Doc. 8863
6 October 2000

German as an official language of the Council of Europe

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Eörsi and others

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

      The Assembly,

1.       Recalls that the Council of Europe was established on 5 May 1949, right after World War II, when Germany was a defeated country;

2.       Being aware that if there had not been such a historic background, German would have then become an official language of the Council of Europe;

3.       Acknowledging the role of Germany over the last half century not only in building a democratic society but also having been an engine for promoting democracy all over Europe;

4.       Urging measures to end even the symbolic consequences of World War II vis–à–vis Germany;

5.       Being aware of the ambition of several nations to introduce their languages as the official language of the Council of Europe, but at the same time pointing out that the German language is an official language in several Council of Europe member states;

6.       Noting that a further introduction of any official language in the Council of Europe would have significant financial implications, but since the government of the Federal Republic of Germany has expressed its readiness to bear all expenses related to such a modification of the Statute and the Rules of Procedure, such a decision would not increase the financial burden of the other member states;

7.       Responding to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's request expressed in his speech addressed to the Assembly on 27 September 2000,

8.       Recommends that the Committee of Ministers modify the first sentence of Article 12 of the Statute of the Council of Europe as follows:

      "The official languages of the Council of Europe are English, French and German";

9.       Decides to modify its Rules of Procedure accordingly.

Signed : ¹

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Herczog, Hungary, SOC

Kurucsai, Hungary, EPP/CD

Lloyd, United Kingdom, SOC

Lotz, Hungary, LDR

Nabholz–Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Ninoshvili, Georgia, SOC

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

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