Doc. 8004
9 February 1998

Development of cooperation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and subregional assemblies

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mrs Squarcialupi and others

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

The Assembly,

Considering the constant growth in subregional co-operation in Europe ;

Noting that most subregional organisations have a parliamentary assembly (Nordic Council Assembly, Baltic Assembly, Central European Initiative, Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation, etc) ;

Stressing the contribution which subregional organisations make to consolidating democracy, the rule of law and the principles on which the Council of Europe is founded ;

Stressing that, through their grassroots activities, subregional organisations also help to involve the public more closely in the building of Europe ;

Noting the call made by the representatives of the subregional assemblies at the Parliamentary Conference on Subregional Economic Cooperation, organised at the initiative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, in Monaco on 8-10 October 1997 for greater coordination and more exchanges of information between these assemblies and the European assemblies ;

Stressing the need to strengthen the role of parliamentary democracy at subregional level,

Invites the subregional assemblies to join with it in examining the possibilities for co-operation based, in particular, on:

1.       the development of mutual exchanges of information,

2.       the participation of leading representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the annual meetings of the subregional assemblies,

3.       the organisation of joint meetings between the committees or working parties set up by the subregional assemblies and the relevant committees or subcommittees of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,

4.       consideration of the work done by the Committee on Parliamentary and Public Relations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the functioning of national parliaments and their role in the building of Europe,

5.       a comprehensive approach to the interparliamentary co-operation programmes, which should help improve the operation of the subregional assemblies where necessary,

6.       the introduction of a special status to enable the subregional assemblies to become involved in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Signed : ¹

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Brunetti, Italy, UEL

Cusimano, Italy, EDG

Diana, Italy, EPP/CD

Durrieu, France, SOC

Evangelisti, Italy, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Lauricella, Italy, SOC

Leoni, Italy, SOC

Mignon, France, EDG

Olivo, Italy, SOC

Polenta, Italy, EPP/CD

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

Rizzi, Italy, EPP/CD

Turini, Italy, EDG

Wielowieyski, Poland, LDR