Rationalisation of European parliamentary activities

Recommendation 117 (1957)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

(see Doc. 597, draft Recommendation and Order presented by the Committee on General Affairs and Explanatory Memorandum by M. Mommer). This Recommendation was adopted by the Assembly at its 32nd Sitting, on 9th January 1957

The Assembly,

Considering that Representatives have already grave difficulty in attending meetings of the three European Assemblies and their Committees and at the same time fulfilling their obligations towards their national Parliaments ;

Considering, however, that the personal link established by the participation of a certain number of Representatives in the different Assemblies is of great value in helping to prevent overlapping activities and in providing the minimum cohesion necessary for the development of European parliamentary institutions ;

Considering that the creation of a fourth European Assembly would cause confusion, increase expense, disperse effort and be severely criticised by public opinion, thus impairing the progress of the European idea,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

1 Suggest to the Member States of Euratom and of the Common Market :

1.1 that they reject any proposal for the creation of a fourth European Assembly ;

1.2 that, in the event of the parliamentary control of Euratom and of the Common Market being entrusted to the Common Assembly of E.C.S.C., the membership of this Assembly be increased, with provision for substitutes ;

1.3 that they take steps to ensure that at least half the members of the expanded Common Assembly, whether Representatives or Substitutes, should also be members of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe ;

Amend Article 25 (c) of the Statute to read : "Each Representative shall have a substitute. He may also have a second substitute. The substitute may, in the absence of the Representative, sit..." (remainder unchanged). This will enable the members of the expanded Common Assembly who are also members of the Consultative Assembly to participate in some of the activities of the latter Assembly;

Ask the member countries to submit to the Council of O.E.E.C. a proposal that the Consultative Assembly, meeting together with Swiss and Portuguese parliamentarians in special session, be given a watching brief over the activities of O.E.E.C. and also the activities of the Free Trade Area (whether under O.E.E.C. auspices or not) in its relation to the Common Market.