Doc. 8571

6 October 1999

Second World Summit on Social Development

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Gross and others

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

1.       In March 1995, the first World Summit on Social Development was held in Copenhagen. Its decisions were subsequently recalled in Recommendation 1290 (1996), adopted by the Assembly on the initiative of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee.

2.       The main topics discussed by the states participating in the conference were the eradication of poverty, full employment, social integration and the participation of all in society, and equal access to education and health care.

3.       Five years after Copenhagen, the UN has decided to hold a special session of its General Assembly in Geneva from 26 to 30 June 2000, intended as a kind of second Summit on Social Development, to review implementation of the decisions taken at the 1995 Summit.

4.       Before then, a European conference on social cohesion will be held in Dublin on
17 and 18 January 2000 on the initiative of the Irish government to determine the Council of Europe’s contribution to the second Summit on Social Development.

5.       The Parliamentary Assembly and, in particular, the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee must therefore prepare without delay to make a contribution to these important events.

Signed : ¹

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Alis Font, Andorra, NR

Dhaille, France, SOC

Flynn, United Kingdom, SOC

Gibula, Poland, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

McCafferty, United Kingdom, SOC

Mitterrand, France, SOC

Valkeniers, Belgium, LDR

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group