29 September 1993

Doc. 6942

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

on the modification of the name of the Committee on Agriculture

presented by Mrs GJØRV and others

1.       The Assembly is aware that many rural areas in Europe have been abandoned and others see their population decreasing. Several aspects of rural life, such as schooling, health services, postal services, etc have been the subject of centralisation. Employment opportunities in the agricultural and related sectors, as well as in local administration, have decreased. Most rural areas find themselves at a disadvantage to attract new employment compared to urban centres.

2.       The Assembly is particularly concerned that the collapse of traditional markets and the restructuring of the agricultural sector in the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe have resulted in considerable difficulties for these countries, such as problems of malnutrition for the most vulnerable groups in society and problems related to migration movements.

3.       The Assembly is of the opinion that a new policy framework should be drawn up which will allow a balanced and harmonious development between rural and urban regions in Europe, the preservation of a living countryside and the adoption of a sustainable resources management policy. It should encourage the creation of new rural employment opportunities and give new production tasks to the agricultural sector (nature maintenance, production of raw materials for industry and the energy sector, investment in rural tourism and leisure activities, maintenance of the European Rural Cultural Heritage etc). This endeavour must be undertaken as a pan-European initiative given the increasing European integration and the growing interdependence among European states and regions.

4.       The Assembly's Committee on Agriculture has increasingly devoted its work to different policy aspects of rural development, the protection of the (rural) environment, the role of rural regions the agricultural and other sectors for the creation of new employment and for social stability. This is presently not reflected in its title.

5.       Consequently, and in line with its Order No. 490 (1993) on necessary agricultural and rural policy reforms in Europe, the Assembly decides to change the name of the Committee on Agriculture to "Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development".

Signed:       GJØRV, BERNARDINI, JEAMBRUN, COUVEINHES, VAN DER LINDEN, ROMAN, BURBIENE, PIRINSKI, MÄNDMETS, SIPOS, MACKIE, ALEXANDER, FENNER, GRANSTEDT, HANSEN,