The question has been included on the Agenda of the Joint Committee for its meeting on 4th July, 1955.

1.1.1.2 (b) Control of International Cartels

8. The Committee of Ministers has transmitted to the United Nations Opinion No. 10, adopted by the Consultative Assembly on 23rd September, 1954, on the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Restrictive Business Practices set up by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The comments of the German Federal Government on this Report were transmitted to the United Nations at the same time.

9. The Committee of Ministers is considering a suggestion that the problem of restrictive business practices should be discussed again in the Council of Europe in the near future.

1.1.1.3 (c) Convertibility

10. The Committee of Ministers has examined Recommendation 62 (1954) of the Assembly on the present position as regards convertibility. It approved the proposals contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 and forwarded them to Member Governments, but did not agree with paragraph 3 of the Recommendation, for it felt that the problem of the integration of the Council of Europe and O. E. E. C. did not depend on the achievement of convertibility.

1.1.1.4 (d) Trade with the East

11. The Assembly's Recommendations 63 (1954) and 64 (1954) are still on the Agenda of the Committee of Ministers, whose reply will be transmitted to the Assembly in due course.

1.1.1.5 (e) Prevention of Animal Epidemics and Protection of Plants

12. Having examined paragraph 19 of Opinion No. 12 of the Assembly, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution (54) 19 as follows :

" The Committee of Ministers,

Considering that the Council of Europe should associate itself with the efforts at present being made for the control of epizootics and protection of plants, in particular by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the international Office of Epizootics and the European Plant Protection Organisation;

Having regard to the opinion expressed by the Consultative Assembly in paragraph 19 of its Opinion No. 12 of 24th September, 1954,

Resolves :

1 to invite the Member Governments of the Council of Europe to co-operate fully in the work of the above-mentioned organisations, to implement their recommendations and to ratify such agreements as they elaborate with the minimum of delay;
2 to urge Member Governments which have not already done so to consider accepting at the earliest possible date the constitution for the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease drafted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, so that the Commission may be established shortly and its activities may have the widest possible application in Europe ;
3 to instruct the Secretary-General to consult the European Plant Protection Organisation on the possibility of co-ordinating the regulations of Member Governments on plant inspection at their frontiers, if necessary by amendment of the Convention on the International Protection of Plants, and also of taking further steps towards exterminating harmful agents and combatting plant diseases;
4 to instruct the Secretary-General to transmit to the Member Governments the text of this Resolution, with the request that they inform the Council of Europe of any action they may take thereon. "

13. This Resolution was transmitted for information to F. A. O. and the European Plant Protection Organisation.

14. The Danish, Irish and Netherlands Governments have since informed the Secretary-General that they have ratified the Statute of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

15. F. A. O. has confirmed the establishment of this Commission, stating that its members are Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

16. Contact has been established with the European Plant Protection Organisation with a view to examining what further steps are necessary for the co-ordination of regulations relating to the import of plants.

1.1.2 CHAPTER II - Social Questions

1.1.2.1 (a) Public Health

17. The Committee of Experts on Public Health held its second session from 15th to 18th February, 1955. It was attended by observers from Austria and Switzerland and by representatives of the W. H. O. and the Brussels Treaty Organisation.

18. At this second meeting a decisive step was made towards fruitful collaboration between member countries of the Council of Europe in the field of public health.

19. The governmental experts examined a number of problems of great interest, including :

the establishment of direct contacts between the national health authorities of member countries, in accordance with the system already adopted by the Brussels Treaty Organisation and the Scandinavian countries;
the implementation of a programme for the exchange of health service personnel and certain measures for the co-ordination of medical research ;
the removal of customs obstacles to the transport of therapeutical substances of human origin and improvement of conditions for the import of essential prostheses into countries where they are lacking;
the preparation of a draft European Convention on the exchange of war —cripples for purposes of medical treatment, in accordance with the suggestions contained in Recommendation (54) 65. In this connection, the Committee of Experts heard a general statement by the expert appointed by the World Veterans' Federation.

20. Having expressed satisfaction at the proposals of the Committee of Experts, the Committee of Ministers has taken the necessary steps for their prompt implementation.

1.1.2.2 (b) The Social Committee

21. The first session of the Social Committee set up under the terms of Resolution (54) 17 of the Committee of Ministers was held at Strasbourg from 4th to 7th October 1954.

22. The Committee of Ministers, after making a preliminary examination of the conclusions of this first meeting, decided to invite O. E. E. C. to prepare for the Social Committee a report on the reduction of chancery dues payable by foreign workers; and a similar invitation was extended to the F. L. O. for a report on vocational training.

23. The Social Committee held its second session from 4th to 6th May, 1955. In accordance with a proposal then made the Committee of Ministers has requested the I. L. O. to prepare a report on the possibility of concluding a European Convention on the exchange of trainees.

24. The Social Committee has also taken up the following matters for immediate consideration :

European Social Charter. — The Committee decided to examine the extent to which economic and social rights are recognised by legislation and practice in the Member States. For this purpose a questionnaire, dealing with rights relating to employment and working conditions, has been drawn up.

Employment of older workers. — In conformity with paragraph 57 of the Special Message of 20th May, 1954 the Committee decided to extend to all Members of the Council of Europe the study of this question originally undertaken in the framework of the Brussels Treaty Organisation.

The Committee of Ministers is considering a suggestion that the scope of the work of the Social Committee should be extended.

25. The third session of the Social Committee will be held in November, 1955.

26. The Committee of Ministers did not feel able to accept the proposal made by the Assembly in its Opinion No. 12 to the effect that whenever the conclusions of the Social Committee were not in conformity with its own views they should be transmitted to the Assembly Committee on Social Questions before the Committee of Ministers took any decision on them.

27. The Committee of Ministers has always ensured that the committees of experts are kept informed of all recommendations, decisions or suggestions made by the Assembly in the experts' own particular field.

1.1.2.3 (c) Interim Agreements on Social Security and European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance

28. As was announced in the Supplementary Report to the Ministers' Fifth Report (Doc. 272, para. 20), the two Interim Agreements on Social Security and the Convention on Social and Medical Assistance, together with the Protocol to this Convention, came into force on 1st July, 1954.

29. On 1st October, 1954 the Protocols to the two interim Agreements on Social Security also came into force.

30. The situation with regard to ratification is as follows : Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the Saar have deposited their instruments of ratification for the two Agreements, the Convention and all the Protocols. Denmark has ratified the two Interim Agreements, the Convention and its Protocol, but has not signed the Protocols to the Agreements. The Netherlands has ratified the two Interim Agreements and the Protocols thereto.

31. The Committee of Ministers duly called the attention of the Governments to the wish expressed by the Assembly in its Opinion No. 12 that those Governments which have not yet ratified these Agreements and the Convention should do so without delay.

1.1.2.4 (d) Exchange of war-cripples for purposes of medical treatment

32. The Committee of Ministers transmitted to the Committee of Experts on Public Health Recommendation 65 (1954) concerning the preparation, in conjunction with I. L. O., of a Convention on the exchange of war-cripples for the purposes of medical treatment.

33. Having heard during its second meeting a statement by the expert from the World Veterans' Federation, the Committee of Experts approved the general principles of this Recommendation.

34. While agreeing that the benefits contemplated might in future be extended to other kinds of invalids, the Committee of Experts considered that these exchanges should at first be confined to- war-cripples, both military and civilian. The Experts, attached special importance, moreover, to the organising of exchanges of medical personnel of all kinds and proposed that the Governments should facilitate the import of essential pharmaceutical goods and artificial limbs into countries where they are lacking.

