Freedom of movement for members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

 

Doc. 7596

27 June 1996

 

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

presented by Lord FINSBERG and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

The Assembly,

1.         Noting the fundamental importance of all its members being able to travel freely to and within member states of the Council of Europe;

2.         Believing that any attempt by the government of a member state to prevent any member of the Assembly from entering that member state on the grounds of his or her political views is wholly reprehensible and quite contrary to the commitment to freedom of expression undertaken by all member states under the Statute of the Council of Europe and other instruments at the time of their accession;

3.         Calling upon all member states to issue visas in good time to all members of the Assembly travelling in an official capacity in all instances without delay and without regard to political views;

4.         Believing that it would be inappropriate for any of its committees to organise or proceed with meetings in member states which fail promptly to issue visas to all members of the Assembly wishing to attend a committee meeting in that member state or otherwise travelling to that member state in their capacity as a member of the Assembly,

5.         Recommends that the Committee of Ministers initiate discussions with a view to a new Council of Europe agreement to permit entry by members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to all member states without a requirement for a visa.

Signed[1]:

Finsberg, United Kingdom, EDG

Durant, United Kingdom, EDG

Rathbone, United Kingdom, EDG

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Baumel, France, GDE

Barsony, Hungary, SOC

Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Gricius, Lithuania, LDR

Bowden, United Kingdom, EDG

Speed, United Kingdom, EDG

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Jeszenszky, Hungary, EDG

Bj�rk, Sweden, EDG

Fenner, United Kingdom, EDG

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Martinez, Spain, SOC

Bergqvist, Sweden, SOC

Behrendt, Germany, SOC

Horn, Germany, SOC

De Decker, Belgium, LDR

Antretter, Germany, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Masseret, France, SOC

Mackie of Benshie, United Kingdom, LDR

Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR

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[1]        SOC : Socialist Group

            EPP : Group of the European People's Party

            EDG : European Democratic Group

            LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

            UEL : Group of the Unified European Left