Reply to the Third Report by UNESCO

Report | Doc. 611 | 10 January 1957

Committee

Committee on Culture, Science and Education

Rapporteure :

Mrs Luise REHLING, Germany

Origin

See Doc. 531. Voir 37° séance, 11 janvier 1957 (adoption du projet de résolution et des projets de recommandation), Résolution 118, e t Recommandations 126,127,128 et 129. 1956 - 8th Session - Third part

Thesaurus

A Draft Resolution in reply to UNESCO's Third Report to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe

1. The Consultative Assembly wishes to thank UNESCO for its Third Report and to congratulate it most sincerely on the remarkable work it has accomplished in Europe during the past year.

Co-operation between UNESCO and the Council of Europe

2. As regards effective co-ordination of the activities of UNESCO and the Council of Europe, the Assembly has before it a proposal from the Committee of Ministers that the Joint Cultural Committee of the Council of Europe be entrusted with the task of ensuring liaison with UNESCO in connection with the examination of the future cultural activities of our Organisation. This task is in accordance with the mandate of the Joint Cultural Committee, which is to permit a free exchange of views among the representatives of the Consultative Assembly, on the one hand, and the members appointed by the Committee of Cultural Experts, on the other hand, concerning the cultural policy of the Council of Europe.

3. The Joint Committee may also, if it sees fit, make use of the periodical reports of the Director-General of UNESCO supplied for information purposes to the interested organs of the Council of Europe. The Assembly wishes to express its gratitude to the Director-General of UNESCO for this courteous gesture.

4. In the light of information concerning an increase in the credits of UNESCO in connection with the implementation of the " programme of participation in the activities of member countries ", and convinced that one of the main obstacles to the extension of the cultural activities of the Council of Europe is the lack of funds, the Assembly wonders whether it would not be possible to facilitate the implementation on a multilateral basis of certain large-scale projects within the regional framework of the European Cultural Convention by making use of the facilities which UNESCO offers its members. The European Cultural Convention concluded under the auspices of the Council of Europe may, in the opinion of the Assembly, serve as a useful instrument for the implementation of " regional projects " as advocated at the General Conference of UNESCO at Montevideo.

5. As regards the technical and administrative side of the co-operation between UNESCO and the Council of Europe, the Assembly is relying on the initiative of the two Secretariats.

Co-operation with ?ion-governmental organisations

6. Turning to account the pilot experiments carried out in recent years by its Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions, the Assembly intends to continue its endeavours to extend its relations with international non-governmental organisations working in the cultural field. It hopes, should need arise, to enjoy the kind co-operation of UNESCO, which has succeeded in such an exemplary manner in creating around it a huge network of nongovernmental organisations.

Recommendations to the Committee of Ministers

7. In accordance with the declaration made in its Resolution 77 (1955) in reply to the previous Report of UNESCO, the Assembly has noted, in the last message of the Director-General, a number of questions of special interest to member countries of the Council of Europe, which it considers call for Assembly action. It has accordingly addressed the following Recommendations to the Committee of Ministers :

7.1 Recommendation advocating the accession of member countries of the Council of Europe to the International Bureau of Education at Geneva

7.2 Recommendation concerning the International Computation Centre in Rome

8. The Assembly considers accession to these institutions to be a quite normal process since it had always declared itself in favour of the establishment of specialised institutes on a multilateral basis in the scientific and cultural field. In addition, it realises the importance for contemporary civilisation of the advances made in computation methods, particularly in view of the increasingly great influence which cybernetics are likely to have in all departments of social life.

9. It is for the countries of Europe to shoulder their share of responsibility in developing a branch of science which has such a great future before it. (iii) Recommendation on the participation of the Council of Europe in the UNESCO projects concerned with " mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values "

10. Presentation of the European idea is one of the main objectives of the cultural activities of the Council of Europe. This is shown by the organisation of the " Round Table " in 1953, and by the sponsoring of the book Europe and the Europeans, which is to appear shortly in the original English edition [(1) DFrench, German, Italian and Scandinavian editions are planned.].