35. The Committee of Ministers has instructed the Experts, whose third meeting will take place in July, to prepare a draft Convention based on the principles contained in the Assembly Recommendation.

1.1.2.5 (e) Assistance in the event of natural disasters

36. The Committee of Ministers has studied the possibilities of implementing Recommendation 69 (1954) of the Consultative Assembly on the provision of assistance whenever natural disaster afflicts a member country of the Council of Europe.

37. With regard to paragraphs 1 and 4, the Committee of Ministers recalls that it transmitted to the Consultative Assembly an analytical table of specific measures taken by member countries to assist the victims of the Greek earthquake of 1.953 (Doc. AS/ASS (6) (1).

38. In its efforts to give effect to the suggestions embodied in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers lias convened a Study Group composed of representatives of the International Committee of Lhe Red Cross, the League of Red Cross Societies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the World Health Organisation and a delegate from the United Nations Children's Fund, who also represented the United Nations.

39. This Group, meeting in the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg on 3rd and 4th December, 1.954, began by reviewing the work of the organisations specialising in the field of international assistance.

40. As a result it proposed that the Council of Europe should contemplate the following measures of automatic and immediate assistance in the event of natural disasters :

a A declaration of principle concerning the obligation of Member States to provide immediate assistance in the event of a natural disaster befalling another Member; this obligation stems from the humanitarian principle constantly invoked by the Geneva Conventions on international assistance;
b Co-operation with the competent international organisations and co-ordination of the relief measures of the Governments;
c Assistance in the form of public services, by providing stricken countries with light emergency equipment such as pumps, piping, electrical or telephone equipment, excavators, etc. The representatives of the various international organisations unanimously agreed during the meeting that this kind of assistance had not in the past been provided by any international organisation;
d Establishment of a national relief fund in each member country for victims of disasters in Europe. This fund might be financed by opening an account in the national budgets to cover Relief to victims of disasters in Europe which would ensure in advance the existence of funds enabling practical assistance to be rapidly provided in the event of a disaster.
e Establishment of a European Mutual Assistance Fund by contributions from Member Governments. This measure was suggested in case it was not possible to adopt the proposal in paragraph (d) above.

41. These proposals adopted by the Study Group reflect the views of the organisations taking part in the meeting, particularly the League of Red Cross Societies, which specially recommended the proposals mentioned in paras, (c) and (d) — namely, assistance in the form of public services (light emergency equipment) and the opening of an account in national budgets to cover Relief to victims of disasters in Europe.

42. The Committee of Ministers has examined these proposals and invited the Governments to send in their comments in writing.

43. So far comments have been received from the Governments of Belgium, Denmark, the German Federal Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, the Saar, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

44. An analysis of these replies shows that the proposals most favourably received were those concerning assistance in the form of public services (light equipment) and the opening of a special account in national budgets ensuring in advance the existence of funds for providing the automatic assistance referred to in Assembly Recommendation 69.

45. A minority, however, were opposed to these two proposals of the Study Group, while a few Governments expressed reservations in principle concerning all its proposals.

46. With regard to the declaration of principle and the creation of a European Mutual Assistance Fund, only a minority expressed a favourable opinion. On the other hand certain Governments suggested that any assistance should be so organised as to cover victims in non-member countries.

47. Other proposals were lhat a small service should be set up in the Secretariat-General to maintain permanent contact on this subject with the Governments and the International Red Cross and that the possibility should be investigated of establishing machinery for co-ordinating all measures of assistance, whether already established or not. These proposals, however, were supported by only two Governments.

48. In conclusion, the Committee of Ministers noted the reply of the Greek Government which, while taking into account the activities of the competent organisations in this field and expressing its respect for " the touching spontaneity with which international relief measures have hitherto been carried out ", suggested that the action of the Council of Europe, as recommended in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Recommendation 69, adopted by the Consultative Assembly on 24th September, 1954, might be based on the following principles :

a co-ordinating action by the Council of Europe for the securing of rapid aid in the event of a disaster;
b concentration of the Council's coordinating efforts on immediate assistance in the form of public services;
c insertion in national budgets of a special credit ensuring in advance the existence of the necessary funds to put these principles of solidarity into effect and comprising sums the utilisation of which w.ould be decided by each Government under the guidance of the Council of Europe;
d extension of this mutual aid scheme to other countries not Members of the Council of Europe.

49. The Committee of Ministers will continue to study this problem, but thought that the Consultative Assembly would be interested to learn of the present state of progress of the studies undertaken.

1.1.3 CHAPTER III - Refugees and Over-population

1.1.3.1 (a) Activities of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-population

50. M. Pierre Schneiter, appointed Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-population under the terms of Resolution (53) 35 of the Committee of Ministers, presented his Report to the Committee of Ministers in December, 1954.

51. The Committee thereupon adopted Resolution (54) 29; this was transmitted to the Assembly at the same time as the Report of the Special Representative, on 30th December, 1954, and reads as follows :

" The Committee of Ministers,

Having examined the final Report submitted by M. Pierre Schneiter, Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-population in Europe;

Congratulating M. Pierre Schneiter on his important contribution to the solution of this problem and thanking him for his unremitting efforts on behalf of national refugees and surplus elements of population;

Endorsing the opinion expressed in Resolution (51) 57 that the existence of the problem of refugees and over-population 'may be regarded as impeding the realisation of the aims set out in Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe ', and reiterating the need for the ' adoption by the members of the European Community of a common attitude in regard to these pressing questions ', which are of fundamental importance to the security of Europe and its economic and political stability;

Being determined to continue to seek ways and means of helping the European countries affected by the problem of national refugees and over-population,

Resolves :

a to approve the spirit enshrined in the general lines of M. Schneiter's report;
b to extend for a further year the mission entrusted to him under Resolution (53) 35, requesting him to submit detailed proposals on the basis of his report, with particular reference to the establishment of the fund mentioned therein;
c to set up a Committee, composed of senior officials of the member countries who are specialists in the problem of refugees and overpopulation, which shall be available for consultation by, and shall be entitled lo advise, M. Schneiter;
d to authorise the Secretary-General to transmit M. Schneiter’s report to the Consultative Assembly. "

The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers subsequently approached M. Pierre Schneiter, in January, in order to find out his intentions with regard to the task entrusted to him by the Committee of Ministers now thai he had been elected President of the French National Assembly, and on 24lh January sent him a letter expressing the hope that he would continue his mission.

On 4th March, 1955 the Special Representative sent the Chairman the following reply :

" Monsieur le Président,

I warmly appreciate the contents of your letter of 24th January addressed to me both on your behalf and that of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the terms of which I greatly value.

I wish also lu thank you for requesting me to pursue, my task as Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population. As 1 informed you when we met in Paris on 15th February, I hesitated for some time owing to my future commitments, and also because the President of the French National Assembly cannot accept to be under obligation to a gathering of foreign personalities, however distinguished these may be. Rut, since the relevant texts bear witness to the faot that no subordination is implied in the mission entrusted to mo, and the Committee of Ministers has, on the contrary, always wished to give mo full liberty to investigate and to make proposals, reserving for itself only the legitimate right to comply with them or not, as the case may be, I am happy to inform you that I accept the principle of pursuing this mission within tho terms of your last Resolution dated 19lh December, 1954.

Since, however, 1 shall no doubt be unable personally to carry out the practical application of the contents of my Report, I shall take the liberty to secure the assistance of a person in whom f have full confidence and who, when it is impossible for me to do so myself, will be instructed to maintain the necessary contacts with your own Committee or t lia I of your Deputies and with the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. This person will be responsible only to myself, and his services will be unremunerated as in my own case.

