Reply to Recommendation 1338 (1997) - Obligations and commitments of the Czech Republic as a member state

Doc. 8063

6 April 1998

Obligations and commitments of the Czech Republic as a member state

Reply to Recommendation 1338 (1997)

from the Committee of Ministers

adopted on 31 March 1998 at the 625th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

The Committee of Ministers has taken note of the Recommendation 1338 (1997) in which the Parliamentary Assembly decided to close the monitoring procedure concerning the fulfilment of the Czech Republic's obligations and commitments as provided by Order No. 508 (1995).

It has transmitted Recommendation 1338 (1997) on the obligations and commitments of the Czech Republic as a member State to governments at its 606th meeting at Deputies’ level in October 1997.

As regards the implementation of the citizenship law in the Czech Republic, Council of Europe experts conducted a study of the provisions of this law, which prompted various improvements to which the Assembly refers in paragraph 7.i of Recommendation 1338 (1997). The publication of this study on 2 April 1996, with the agreement of the Czech and Slovak governments, had positive effects, especially with regard to administrative procedures and the cost of obtaining citizenship. In the opinion of the Committee of Ministers, the publication of this report, with the replies of these governments, no doubt contributed to the development of international law in this field.

The Committee of Ministers attaches the greatest importance to developing of the activities of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), as requested by the Heads of State and Government in the final declaration of the Second Summit in Strasbourg in October 1997. At its last meeting ECRI made practical proposals for stepping up its activities. The Committee of Ministers will discuss these proposals as part of its monitoring of the implementation of the Action Plan adopted at the Second Summit.

Lastly, as requested by the Assembly, the Committee has transmitted Recommendation 1338 (1997) to the European Committee on Legal Co-operation for the purposes of its work on the European civil service.