11. The task of presenting European culture outside Europe raises serious problems. The Assembly is, nevertheless, convinced that it must be tackled. On the one hand, it realises how desirable it is for the nations of the world, which have become accustomed to viewing Europe exclusively from the point of view of its technological achievements, also to learn to appreciate its artistic, moral and spiritual values. On the other hand, it is convinced that a joint effort to present Europe abroad as a cultural entity could have a salutory effect on the development of European solidarity within the countries of Europe. (iv) Recommendation on the participation of the Council of Europe in the work of the UNESCO Institute of Social Sciences at Cologne

12. The Assembly believes that this Institute could become one of the centres linking up the scientific needs of the Council of Europe with UNESCO's endeavours to extend knowledge and application of the social sciences in the world.

13. In addition to the matters covered by Recommendations, the Assembly would like to take advantage of this Reply to emphasise the importance it attaches to certain other activities of UNESCO referred to in the Director- General's message.

Adult Education

14. The Assembly has noted with satisfaction that, in the seminars organised by UNESCO for the training of teachers in the field of adult education, European problems are frequently explained and discussed. The Assembly feels that adult education is one of the most promising fields for joint action by UNESCO and the Council.

The International Universities Bureau

15. The International Universities Bureau took an important part in preparing the Report of the Committee on Scientific and Cultural Questions on the " Role of the Council of Europe in assisting the European universities to play their part in developing a sense of community among the European peoples ". (Doc. 561). The Assembly takes this opportunity to thank the Bureau.

16. It now remains for it to hope that the International Universities Bureau, will, on its side, effectively implement the " Conclusions " | of the Paris Special Meeting, and in particular | that the Bureau will use its Bulletin to ensure that the Assembly's work in connection with universities, and its various suggestions, are know in university circles.

17. With regard to the Bureau's activities in connection with the equivalence of university degrees, UNESCO is not unaware of the work of the Council of Europe on the subject; the Assembly has special pleasure in announcing the signature, in December 1956, of a second Convention on the Equivalence of Periods of University Study.

18. The Assembly is particularly anxious that there should be closer collaboration among the appropriate services of the Council of Europe and of the International Universities Bureau. It reserves the right to make suggestions to those services with regard to publications of the Bureau which have a European bearing.

The question of so-called " neighbouring " rights

19. Lastly, the Consultative Assembly has noted with satisfaction the information published in the Report on exchanges of radio and television programmes. It agrees with UNESCO that the extension of the exchanges of television programmes depends to a large extent on the solution of the problem of so-called " neighbouring" rights. It also welcomes any efforts UNESCO may make jointly with other competent international organisations to solve this problem.

B Draft Recommendation on the International Bureau of Education

The Assembly,

Having examined with the keenest interest the Third Report of UNESCO to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe;

Having noted, in particular, the information contained in paragraphs 17 and 18 of this Report, concerning the Sessions of the International Conference on Public Education held in 1955 and 1956 under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Bureau of Education;

Convinced of the importance of the work of the International Bureau of Education;

Considering that it is the responsibility of countries with long centuries of experience in educational matters to enable other countries to benefit from their experience;

Noting with regret that some European countries are not members of this Bureau,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the necessary steps to ensure that all the Member States of the Council of Europe become full members of the International Bureau of Education.

C Draft Recommendation on the International Computation Centre

The Assembly,

Having examined the information contained in paragraphs 38 and 39 of UNESCO's Third Report to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, which refers to an agreement establishing the International Computation Centre;

Noting with satisfaction that this agreement has already been ratified by Italy and Belgium;

Expressing its gratification that the Italian Government has invited the Computation Centre to establish its headquarters in Rome and is assisting a preparatory committee in its work pending the final establishment of the Centre,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers urge the Governments of Member States :

1 to ratify forthwith the Agreement concluded under the auspices of UNESCO establishing an International Computation Centre in Rome;

2 to contribute, pending the final establishment of this Centre, towards the expenses of a provisional centre.

D Draft Recommendation on the participation of the Council of Europe in UNESCO projects concerned ivith the " mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values "

The Assembly,

Having learnt with satisfaction that at the General Conference of UNESCO in New Delhi the project " mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values" was included in the programme of UNESCO as one of the three major projects of that Organisation;

Considering it of the highest importance that the countries of Europe should be aware of the need for presenting Europe as a cultural whole to the other countries of the world;

Considering that the Council of Europe's contribution should take the form of schemes jointly organised by European countries which should transcend national particularism and as far as possible illustrate the unity of Europe,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should associate the Council of Europe as closely as possible with the implementation of the UNESCO project concerned with " mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values ", in particular by the adoption of the following measures :

a to hold one or more European art exhibitions in Eastern countries, making use in this connection of the experience gained with the Council of Europe exhibitions in Brussels, Amsterdam and Rome;

b to organise in Europe courses of European studies for nationals of Eastern Countries;

c to organise in one more Eastern countries courses of one or more weeks' duration devoted to the " presentation of the European idea ", at which eminent Europeans would give lectures on the fundamental aspects of European culture; this programme might be supplemented by other manifestations of European culture;

d to send a representative of the Council of Europe to the meeting which will be taking place in 1958, under the auspices of UNESCO, for the purpose of considering the treatment of Western civilisation in Asian textbooks.