I shoul d be obliged if you would inform your colleagues of the position I have adopted and sincerely hope that it corresponds with your own viewpoint.

I am, Monsieur le Président,

Your most obedient Servant,

Signed : Pierre SCHNEITER. "

52. The Chairman of the Committee of Ministers sent the Special Representative the following reply :

" Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that in the course of their 28th Meeting on 10th March, 1955 f communicated to the Ministers ' Deputies the contents of your letter of 4th March, 1955 to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The Ministers' Deputies noted with satisfaction your decision to pursue your mission renewed by the Committee of Ministers of 19th December, 1954 and asked me to convey to you their sincere gratitude, particularly as they are well aware of the new and heavy burdens recently placed on your shoulders. They also approved the views expressed in your letter as to the manner in which you intend to continue your work for the Council of Europe.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Signed : N. HADJI VASSILIOU

for the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers. "

53. The Committee of Ministers has been informed of the intention of the Special Representative to submit to the Committee, during its Sixteenth Session, detailed proposals based on this Report, in pursuance of paragraph (b) of Resolution (54) 29.

54. Moreover, at the request of the Special Representative, the Committee of Senior Officials met in Paris on 15th and 16th June, 1955 for a preliminary consultation.

55. The Committee of Ministers will inform the Consultative Assembly of further developments relating to the problem of national refugees and over-population in its next supplementary report.

1.1.4 CHAPTER IV - Cultural Questions

56. During the period under review the Committee of Cultural Experts met twice, from 20th to 23rd October, 1954, and from 27th to 30th April, 1955.

57. The Committee of Ministers examined the Report drawn up by the Committee of Cultural Experts at its ninth Session in October, 1954 and approved the proposals made in it. Details of these proposals arc given below.

58. In conformity with the wish expressed in Opinion No, 12 of the Assembly the Cultural Budget of the Council of Europe has been increased from 16,500,000 francs to 19,000,000 francs.

1.1.4.1 (a) Council of Europe Research Fellowships

59. The Selection Committee to award fellowships in 1955 will meet at Strasbourg on 7tb July and be composed of M. Lange, Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Downs, Master of Christ's College and Vice-Chancellor Elect of the University of Cambridge, M. Rüstow, Professor at the University of Heidelberg and M. Margue, member of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions of the Assembly. Mr. Morrison, a member of the Committee of Cultural Experts, will be the Rapporteur of the Selection Committee.

60. The Council of Europe will grant up to sixteen fellowships this year and E. C. S. C. up to four.

1.1.4.2 (b) Course on the introduction of the European Idea in the teaching of History

61. The Committee of Ministers welcomed the recommendations of the Cultural Experts for the organisation of a third course of study at Rome in 1955 under the auspices of the Italian Government. The report on the Oslo course which was held in August, 1954 will be brought to the attention of Member Governments.

1.1.4.3 (c) Course on the presentation of the European Idea in the Universities

62. A course will be organised at Saarbrucken in 1955 under the auspices of the Saar Government.

1.1.4.4 (d) Course of European studies

63. The Committee of Ministers has agreed to the request of the Assembly that some of its members should take part in future courses of European studies. The President of the Assembly was informed of this decision in a letter from the Secretary-General of 6th November, 1954.

1.1.4.5 (e) European Exhibitions

64. The first of a series of European exhibitions under the patronage of the Council of Europe opened at the Palais des Beaux-Arts at Brussels on 16th December, 1954 and continued until the end of February, 1955. Its subject was " European Humanism ".

65. The second exhibition will be held at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam from 1st July to 2nd October, 1955 on the subject of " the Triumph of European Mannerism from Michael Angelo to El Greco ".

1.1.4.6 (f) Continuation of the Work of the Rome Round Table

66. A study group has been set up to prepare a publication based on the work of the Rome Round Table, under the chairmanship of M. Denis de Rougemont, Director of the European Cultural Centre of Geneva, with Mr. Max Beloff, Reader in Comparative Institutions at Oxford University, as Rapporteur- General. The Rapporteurs are : M. Doucy, Secretary-General of the Solvay Institute of Sociology at Brussels, for social questions; M. Valsecchi, Professor of History at the University of Milan for European institutions and history; Mr. Sean O'Faolain, author and publicist, on the subject of European civilisation and M. Strugger, Director of the Botanical Institute at the University of Munster, for scientific questions. The Rapporteur for economic questions has not yet been appointed.

1.1.4.7 (g) Encouragement of the extension of the University Interchange Schemes on the lines of those already operating between the United Kingdom and certain other Member States

67. A system of university interchange schemes described by the United Kingdom delegation will be brought to the notice of Member Governments with a view to the organisation of a similar system on a European scale.

1.1.4.8 (h) Microfilming of the unpublished and out-of-print Catalogues and Indexes of the Manuscripts and Records in the Libraries and Archives of Member States

68. A working party will be meeting at Dublin next September to examine the technical aspects of this project.

1.1.4.9 (i) Draft Handbook on European Organisations

69. The Committee of Ministers will examine the draft Handbook on European Organisations, prepared at the request of the Cultural Experts, with a view to its publication in the near future.

1.1.4.10 (j) Creation of a Cultural Fund for Exiles

70. The Committee of Ministers forwarded Recommendation 60 (1954) of the Assembly to the Committee of Cultural Experts, with instructions to examine the possibility of establishing this Fund by means of a partial agreement (Doc. 272, para. 41).

71. In a letter to the President of the Consultative Assembly of 22nd April, 1955, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers has explained the reasons why the Committee, after receiving the views of the Committee of Experts, felt that this fund was not at present a feasible proposition.

1.1.4.11 (k) Entry into force of the European Convention on the Equivalence of Diplomas

72. This Convention, which was signed at Paris on 11th December, 1953, entered into force on 20th April, 1954. It has so far been ratified by Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, the German Federal Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, the United Kingdom and the Saar.

1.1.4.12 (l) European Cultural Convention

73. The European Cultural Convention, on which the Assembly gave its views in Opinion No. 11, was signed at Paris on 19th December, 1954. It entered into force on 5th May, 1955, having been ratified by Ireland, France and the United Kingdom. It was subsequently ratified by Denmark and Belgium respectively on 7th and 11th May.

1.1.5 CHAPTER V - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

74. The Belgian Government deposited with the Secretary-General on 14th June, 1955 its instruments of ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Protocol thereto. Thirteen Members of the Council have now ratified the Convention, while the Protocol has been ratified by twelve.

75. The second plenary session of the European Commission of Human Rights was held f rom 28th March to 2nd April, 1955 at Strasbourg. It drafted and adopted its Rules of Procedure, based on a draft prepared by a Working Party of five of its members at a meeting from 20th to 25th September, 1954.

76. By Resolution (54) 30 of 19th December, 1954 (Doc. 332), the Committee of Ministers elected a successor to Madame Ingeborg Hansen, a member of the Commission who died on 5th August, 1954. The list of candidates was drawn up by the Bureau of the Assembly from names put forward by the Danish Representatives, in accordance with Article 21 of the Convention. The Committee of Ministers appointed M. Max Sôrensen, Professor at the University of Aarhus, for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor.

