Doc. 8117

18 May 1998

Draft European charter of the Danube basin

Reply to Recommendation 1330 (1997)

from the Committee of Ministers

adopted on 12 May 1998 at the 631^st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

The Committee of Ministers studied Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1330 (1997) on the draft European charter of the Danube basin with interest.

The Committee of Ministers is aware of the new opportunities for co-operation and development in the Danube Basin, particularly in the fields of economy and environment since as early as 1989.

Many Council of Europe member States are attached to sub-regional co-operation which contributes to Europe’s stability. The Committee of Ministers expresses its satisfaction that co-operation is developing under the umbrella of the Council of Europe.

In this connection, a general legal problem arises whether the whole Organisation should play a prominent role in finding solutions to problems which concern a part of Europe, or only the implicated countries. In the case of the Danube Basin there is an evident European dimension, but, it is for the relevant States in the region, in the first instance, to take action themselves.

The Committee of Ministers is also aware that there is already a number of international legal texts on the Danube Region, e.g. the Budapest based Danube Commission set up in accordance with the Belgrade Convention of 1948. The structure proposed in the draft Charter might overlap with the regional co-operation of the States of the Danube area (the ARGE DONAULAENDER).

A cooperation framework for the implementation of all legal instruments applicable to the Danube region might be useful, but it is for the contracting Parties to the different instruments to create such a framework.