Doc. 9131

22 June 2001

Information policy of the Council of Europe

Communication

Committee of Ministers

Letter from the Chairman of the Ministers' Deputies to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, dated 19 June 2001

Dear President,

      Pursuant to the decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers at the Deputies' 756^th meeting (12-14 June 2001), I have the honour to forward to you, together with the decisions taken under agenda item 1.5.a, the report presented at the meeting by Mr Warin, the Ministers' Deputies' Rapporteur on information policy (document RAP-INF (2001) 15*).

      I advert to the fact that Committee of Ministers Resolution Res(2001)6* institutes a new policy generally applicable to the Council of Europe regarding access to documents, based on the principles adopted by the Organisation for its member states and on the rules laid down on 20 December 2000 for Committee of Ministers documentation. As this Resolution takes effect upon adoption, the new rules operate forthwith.

      On behalf of the Committee of Ministers, I wish to thank you for your backing in the efforts to enhance the visibility of the Council of Europe and the transparency of this work. As you are aware, the Liechtenstein Chair also attaches great importance to this goal, one of the priorities set in the programme which my country wishes to carry out during its six months of office in the Chair of the Committee of Ministers (see document CM/Inf(2001)19*, which is also attached for information.

…

Signed: Josef Wolf

* The documents mentioned may be obtained from the Secretariat