77. On 14th March, 1955 the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe received from the Danish Foreign Minister a letter, dated 12th March, transmitting to him two declarations by the Danish Government. By these declarations the Danish Government accepted for a further period of two years, as from 7th April, 1955, the validity of :

the Danish declaration of 7th April, 1953 recognising for a period of two years the competence of the European Commission of Human Rights to receive petitions of the nature referred to in Article 25 of the Convention;
the Danish declaration of 7th April, 1953, recognising for a period of two years the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, in accordance with Article 46 of the Convention.

78. Furthermore, on 29th March, 1955, M. H. Jonasson deposited with the Secretary-General on behalf of the Government of Iceland a declaration recognising for a period of five years as from 25th March, 1955, the competence of the European Commission of Human Rights to receive petitions of the nature referred to in Article 25 of the Convention.

79. As a result of these declarations, four of the Contracting Parties (Denmark, Iceland, Ireland and Sweden) have noAV accepted this particular competence of the Commission, and three (Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands) have recognised the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.

80. The Committee of Ministers has taken note of Resolution 58 (1954) of the Consultative Assembly on the competence of the Commission of Human Rights to hear individual petitions, and will examine this Resolution at one of its forthcoming meetings.

1.1.6 CHAPTER VI - Legal and Administrative Questions

1.1.6.1 (a) Simplification of frontier formalities

81. The detailed opinion of the Committee of Ministers and its Resolution (55) 8 relating to Assembly Recommendations 51 (1953) and 59 (1954) were brought to the Assembly's notice by a letter from the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers to the President of the Assembly dated 17th May, 1955 (Doc. 346).

1.1.6.2 (b) Emblem of the Council of Europe

82. The Committee of Ministers, after examining Recommendation 56 (1953), has submitted to the President of the Assembly two designs for an emblem which it considers acceptable.

1.1.6.3 (c) European Civil Status

83. After examining paragraph 35 of Opinion No. 12 of the Assembly, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution (54) 23, which was transmitted to the Assembly by the Secretary- General on 13th January, 1955. By this Resolution, the Committee of Ministers invited Member Governments which had not already done so to accede to the International Commission on Civil Status.

1.1.6.4 (d) European Convention on the Reciprocal Treatment of Nationals

84. The Committee of Experts instructed to prepare a draft Convention has now completed its work.

85. The joint meeting between the competent sub-Committee of the Assembly and the sub-Committee of Experts, referred to in the Supplementary Report to the Fifth Report (Doc. 272, para. 59), was held on 10th-11th September, 1954. This meeting afforded a useful opportunity for discussion of points on which the Experts had failed to reach unanimous agreement, and for the Assembly Representatives to suggest amendments to the texts drafted by the Experts.

86. At its seventh session (24th-29th January, 1955), the Committee of Experts reexamined all the questions held in abeyance and agreed upon the text of a draft Convention and Protocol, which is now under examination by the Committee of Ministers.

1.1.6.5 (e) European Convention on Extradition

87. After a first examination of Assembly Recommendation 66 (1954) on the conclusion of a European convention on extradition, the Committee of Ministers instructed the Committee of Experts on Extradition, by Resolution (54) 24, to study this Recommendation with a view to drafting :

a a model bilateral convention for use by such Members as may not be bound by a multilateral convention on extradition;
b a multilateral convention on extradition, it being understood that this convention would permit Members which do not sign it to accede to it subsequently if they so desire.

88. The Committee of Ministers approved the Assembly's suggestion for an exchange of views on the conclusions of the Committee of Experts between members of this Committee and the competent sub-Committee of the Assembly Committee on Legal and Administrative Questions.

89. In accordance with their instructions, the Experts prepared at their meeting of 31st January-9th February, 1955 preliminary drafts of a model bilateral convention and a multilateral convention on extradition.

1.1.6.6 (f) Entry into force of the European Convention relating to the Formalities required for Patent Applications

90. This Convention, which was signed in Paris on 11 the December, 1953, entered into force on 1st June, 1955 after being ratified by Ireland, Norway, the Saar and the United Kingdom. The German Federal Republic and ' Greece also ratified it, on 17th May and 15th Juno, 1955 respectively.

1.1.6.7 (g) Convention on the International Classification of Patents for Invention

91. The final amendments to the wording of the draft prepared by the Experts having been unanimously approved, the Convention was signed at Paris on 19th December, 1954.

92. The Governments of Iceland and Luxembourg did not sign the Convention as they are not in a position to adopt the system of classification stipulated. The Convention was ratified by Ireland and Norway on 11th March, 1955 and by Belgium on 16th May, but will not enter into force until ratified by at least four of the signatories.

1.1.6.8 (h) European Convention for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes

93. The Committee of Ministers will reconsider this question when it has received the opinion of the Assembly on the draft Convention.

1.1.6.9 (i) Prohibition of the Discharge of Waste Oil into the Sea

94. The Committee of Ministers accepted Recommendation 68 (1954) of the Assembly and adopted the following Resolution (54) 20 :

" The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to the problem created in post-war years by :

a the transport of crude oil to Europe with the resulting discharge into the sea of waste oil by tankers;
b the increasing use of oil fuel by cargo ships ;

Having noted the work of the International Conference on Pollution of the Sea by Oil, held in London from 26th April to 12th May, 1954 :

Approving the aims of the eight Resolutions adopted by that Conference and the Final Act issued at the conclusion of its proceedings,

Resolves to urge those Member Governments of the Council of Europe which have not yet signed the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, signed in London on 12th May, 1954, or have only done so subject to ratification or acceptance, to effect such acceptance and, pending the coming into operation of the Convention, to take the immediate steps set forth in Resolution No. 6 appended to the Final Act of the Conference; and

Instructs the Secretary-General to transmit the present Resolution to the member countries concerned, with a request that they inform him of any action they are prepared to take thereon. "

1.1.6.10 (j) Ratification of the Agreement and Protocol on Privileges and Immunities

95. The Committee of Ministers has expressed the wish that Member States which have not yet ratified the General Agreement and Protocol should do so as soon as possible.

1.1.7 CHAPTER VIl - Information Problems

1.1.7.1 (a) The film The West, a Human Adventure

96. This film has now been completed. The Committee of Ministers has authorised the producer to insert in the credit titles of the film the words :

" Under the patronage of the Council of Europe, with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Council and the cultural authorities of the Member States : Belgium, Denmark, France, German Federal Republic, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, the Saar, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom ".

1.1.7.2 (b) European Yearbook

97. In its Fifth Report (Doc. 237, paragraphs 58-60), the Committee of Ministers described arrangements made for the publication, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, of a European Yearbook devoted to the scientific study of the European international organisations, including their constitutions, their functions and their work. The choice of subject- matter was vested in an editorial board composed of Professor Codacci Pisanelli (Professor at the University of Rome and Representative to the Consultative Assembly), Dr. 13. Landheer (Director of the Peace Palace Library, the Hague), Lord Layton (Vice-President of the Consultative Assembly), Professor Max Sorcnsen (Professor at the University of Aarhus and member of the European Commission of Human Rights) and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. The Year book is being published by Martinus Nijholf at the Hague.

98. The first volume appeared in March, 1955. It has a documentary section containing basic legal texts, a chronology of outstanding events and further information on the following organisations : the Brussels Treaty Organisation, the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, the Council of Europe, the European Coal and Steel Community, the Northern Council, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport, the European Council for Nuclear Research and the European Conference on the Organisation of Agricultural Markets.

99. Ten articles have been included by highly qualified authors on the various aspects of European problems and organisations.

100. The Yearbook also includes a bibliography containing summaries of some 50 works and a classified list of about 250 articles on European problems.

