Doc. 10006

1 December 2003

The future and the reconversion of mining areas in Europe

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Kucheida and others

After having contributed decisively to the growth of national wealth, the mining regions of France, Germany and Great Britain underwent decline from the 1960s on amid the more or less progressive winding up of coal production - always a painful experience. This is an unprecedented social and economic phenomenon in the history of the industrial age on account of its scale and its brutality.

The disappearance of the state-run planned economy system in eastern European countries gave rise to considerable concern among the population of these countries, particularly in regions where mining is still today an extremely important component of the economy.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which seeks, as one of its aims and values, genuine solidarity among Europeans, appears to be a suitable framework to pool practical experiences among political leaders - the social, economic and urban evolution of mining areas, the development policies to which the “reconversion” of these areas has led and also the means adopted to preserve the living memory of a human adventure in which so many men toiled and sometimes, unfortunately, died.

The Parliamentary Assembly wishes - by means of this pooling of national experiences - to reflect on the economic and social evolution of the mining basins in Council of Europe member states, the shared points and the divergences of the various countries as regards mining areas.

These exchanges could also address the procedures used in the reconversion of mining areas and in the development of territories marked by the extent of the land and the real estate heritage arising from mining operations and its repercussion on the development of agglomerations.

As a mark of consideration for men who have contributed and continue to contribute by their work to the development of our industrial economies, the preservation of significant items of the heritage in which they worked appears to be a symbolically important goal. Backing up the initiatives undertaken by local authorities, the Council of Europe could contribute to the birth of a genuine European memory of mining.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Kucheida, France, SOC

Azzolini, Italy, EPP/CD

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Debarge, France, SOC

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Lloyd, United Kingdom, SOC

Masseret, France, SOC

Masson, France, EDG

Mercan, Turkey, EPP/CD

Monfils, Belgium, LDR

Pericleous Papadopoulos, Cyprus, LDR

Pourgourides, Cyprus, EPP/CD

Rochebloine, France, EPP/CD

Schreiner, France, EDG

van der Linden, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP/CD

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group