Future action of the Council of Europe for the conservation of the architectural heritage after 1975

Recommendation 742 (1974)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 30 September 1974 (15th Sitting) (see Doc. 3481, report of the Committee on Culture and Education). Text adopted by the Assembly on 30 September 1974 (15th Sitting).

The Assembly,

1. Recalling the keen interest which, over many years, the Council of Europe has taken in the conservation of Europe's architectural heritage and its integration into the life of the community ;

2. Believing that the Council of Europe, with its wide membership, offers the best available forum for discussion and collaboration on this subject ;

3. Noting with satisfaction the increased interest of governments, parliaments, local authorities, industry and individual citizens, which has been aroused by the campaign for the European Architectural Heritage Year, and the numerous examples of positive action which have resulted therefrom ;

4. Stressing the importance of ensuring that the momentum gained during the campaign is maintained and further developed in the years after 1975 ;

5. Believing that the valuable intergovernmental activity which has been initiated by the Committee on Monuments and Sites, composed of official representatives of the member states, should be continued ;

6. Observing with satisfaction the growing interest which local authorities are taking in the conservation of the architectural heritage, and welcoming the plan to hold a conference of historic towns at Bruges next May ;

7. Noting with concern that the draft Intergovernmental Work Programme (Doc. 3389) makes no provision for the extension of the mandate of the intergovernmental Committee on Monuments and Sites beyond the end of 1975 or for any other activity whatsoever by the Council of Europe regarding the conservation of the architectural heritage after that date ;

8. Expressing its surprise that no positive response has so far been given by the Committee of Ministers to Recommendation 681 (1972) in which the Assembly asked the Committee of Ministers to provide information on the action taken to protect the architectural heritage in the member countries, so as to enable the Assembly to review progress at regular intervals,

9. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers give assurances, before the start of the European Architectural Heritage Year of 1975 :

a that the conservation of Europe's architectural heritage will continue to be accorded a permanent place in the Work Programme of the Council of Europe ;

b that intergovernmental activities in this field, including work being undertaken by the Committee on Monuments and Sites, with any changes shown to be desirable in the light of experience, will be continued after 1975 ;

c that, in order to secure a more effective coordination of intergovernmental and interparliamentary activities in this field, arrangements will be made to establish liaison, on a continuing basis, between the above-mentioned intergovernmental committee and the Committee on Culture and Education of the Assembly ;

d that it will at regular intervals provide the Assembly with comprehensive information on the progress of architectural conservation in the member states, so as to enable the Assembly to review the position.