1.1.7.3 (c) Use of television as a medium for securing support among the general public for the European idea

101. Resolution (54) 11 of the Committee of Ministers on the use of television was brought to the notice of the Assembly in the Supplementary Report to the Fifth Report (Doc. 272, para 63).

102. The European Broadcasting Union has asked the Committee of Ministers to recommend that Member Governments should take steps to introduce reasonable charges for the relaying of television programmes.

103. The Committee of Ministers has accordingly decided to remind Member Governments of the first part of paragraph (b) of Resolution (54) 11 which runs as follows : " ...to transmit to Governments, with a request that henceforward they be guided thereby, the suggestions put forward by the Consultative Assembly for the permanent organisation of international relays and for the reduction of their cost."

104. The Committee of Ministers has instructed the Working Party appointed by the Committee of Cultural Experts in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Resolution to examine the problem of charges for the relaying of television programmes. This Working Party held its first meeting in Paris on June 14th and 15th, 1955.

1.1.8 CHAPTER VIII - Participation of local authorities in European activities

1.1.8.1 (a) Declaration by the Committee of Ministers

105. In response to the wish expressed by the Assembly in its Reply to the Supplementary Report to the Committee of Ministers, the Committee has adopted the following declaration :

" The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has noted with interest the concern of the Consultative Assembly with the contribution which local authorities can make to the development of a European consciousness. The Committee of Ministers believes that the local authorities, being placed in close contact with the population, are in an advantageous position to inform and enlighten public opinion in the member countries of the Council of Europe.

Numerous manifestations organised by local or regional authorities have come to the notice of the Committee of Ministers, taking such various forms as the " pairing " of towns, " Europe days ", meetings between municipalities, exhibitions, lectures, educational visits, institutes for European studies, etc. All these activities serve to foster appreciation of the principles laid down in the Preamble and Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, and of its general aim to achieve greater unity between its members.

The Committee of Ministers does not pretend to suggest specific forms of activity to be organised by local authorities. The nature and extent of such activities will be determined by the statutory powers of local authorities in particular countries, and will depend also on the means at their disposal. The Committee of Ministers will, in general, view with favour any form of local or regional activity designed to develop a mutual understanding and sense of solidarity among the peoples of Europe."

1.1.8.2 (b) European Prize

106. In fulfilment of the request put forward by the Assembly in its Reply to the Fifth Report, the Committee of Ministers has decided to set aside in the Budget for 1955 the sum of 250,000 francs for the establishment of a " European Prize " which will bo awarded annually by the Special Committee on Municipal and Regional Affairs.

1.1.8.3 (c) Establishment of a Permanent Working Party composed of members of the Committee of Ministers and representatives of the National Association of Local Authorities

107. The Committee of Ministers, after giving careful attention to the Assembly's views, docs not feel able to modify its position. In the Committee of Ministers' view, the best machinery for co-ordinating the activities of European municipalities in support of the European idea already exists in the Council of European Municipalities and the International Union of Local Authorities. The effective operation of these two bodies has in the past been impaired by the lack of harmonious relations between them. This disharmony is well-known to the National Associations of Local Authorities, and it is one of the principal reasons why a number of them have not joined either of the international organisations or take only a very small part in their activities. It seems to the Committee of Ministers that the Assembly Committee on Municipal and Regional Affairs is in the best possible position to bring about a rapprochement, since both international bodies already attend its meetings as observers, and the most fruitful course for the Assembly Committee would be to work towards this end. It seems to the Committee of Ministers that this would offer a better chance of success than to set up a third consultative body which national municipal organisations could join direct, which would merely run the risk of bringing a third division to a field of activity already split by the lack of agreement between the Council of European Municipalities and the International Union of Local Authorities.

1.1.9 CHAPTER IX - European nations not represented in the Council of Europe

108. Having considered Resolution 47 (1954) and 59 (1954) of the Assembly, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution (54) 27, whereby it associated itself with the Assembly in re-affirming its faith in the unity of Europe and recorded its identity of views in respect of the feeling of solidarity and fellowship by which Representatives to the Consultative Assembly were inspired. This question, incidentally, appears on the Agenda of the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

1.2 SECTION II - Council of Europe Machinery and Administration

1.2.1 (a) Co-operation between the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers

(i) Attendance of Assembly Representatives at meetings of the Deputies, and of Deputies at meetings of Assembly Committees

109. The Committee of Ministers has noted with pleasure the Assembly's decision to authorise its committees to hear the Chairman of the Deputies, or any other Deputy, on specific points under consideration : the Committee has, in the same way, authorised the Deputies to hear the Chairman and Rapporteur of any Assembly committee. The Committee considers that it must be left to the Assembly committee concerned, or the Deputies as the case may be, to decide whether or not to give a hearing on any particular occasion on which it is requested

(ii) Personal contact between Assembly Representatives and Governmental Experts

110. The Committee of Ministers has considered the Assembly's proposal that Committees of Experts should be authorised, at their own discretion, to hear the Chairman and Rapporteur of corresponding Assembly committees, but has not felt able to agree. The Committee recalls that arrangements already exist, whereby, with the consent of the Committee of Ministers or the Deputies in each case, meetings take place between delegations from Assembly committees, on the one hand, and Committees of Experts, on the other. Such meetings are, with the full approval of the Committee of Ministers, increasing in frequency. The Committee is not, however, willing to drop the requirement for prior consent in each case, which is designed to ensure that meetings arc arranged only when they arc likely to prove useful.

111. The Committee considers that, as a general rule, the arrangements referred to above constitute the maximum of useful personal contacts between Assembly Representatives and Governmental Experts. Cultural affairs, however, appear to constitute a special field calling for exceptional treatment. The need for constant contact is greater, while the subjects are less likely to raise political issues outside the Experts' competence. The Committee therefore agrees to the establishment of a standing joint committee, comprising Assembly Representatives and Experts, and is considering its precise constitution.

(iii) Communication of documents

112. The Committee of Ministers has noted with pleasure the Assembly's decision to communicate documents of its committees to the Committee of Ministers. In the same spirit of co-operation the Committee has cancelled paragraph 1 of Resolution (52) 3 and authorised Committees of Experts, when they unanimously agree to do so, to transmit any of their documents to the corresponding Assembly committee.

1.2.2 (b) Permanent Representatives of Governments to the Council of Europe

113. On 1st November, 1954 the Government of the German Federal Republic appointed Mr. K. Carstens as its Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, resident in Strasbourg.

114. Mr. P. W. Scarlett, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom Government, has been appointed Ii. M. Ambassador to Oslo; he was replaced by Mr. Gerald Meade on 26th February, 1955.

1.2.3 (c) Resignation of the Deputy Secretary-General

115. Mr. A. H. Lincoln, Deputy Secretary-General, tendered his resignation on 23rd March, 1955. The procedure for appointing a successor to his post was immediately set in motion. In accordance with the Assembly's Recommendation 49 (1953), the matter has been included on the Agenda of the Joint Committee for its meeting on 4th July, 1955.

1.2.4 (d) Appointment of staff of the Council of Europe

116. In its Reply to the Supplementary Report to the Fifth Report of the Committee of Ministers, the Assembly suggested that the order of priority of relevant considerations for appointing staff of the Secretariat-General should be as follows :

i The qualifications and experience of the persons already employed by the Council of Europe, and the need to offer to members of the Secretariat reasonable prospects of promotion ;
ii The need to recruit fresh talent;
iii The need to allocate appointments equitably among nationals of Member States.

117. The Committee of Ministers noted that this order of priority closely followed its own line of thought, as expressed in paragraph 3 of Resolution (53) 33.

