29 June 1993

Doc. 6885

OPINION

on the application by the Czech Republic

for membership of the Council of Europe1

(Rapporteur: Mr BRITO,

Portugal, Socialist Group)


1.       The Czech Republic applied to join the Council of Europe on 1 January 1993. On the same day, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic succeeded the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, which had been a member of the Council of Europe from 21 January 1991 until it ceased to exist on 31 December 1992.

      On 14 January 1993 the Bureau of the Assembly granted the Parliament of the Czech Republic special guest status.

2.       Between 8 and 10 March 1993 I visited the Czech Republic with the two other Assembly Rapporteurs (Mrs Lentz-Cornette and Mr Schiesser).

      The report we subsequently drew up is featured in Doc. 6855. This document contains the draft opinion of the Political Affairs Committee, the conclusions of which are as follows: "The Assembly accordingly recommends that, at its next meeting, the Committee of Ministers:

i.       invite the Czech Republic to join the Council of Europe;

ii.       allocate the Czech Republic seven seats in the Parliamentary Assembly."

3.       The Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries, requested to give an opinion, approved this draft at its meeting of 25-26 May 1993 in Kiev by 13 votes for, 0 against and 1 abstention.

      In the course of discussions, committee members particularly appreciated the fact that the splitting-up of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic into two independent states had taken place peacefully. The committee also felt that the new constitution of the Czech Republic, adopted on 16 December 1992, provided the necessary guarantees for the separation of powers and to ensure that political, economic and civil life was organised in a democratic fashion within the framework of a law-based state.

      The committee also regarded the solemn undertaking by the government of the Czech Republic to sign and ratify the European Convention on Human Rights and the additional Protocols as an important guarantee that human rights would continue to be observed in the new Czech Republic.

4.       The abstention of one member of the committee in the vote is explained by a dispute between Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic and, to a lesser extent, the Slovak Republic. Bilateral relations between Liechtenstein and Czechoslovakia have been overshadowed by certain problems since the founding of the latter state in 1918. Czechoslovakia recognised Liechtenstein in 1938 but did not keep its promise to restore a certain number of properties to Liechtenstein and grant it compensation. The Principality does not appear to be demanding full restitution and compensation, but it wants the Czech and Slovak Republics to enter into negotiations. The representatives of Liechtenstein in the Assembly stated that the Principality is not planning to oppose Czech membership of the Council of Europe.

      The Rapporteur hopes that diplomatic relations will soon be established between the two countries so that this matter can be resolved by dialogue and negotiation. Czech accession to the Council of Europe will certainly provide further impetus to this dialogue.

5.       The Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries therefore considers that the Czech Republic meets the conditions for membership of the Council of Europe, and hopes that it will be invited to join at the forthcoming session of the Committee of Ministers. As Rapporteur, I am convinced that accession by the Czech Republic to the Council of Europe will facilitate a peaceful, negotiated solution to the aforementioned dispute with Liechtenstein.

*

* *

Reporting committee: Political Affairs Committee (Doc. 6855).

Committee for opinion: Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries.

Reference to committee: Doc. 6737 and Reference No. 1840 of 1 February 1993.

Opinion approved by the committee on 29 June 1993.

Secretary to the committee: Mr Dufour.


1 1       See Doc. 6855.