E Draft Recommendation on the participation of the Council of Europe in the work of the UNESCO Institute for Social Sciences at Cologne

The Assembly,

Having learnt from UNESCO's Third Report to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe (paragraph 46), that the Executive Board of UNESCO has decided to maintain the subsidy to the Institute for Social Sciences at Cologne and has urged that Institute to co-operate closely with other appropriate bodies in Europe;

Believing that the maintenance of this International Institute is of indisputable importance for the development of social sciences in the European countries;

Considering that the Council of Europe might make good use of this Institute's studies in planning its own work, on the understanding that it takes an active part in orientation and, if need be, the financing of those studies,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers instruct the Secretary-General to examine in consultation with UNESCO the possibility of a fruitful association of the Council of Europe with the work of the UNESCO Institute for Social Sciences at Cologne.

F Explanatory Memorandum

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Draft Resolution in reply to UNESCO's Third Report to the Consultative Assemhly of the Council of Europe - 2

2. Draft Recommendation I on the International Bureau of Education - 6

3. Draft Recommendation II on the International Computation Centre - 6

4. Draft Recommendation III on the participation of the Council of Europe in UNESCO projects concerned with " mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values - 7

5. Draft Recommendation IV on the participation of the Council of Europe in the work of the UNESCO Institute for Social Sciences at Cologne - 8

6. Explanatory Memorandum by Mme. Rehl- ing - 9

1

1. In its Opinion No. 14 (1955) on the cultural section of the Special Message of the Committee of Ministers, the Consultative Assembly again advocated a strengthening of the links between the Council of Europe and UNESCO with a view to effective collaboration between these two organisations.

2. Since that time some progress has been made. In particular, the Committee of Ministers has accepted the principle of including in the national delegations of member countries attending the General Conferences of UNESCO at least one of the persons who regularly attend meetings of the Committee of Cultural Experts of the Assembly Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions. The presence of many members of the Committee of Cultural Experts at the General Conference of UNESCO at New Delhi in November 1956 resulted in most gratifying co-operation between the national delegations of the Member States of the Council of Europe.

3. Furthermore, the Council of Europe was represented at New Delhi by an official observer who was acting both as ex officio Chairman of the Committee of Cultural Experts and leader of the Netherlands delegation. In addition, the Rapporteur of the Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions attended the General Conference as a member of the German delegation.

4. Mention should also be made of another decision of the Committee of Ministers enabling the Joint Cultural Committee to act as a Co-ordinating Committee in the cultural field, as advocated by the Consultative Assembly in its Opinion No. 14. This Committee, one of whose objects is to arrange for free exchanges of views between representatives of the Committee of Cultural and Scientific Questions of the Consultative Assembly, on the one hand, and the members appointed by the Committee of Cultural Experts, on the other, concerning the cultural policy to be carried out within the framework of the Council of Europe, will henceforth ensure liaison with UNESCO whenever the future cultural activities of our organisation call for examination in a wider context.

5. Furthermore, the exchange of reports between UNESCO and the Consultative Assembly, as provided for under the Agreement concluded in November 1952, has taken on fresh significance. The Consultative Assembly in its Resolution 77 (1955) in reply to the Second Progress Report of UNESCO had expressed its desire to assist UNESCO in attaining its objectives by enlisting the support of public opinion or by taking appropriate steps with the Governments, and the Director-General of UNESCO in his Third Report explicitly referred to the role of the Assembly as a European parliamentary forum.

6. The Committee on Cultural and Scientific Questions, which was instructed to prepare a reply to this Report, has therefore thought it desirable to submit, in addition to the draft reply itself, a number of draft Recommendations to the Committee of Ministers with a view to giving effective support to certain activities of UNESCO which are of particular interest to the Council of Europe.