1.2.5 (e) Meeting between members of the Assembly Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions and members of the Committee of Cultural Experts

118. The Committee of Ministers duly agreed to the request made by the President of the Assembly in his letter of 25th September, 1954.

119. The first ad hoc joint meeting between four members of the Assembly Committee and four members of the Committee of Cultural Experts took place on 21st October, 1954, and the second on 2nd February, 1955. The representatives of the Committee of Cultural Experts also took part in the special meeting of 4th-6th April, 1955 organised by the Assembly Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions.

120. A decision concerning the creation of a standing joint committee on cultural questions is contained in paragraph (a) above.

1.2.6 (f) Appointment of an Assembly Committee on Budgetary Questions and Administration

121. The Committee of Ministers on 12th March, 1955 instructed the Secretary-General to transmit the following letter to the President of the Consultative Assembly :

" Sir ,

The Committee of Ministers was not in a position to comply witli the wish expressed by the Consultative Assembly in paragraph 1 of its Resolution 50 on the appointment of a Committee on Budgetary Questions and Administration, adopted in September, 1954.

Apart from any other considerations, were it to he made feasible to consult the Assembly on the draft Budget of the Council of Europe as a whole, this draft Budget would have to be prepared by the Secretariat-General in the first months of the year, namely, at a time when it is still impossible to make accurate estimates for the following year.

However, the Committee of Ministers agreed that the Assembly should be given the opportunity of expressing its opinion on the Budget of the Council and therefore instructed the Secretary- General to transmit to the Assembly documentation comprising the final audited accounts for the previous Financial Year and the Budget for the current Financial Year. Such documentation will, in fact, provide adequate material for the Assembly to prepare an opinion as to what credits might be included in the Budget for the following year. The Committee of Ministers will make a point of examining such opinions in due time.

It is agreed that Resolution (53) 38, by virtue of which the draft text of Vote II of the Budget for the coming year is submitted to the Assembly, will remain operative and, should the Assembly so desire, the Committee of Ministers would still be prepared to hold an exchange of views on this question at the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Signed : L. MARCHAL. "

122. The Committee of Ministers understands that the Bureau of the Assembly considers that these proposals constitute an acceptable solution of the problem raised in Resolution 50 (1954).

1.2.7 (g) Participation of European non-member countries in certain activities of the Council of Europe

123. Austria and Switzerland have accepted invitations to be represented by observers at the following Committee meetings : Austria — Committee of Cultural Experts, Committee of Experts on Public Health, Social Committee, Committee of Experts on Patents, Committee of Experts on Extradition and Committee of Experts on the Reciprocal Treatment of Nationals; Switzerland — Committee of Experts on Patents and Committee of Experts on Public Health.

124. By way of action taken in the sense of Resolution 57 (1954), the Committee of Ministers would instance the Conference on the Co-ordination of Air Transport in Europe, convened by I. C. A. O. at its invitation, which met in the House of Europe at Strasbourg from 21st April to 8th May, 1955. The Conference was attended by the following countries which are not members of the Council of Europe : Austria, Spain, Finland, Portugal and Switzerland.

125. Whenever circumstances permit, the Committee of Ministers will explore every possibility of extending the present arrangements mentioned in para. 1 of Resolution 57 (1954) of the Consultative Assembly to associate non-member countries with the work of expert committees.

1.2.8 (h) Reorganisation of the services of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe

126. A plan for the reorganisation of the services of the Secretariat-General was submitted to the Governments on 3rd November, 1954. It was examined by the Minister's Deputies at their twenty-eighth, thirtieth and thirty-first meetings. In accordance with the normal procedure, the Budget Committee will be called on for its opinion on the budgetary aspects of the reorganisation plan in connection with the preparation of the Budget for 1956.

1.2.9 (i) Time-table of Meetings

127. 1954

14th-24th September

Fourth Course of European Studies (Strasbourg)

20th-25th September

Working Party of the European Commission of Human Rights (Strasbourg).

27th-28th September

Twenty-fourth Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

4th-7th October

Social Committee (Strasbourg).

5th-7th October

Budget Committee (Strasbourg).

19th-22nd October

Twenty-fifth meeting of the Minister's Deputies (Strasbourg).

19th October

Sub-Committee on the Council of Europe Cultural Card (Strasbourg).

19th-22nd October

Bureau of the Committee of Experts on the Classification of Patents (Berne).

20tb-23rd October

Committee of Cultural Experts (Strasbourg).

21st October

Ad hoc joint meeting of representatives of the Committee of Cultural Experts and the Assembly Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions (Strasbourg).

22nd October

Working Party of Permanent Representatives to the Council on the Simplification of Frontier Formalities (Strasbourg).

4th November

Working Party of Permanent Representatives to the Council of Europe on the Simplification of Frontier Formalities (Strasbourg).

12th November

Ad hoc Committee for the Emblem of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg).

3rd-4tb December

Study Group to consider the problem of automatic assistance in cases of natural disaster suffered by a member country of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg).

14th-16tb December Twenty-sixth Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Paris).

19th December

Fifteenth Session of the Committee of Ministers (Paris).

1955

10th-12th January

Twenty-seventh Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

10th-11th January

Joint meeting between UNESCO and the Council of Europe for the study of matters of common interest in the cultural field (Paris).

15th January

Joint meeting of the Committee of Ministers and the High Authority of E. C. S. C. (Paris).

24th-29th January

Committee of Experts on the Reciprocal Treatment of Nationals (Strasbourg).

31st January-1st February

Bureau of the Committee of Cultural Experts (Strasbourg).

31st January-9th February

Committee of Experts on Extradition (Strasbourg).

2nd February

Joint Meeting of the Bureau of the Committee of Cultural Experts and members of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions of the Assembly (Strasbourg).

11th February

Liaison Committees O. E. E. C./C. E. (Paris).

14th February

Study Group to follow up the work of the Rome Round Table (Strasbourg).

15th-18th February

Committee of Experts on Public Health (Strasbourg).

16th-18th February

Budget Committee (Strasbourg).

8th-12th March

Twenty-eight Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

28th March-2nd April

European Commission of Human Rights (Strasbourg).

1st April

Liaison committees O. E. E. C./C. E. (Strasbourg).

19th-22nd April

Twenty-ninth Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

20 th April

Study Group for the continuation of the work of the Rome Round Table (Strasbourg).

25th-26th April

Bureau of the Committee of Cultural Experts (Strasbourg).

26 th April Sub-committee on the Cultural Identity Card (Strasbourg).

26th April

Sub-committee for Youth (Strasbourg).

27th-30th April

Committee of Cultural Experts (Strasbourg).

4th-6th May

Second Session of the Social Committee (Strasbourg).

17th-21st May

Thirtieth Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

14th- 15th June

Working Group on Television (Paris).

15th-16th June

Committee of Senior Officials for Refugees and Over-population (Paris).

15th-20th June

Thirty-first Meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (Strasbourg).

1.3 SECTION III - Relations with International and Supranational Organisati

1.3.1 CHAPTER I - European Coal and Steel Community

128. In October, 1954 the Committee of Ministers sent its reply to the Second General Report of the High Authority of E. C. S. C. At the same time the Committee transmitted the opinion of the Consultative Assembly on this Report.

129. In this reply certain Governments which are not Members of the E. C. S. C. raised à number of questions connected with the Second General Report. These questions were examined during a joint meeting between the High Authority and the Committee of Ministers at Paris on 15th January, 1955. This meeting demonstrated the value of direct contacts between the two organs, and it is intended to hold similar meetings in the future.

