The Assembly,
Considering that, since 1949, twenty-seven conventions, agreements, protocols and declarations have been concluded within the framework of the Council of Europe;
Considering that, in all but three cases, over sixteen months have elapsed since these instruments were signed by most of the Governments, but that many member countries have not yet ratified them;
Considering, in particular, that the European Convention on Establishment was signed on 13th December 1955 and that, so far, only one member country has ratified it;
Recalling the statutory Resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 1951, which is worded as follows :
"The convention or agreement shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to all Members for ratification",
and
"Each Member undertakes that within one year of such submission, or, where this is impossible owing to exceptional circumstances, within eighteen months, the question of ratification of the Convention or agreement shall be brought before the competent authority or authorities in its country",
Urgently requests its members to take appropriate measures, either in their national Parliament or in a personal capacity, to bring their Governments to comply speedily with the provisions of the above-mentioned Resolution of the Committee of Ministers and to embark without delay on the ratification procedure in all cases where this has not yet been done.