22 April 1994

Doc. 7075

1403-19/4/94-12-E

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on the accession of east European countries

and notably the Russian Federation

to the Council of Europe

presented by Mr RUFFY and others1

1.       When opening its doors to the east, the Council of Europe has always regarded the states there as part of Europe. It would be difficult today, for example, to question the admission of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe on the pretext of its geography or size.

2.       The admission of new states as fully fledged members of the Council of Europe cannot and must not entail the lowering of the Council's standards with regard to the fostering of European values such as the rule of law, democracy and the respect of human rights. On the contrary, enlargement must provide a further incentive to maintain standards at the highest level, particularly with regard to states who face a long and arduous task in implementing these values.

3.       However, demanding that applicant states fulfil all the necessary requirements — based on values established decades ago — before joining the Council of Europe as a fully fledged member has the effect of making them wait too long. This scenario is not in the interest of Europe, nor of its programme of security and defence nor of the promotion of the fundamental values of our continent.

4.       In this light, the integration of all east European countries, including the Russian Federation, should be decided on as soon as possible, subject to the following requirements:

      —th       at the recognition of Europe's fundamental values be in no way challenged;—

      —th       at the structures of the Council of Europe be reinforced and the necessary additional funds be granted to guarantee the process which will lead to the respect of these values.5.

5.       The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers,

      i.       massively reinforce the structures of the Council of Europe to enable it to open up as far as possible to all east European countries and to guarantee that the fundamental values of our Organisation are rapidly fostered in those countries, namely the rule of law, democracy and the respect of human rights;

      ii.       ask member states to quickly make available to the Council of Europe the necessary funds to accomplish these new tasks.

Signed:

Ruffy, Antretter, Err, Jurgens, Wohlwend, Franck, Bindig,

Hadjidemetriou, Hagard, J. Thompson, Talay, Školč, Holtz,

Jung, Guirado, de Puig, Masseret, Haller, Berger, Robert,

Bokov, Muehlemann, Ferrari, Pini, Kovács, Roman, Soell,

Bloetzer, Durrieu, Rodrigues, Büchel, Borderas,

Flückiger, Ferrarini, Loutfi

1 ¹This text only represents the views of the individual members who have signed it. It does not reflect a position adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.