130. The reply of the Committee of Ministers to the Second Report of the High Authority is reproduced in an Appendix. This document also indicates the principal questions which were discussed during the Joint Meeting in January, 1955.

1.3.2 CHAPTER II - Intergovernmental Organisations

1.3.2.1 (a) Organisation for European Economie Co-operation

131. During a special session between the Council of Europe/O. E. E. C. Liaison Committees, held at Strasbourg on 13th September, 1954, the members of the Assembly Committee on Economic Questions and the O. E. E. C. experts discussed convertibility and East/West trade.

132. Having examined Assembly Recommendation G7 (1954) the Committee of Ministers requested the two Liaison Committees to considers the relations to be established between the Council of Europe and the Committee of Ministers of Agriculture. This question was also discussed at the meeting of the Liaison Committees in February 1955. The Assembly will be notified, in due course, of the conclusion reached by the two organisations on this subject.

133. Another special session of the Liaison Committees was held at Strasbourg on 1st April, 1955. It was devoted to a discussion between members of the Committee on Economic Questions and experts from O. E. E. C. on the Sixth Annual Report of the Organisation.

1.3.2.2 (b) European Conference of Ministers of Transport

134. In accordance with the arrangements made by the Committee of Ministers and reported to the Assembly in the Committee's Fifth Report of May, 1954 (Doc. 237, para. 85) the first report on the work of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport has been received and communicated to the Assembly.

1.3.2.3 (c) Western European Union

135. The Committee of Ministers discussed at its Fifteenth Session Resolution 67 (1954) on the organisation of the W. E. U. Assembly and the links to be established between AV. E. U. and the Council of Europe. At the request of the President of the Assembly, this question has been placed on the Agenda of the Joint Committee for its meeting on 4th July, 1955.

1.3.2.4 (d) International Labour Organisation

136. The statement of principle concerning relations with other international organisations adopted by the Committee of Ministers in May, 1954 and transmitted to the Assembly in the Special Message (Doc. 238, paras. 16 to 20) has been drawn to the attention of the Governing Body of the I. L. O., which has approved its general tenor.

137. The first European Regional Conference of the I. L. O. was held in Geneva from January 24th to February 5th, 1955. The Committee of Ministers attached great interest to this Conference, to the maintenance of close co-operation between the Council of Europe and I. L. O. and to the co-ordination of their activities in the social field. The Council was represented by the Secretary-General, who made a statement in which he communicated to the Conference a message from the Committee of Ministers to this effect.

1.3.2.5 (e) Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

138. The Supplementary Report of September, 1954 informed the Assembly that the Secretary-General had been authorised to undertake negotiations with F. A. O. for the conclusion of an agreement for collaboration between the two organisations (Doc. 272, para. 93). A draft prepared by the two secretariats has now been approved by the Committee of Ministers, which has submitted it to the Assembly for an opinion (Doc. 337).

1.3.2.6 (f) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

139. UNESCO continues to collaborate actively in the cultural programme of the Council of Europe. The first of a series of inter-secretariat meetings to discuss questions of common interest has already been held and UNESCO was represented by a strong delegation at the Special Meeting of the Assembly's Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions held in April, 1955.

1.3.2.7 (g) International Civil Aviation Organisation

140. The Committee of Ministers has informed I. C. A. O. of the continuing interest of the Council in the question of European Air Transport and has been kept informed about the action taken by. I. C. A. O. as a result of the proposals made by the Conference on the Co-ordination of Air Transport in Europe held in Strasbourg in April and May, 1954.

1.3.3 ClIAPTER III - Non-governmental Organisations

1.3.3.1 Consultative status granted to non-governmental organisations

141. On the basis of the proposals contained in Assembly Recommendation 70 (1954) the Committee of Ministers, under the terms of its Resolution (54) 21, granted consultative status in category A to the following organisations :

European Centre for Demographic Studies.
European Confederation of Agriculture.
Council of European Municipalities.
International Federation of Agricultural Producers.
International Union of Local Authorities.

and in category B to the following organisations:

World Veterans Federation.
Free International Federation of Deportees and Internees of the Resistance.

142. The President of the Assembly was informed of this Resolution in a letter from the Secretary-General dated 4th November, 1954.

Appendix 1 APPENDIX

Reply of the Committee of Ministers to the Second General Report of the High Authority of the E. C. S. C.

1. The Committee of Ministers has considered the Second General Report of the High Authority on the activities of the European Coal and Steel Community, transmitted by the High Authority to the Consultative Assembly and the Committee of Ministers in pursuance of Article 3 of the Protocol to the Treaty constituting the E. C. S. C.
2. The High Authority will find enclosed the Consultative Assembly's opinion on the Second General Report.
3. The Committee of Ministers welcomes the progress achieved by the Community in the year following the opening of the common market, particularly the increased trade in coal and steel. The measures already taken or contemplated for the establishment of the common market, the statement of general plans for expansion and modernisation and action undertaken in the social field have also been considered by the Committee.
4. The Committee fully appreciates the steps taken by the Community to establish the closest possible understanding and co-operation with non-member countries and with those international organisations most interested in European economic problems, such as O. E. E. C. and the Council of Europe.
5. As far as the Council of Europe was concerned, the Governments of those States which were Members of the Council, but not of E. C. S. C, unanimously welcomed the various methods of liaison established between the two Organisations in. pursuance, of the "Eden Plan", such as joint meetings of the two Assemblies, meetings of the High Authority and various Committees of the Consultative Assembly, and were glad to note the High Authority's agreement to hold an initial meeting with the Council's Committee of Ministers.
6. The Council of Europe is most anxious to be kept fully informed of action taken and progress achieved by the Community, since it considers it in the interests of members to be able to assess the work of the Community in the economic field, especially insofar as the Community's activities affect trade between the Community and non-member countries in coal, steel, ore and scrap iron. It seems clear that the more comprehensive the information furnished on all these points by the High Authority in its annual report, the more accurately will the Committee of Ministers be able to form its opinion. It is with this in mind that various Governments would like the High Authority, in its next report, to go into more detail in the chapter dealing with the external relations of the community, by including, in particular, full information on the policy and operation of the Community vis-à-vis non-member countries.
7. As regards the second general report now submitted to the Committee of Ministers, certain Governments feel they should ask the High Authority for clarification of a number of points.
8. Could the High Authority make its position clearer regarding the abolition of discriminatory, protectionist, restrictive or autarkic practices? The Committee of Ministers realises that no decisive progress can be achieved in this field for some time, but il stresses the importance to non-member countries of the largest possible measure of free trade in those sectors of production with which the Community is concerned. Non-producer countries have pointed out that it is to their interest to continue to have free access to the raw materials produced by the Community and would much regret the maintenance or appearance in the Community of tendencies winch run counter to this principle. They have therefore expressed the hope that the High Authority may be able to supply more detailed information on the subject, so as to dispel any anxiety in this regard in non-member countries. These countries hope that the High Authority will supporta policy for the complete abolition of discriminatory practices, which is an essential condition of economic expansion through trade liberalisation.
9. A similar concern has led the representatives of some Governments to put the following questions, which the Committee of Ministers deems it desirable to bring to the High Authority's attention :
i There is still some uncertainty regarding the scope of the High Authority's powers in respect of the commercial policy of the Community vis-à-vis non-member countries, and the attitude it intends to adopt in this connection. The matter was referred to in the Reply by the Committee of Ministers to the first General Report of the High Authority (paragraph 5). Can the High Authority supply relevant information of a general nature on this subject and indicate, in particular, what attitude it proposes to adopt with regard to the harmonisation of the Community's customs tariffs in respect of non-member countries?
ii Can the High Authority supply further details of the pattern and volume of the Community's trade with other countries?
iii Is the High Authority in a position to supply information concerning the activities of the European steel cartel?
iv Can the High Authority provide any information on the general economic measures taken by member countries to stimulate the demand for Community products?
v The opening of the common market for special steels (1st August, 1954) was followed in some Community countries by a de facto increase in protectionism in respect of imports of special steels from other countries. Several Member States of the Council of Europe were not unnaturally somewhat alarmed at this tendency. Although non-member countries readily accepted the establishment of a European Coal and Steel Community as also the creation of a preferential zone within that Community, they did so because they thought they had reason to hope that the resultant hardening of competitive conditions would be offset by the application of low, or at least moderate, customs tariffs to imports from other countries. Granted that the common market for special steels was not opened until after the period covered by the second General Report, would the High Authority be ready to supply the Committee of Ministers with precise information on its attitude and intentions in this matter?
10. In drawing the High Authority's attention to the questions that occur to the Consultative Assembly and the Governments of various Members of the Council after study of the Second General Report, the Committee of Ministers would be grateful if the High Authority would give them due consideration. The High Authority will no doubt share the view of the Committee of Ministers that these questions might with advantage be discussed during a joint meeting. The Committee of Ministers regrets that, owing to the congested time-table of international conferences arranged for the coming months, it will be impossible to hold such a meeting this year, but will suggest a date early in 1955.

