Assistance whenever natural disaster afflicts a member country of the Council of Europe

Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 387 | 08 July 1955

Signatories:

Mr James I.A. DICKSON, Sweden

Thesaurus

A Draft Recommendation

The Assembly,

Having examined the reply of the Committee of Ministers to Recommendation 69 (1954), giving an account of studies carried out with a view to mobilising automatic assistance whenever a member country is overtaken by disaster;

Emphasising the urgent need for positive and practical measures;

Noting the decision of the Committee of Ministers to continue examination of the problem,

Recommends :

1 that funds should be earmarked in the budgets of the Member States for the provision of automatic assistance in the event of natural disaster, the use of such funds being left, if necessary, to the discretion of each Government;

2 that the funds thus made available in the event of disaster should be used for immediate assistance in the form of public services, since this type of assistance is not yet covered by the work of the international organisations competent in this field;

3 that the action described in the above two paragraphs be taken in close liaison with the League of Red Cross Societies, the Council of Europe being responsible as from now for overall co-ordination.

B Explanatory Memorandum (presented by Mr. DICKSON, rapporteur)

1

In Chapter II of its 6th Report (Doc. 357), paragraphs 36 et seq., the Committee of Ministers deals with progress made in pursuance of the Assembly's Recommendation 69 (1954) on the provision of assistance whenever natural disaster afflicts a member country of the Council of Europe.

Following the meeting of the group of experts appointed to study the question, the Council of Europe has examined certain means of affording automatic and immediate assistance in the event of natural disasters.

An analysis of the replies received from the Governments shows that the proposals most favourably received are those concerning assistance in the form of public services and the opening in national budgets of a special credit to ensure in advance the existence of funds for providing automatic relief.

Some positive gesture seems essential as a manifestation of European solidarity in the face of natural disaster.

With this object in view I have the honour to propose that the Committee adopt the draft Recommendation attached.