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Recommendation 1247 (1994)
Enlargement of the Council of Europe
1. The Council
of Europe is an Organisation of sovereign states striving to achieve
close co-operation on the basis of democratic constitutions and
the European Convention on Human Rights. It is in Europe's interest that
its basic values and ideas on human rights permeate neighbouring
cultures, but without seeking in any way to question, let alone
destroy, those cultures.
2. Membership of the Council of Europe is in principle open only
to states whose national territory lies wholly or partly in Europe
and whose culture is closely linked with the European culture. However,
traditional and cultural links and adherence to the fundamental
values of the Council of Europe might justify a suitable co-operation
with other states neighbouring the “geographical” boundaries.
3. The boundaries of Europe have not yet been comprehensively
defined under international law. The Council of Europe therefore
should, in principle, base itself on the generally accepted geographical
limits of Europe.
4. Accordingly, within their internationally recognised borders,
all member states of the Council of Europe are European: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
5. The states whose legislative assemblies enjoy special guest
status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
are also considered European, as defined in paragraph 3 above. These
states are: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Latvia,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
6. The possibility of membership is open to the republics of
the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – Montenegro
and Serbia – which currently have no formal status with the Council
of Europe because of their responsibility for the crisis and the
United Nations sanctions against them.
7. The possibility of membership is also open to the Principality
of Andorra.
8. In view of their cultural links with Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia would have the possibility of applying for membership
provided they clearly indicate their will to be considered as part
of Europe. However, a new iron curtain should not be drawn behind
these states as this would run the risk of preventing the spread of
the Council of Europe's basic values to other countries. Neighbouring
countries of "geographical" Europe should, if they so wish, be viewed
as possible candidates for suitable co-operation.
9. Countries bordering directly on Council of Europe member states
should be able to enjoy privileged relations with the Parliamentary
Assembly, if they so wish. This applies in particular to the states
on the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean.
10. Even after internationally recognised declarations of sovereignty,
any non-European parts of member states which break away from the
latter should only be able to apply to participate as observers
in the Parliamentary Assembly's work.
11. Delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly should comprise
a minimum of two and a maximum of eighteen members.
12. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers
define the limits of the enlargement of the Council of Europe taking
into account the above-mentioned principles.