Appendix 2

STATE OF THE DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATIONS OF THE CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

 

HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM

DROITS DE L'HOMME ET LIBERTÉS FONDAMENTALES

SOCIAL SECURITY

SÉCURITÉ SOCIALE

SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

ASSISTANCE SOCIALE ET MÉDICALE

PATENTS

BREVETS

CULTURAL QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS CULTURELLES

 

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

   

Clauses relatives aux

Schemes relating to oldage, invalidity and survivors

Régimes relatifs à la vieillesse, à l'invalidité et aux survivants

Other schemes

Régimes autres que ceux relatifs à la vieillesse, à l'invalidité et aux survivants

           

Convention

Convention

Protocol

Protocole

Overseas territories

Territoires d'Outre-Mer

Right of individual petition

Droit de recours individuel

Juridiction of the Court

Juridiction de la Cour

Interim Agreement

Accord intérimaire

Additional Protocol

Protocole additionnel

Interim Agreement

Accord intérimaire

Additional Protocol

Protocole additionnel

Convention

Convention

Additional Protocol

Protocole additionnel

Convention relating to the formalities required for Patents applications

Convention relative aux formalités prescrites pour les demandes de brevets

Convention relating to the international classification of patents

Convention sur la classification internationale des brevets

Convention on the equivalence of Diplomas leading to admission to Universities

Convention relative à l'équivalence des diplômes donnant accès aux établ. universitaires

Cultural convention

Convention culturelle

Date and place of signature

Rome 4.XI.1950

Paris 20.111.1952

Rome 4.XI.1950

Rome 4.XI.1950

Rome 4.XI.1950

Paris 11.XII.1953.

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 19.XII.1954

Paris 11.XII.1953

Paris 19.XII.1954

Date et lieu de la signature

Conditions of entry in force

10 Ratifications

10 Ratifications

Notifications

Déclaration

6 declarations

6 acceptations

8 declarations

8 acceptations

2 Ratifications

2 Ratifications

2 Ratifications

2 Ratifications

2 Ratifications

2 Ratifications

4 Ratifications

4 Ratifications

3 Ratifications

3 Ratifications

Conditions d'entrée en vigueur

Date of entry into force

3.IX.1953

18.V.1954

30 days after notification

30 jours après la déclaration

   

1.VII.1954

1.X.1954

1.VII.1954

1.X.1954

1.VII.1954

1.VII.1954

1.VI.1955

 

20.IV.1954

5.V.1955

Date d'entrée en vigueur

Belgium

14.VI.1955

14.VI.1955

                   

16.V.1955

14.VI.1955

11.V.1955

Belgique

Denmark

13.IV.1953

13.IV.1953

Yes – extended for 2 years as from 7.IV.1955

Oui - prorogé pour 2 ans à partir du 7.IV.1955

30.VI.1954

non signé

30.VI.1954

Not signed

non signé

30.VI.1954

30.VI.1954

   

20.IV.1954

7.V.1955

 

France

                         

11. III.1955

19. III.1955

France

German Fed. Rep.

5.XII.1952

 

               

17.V.1955

 

3.III.1955

 

République Fédér. d'Allemagne

Greece

28.III.1953

28.III.1953

               

I5.VI.1955

     

Grèce

Iceland

29.VI.1953

29.VI.1953

Yes – for 5 years – 25.III.1955

oui - pour 5 ans - 25.III.1955

               

Not signed

non signé

5.VIII.1954

 

Islande

Ireland

25.II.1953

25.II.1953

Yes - oui - 25.II.1953

31.III.1954

31.III.1954

31.III.1954

31.III.1954

31.III.1954

31.III.1954

17.VI.1954

11.III.1955

31.III 1954

11.III.1955

 

Italy

   

                       

Italie

Luxembourg

3.IX.1953

3.IX.1953

                 

Not signed

non signé

12.1.1955

 

Luxembourg

Netherlands

31.VIII.1954

31.VIII.1954

   

31.VIII.1954 (for 5 years) (pour 5 ans)

11.III.1955

11.III.1955

11.III.1955

11.III.1955

           

Pays-Bas

Norway

15.I.1952

18.XII.1952

   

9.IX.1954

9.IX.1954

9.IX.1954

9.IX.1954

9.IX.1954

9.IX.1954

21.V.1954

11.III.1955

21.V.1954

 

Norvège

Saar

14.I.1953

14.I.1953

   

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

8.IX.1954

 

8.IX.1954

 

Sarre

Sweden

4.II.1952

22.VI.1953

Yes - Oui

                     

Suède

Turkey

18.V.1954

18.V.1954

                       

Turquie

United Kingdom

8.III.1951

3.XI.1952

The Convention only for 42 territories

La convention, p. 42 territoires énumérés 23.X.53

   

7.IX.1954

7.IX.1954

7.IX.1954

7.IX.1954

7.IX.1954

7.IX.1954

5.V.1955

 

22.III.1954

5.V.1955

Royaume-Uni

STATE OF THE DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATIONS OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

Agreement - Protocol

Date and place of Signature : - Paris 2.IX.1949 - Strasbourg 6.XI.1952

Conditions of entry into force : - 7 Ratifications - Ratification by all Members which have ratified the Agreement

Date of entry into force : - 10.IX.1952

Belgium - 5.IV.1951 - 24.VII.1953

Denmark - 2.IX.1953 - 2.IX.1953

France - — - —

German Federal Republic - AccessionNote - AccessionNote

10.1X.1954 - 10.1X.1954

Greece - 17.X1.1953 - 17.X1.1953

Iceland - AccessionNote - AccessionNote

Ireland - — - —

Italy - 7.11.1952 - —

Luxembourg - 10.IX.1952 - 29.VI.1953

Netherlands - 18.111.1950 - 19.VI.1953

Norway - 1.XII.1949 - 24.IV.1953

Saar - AccessionNote - AccessionNote

16.11.1954 - 16.11.1954

Sweden - 25.IX.1950 - 30.IV.1953

Turkey - — - —

United Kingdom - 25.IX.1950 - 19.XI.1954