Assembly debate on 20 April 1998 (9th Sitting) (see 7961, report of the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations, rapporteur: Mr Moser). Text adopted by the Assembly on 20 April 1998 (9th Sitting).
Thesaurus
1. The Assembly believes that the future of European integration is inextricably linked to the establishment of a common political culture through the reinforcement of national parliaments as intermediaries between local needs and international and/or supranational needs. This means that efforts must be made to create an efficient system of ongoing co-operation between national parliaments and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with a view to better implementation of the drafts presented before the Assembly for debate and decision. The critical assessment of the functioning of national parliamentary systems at European level helps to encourage a change of mentalities in the same direction.
2. Since the smooth functioning of democracy, as well as a more equitable representation of women, represent a constant challenge, the Assembly feels that this type of review should feature regularly on its agenda.
3. Accordingly, the Assembly asks the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations to make provision in its work for permanent monitoring of social developments likely to affect the functioning of democracy, and to encourage regular exchanges of information and a pooling of experience between the member parliaments as well as co-operation between competent committees of the member parliaments and the Assembly, taking special note of the new European and global dimension of the problems.
