7 January 1994

Doc. 6988

REQUEST FOR AN OPINION

FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO THE ASSEMBLY

on the accession of the Principality of Andorra

to the Council of Europe

Resolution (94) 1

on the Principality of Andorra

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 January 1994

at the 505th meeting of the Ministers Deputies)

      The Committee of Ministers,

      Recalling its decision, expressed at its 8th Session in May 1951, to consult the Parliamentary Assembly before inviting a state to become a member or associate member of the Council of Europe in conformity with the provisions of the Statute;

      Considering that the Government of the Principality of Andorra, in its letter of 22 November 1993 addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressed the wish to be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe and declared its readiness to respect the principles stated in Article 3 of the Statute;

      Having noted with satisfaction the interest shown by the Principality of Andorra in acceding to the Organisation;

      Invites the Parliamentary Assembly to express its opinion on the matter and brings the following considerations to the attention of the Assembly at this stage:

      At the Summit Meeting in Vienna, on 9 October 1993 the Heads of State and Governments of Member States stated that:

      "Such accession presupposes that the applicant country has brought its institutions and legal system into line with the basic principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The people's representatives must have been chosen by means of free and fair elections based on universal suffrage. Guaranteed freedom of expression and notably of the media, protection of national minorities and observance of the principles of international law must remain, in our view, decisive criteria for assessing any application for membership. An undertaking to sign the European Convention on Human Rights and accept the Convention's supervisory machinery in its entirety within a short period is also fundamental. We are resolved to ensure full compliance with the commitments accepted by all member states within the Council of Europe."

      In his letter dated 22 November 1993, the Head of Government of the Principality of Andorra indicated that his Government firmly intended to sign the European Convention on Human Rights. The Committee of Ministers took note with satisfaction of this intention and expects of the Government of the Principality of Andorra that it will express its intention to recognise the right of individual petition and the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.

      The Committee of Ministers reiterates its readiness to maintain a continuing dialogue with the Parliamentary Assembly and its competent committees, in line with the suggestions made in the Committee of Ministers' memorandum of 29 October 1993 on the Role of the Committee of Ministers in the Procedure for the Accession of new member states/relations with the Parliamentary Assembly.