Freedom of movement for members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Doc. 7596
27 June 1996
MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION
presented by Lord FINSBERG and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
The Assembly,
1. Noting the fundamental importance of all its members being able to travel freely to and within member states of the Council of Europe;
2. Believing that any attempt by the government of a member state to prevent any member of the Assembly from entering that member state on the grounds of his or her political views is wholly reprehensible and quite contrary to the commitment to freedom of expression undertaken by all member states under the Statute of the Council of Europe and other instruments at the time of their accession;
3. Calling upon all member states to issue visas in good time to all members of the Assembly travelling in an official capacity in all instances without delay and without regard to political views;
4. Believing that it would be inappropriate for any of its committees to organise or proceed with meetings in member states which fail promptly to issue visas to all members of the Assembly wishing to attend a committee meeting in that member state or otherwise travelling to that member state in their capacity as a member of the Assembly,
5. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers initiate discussions with a view to a new Council of Europe agreement to permit entry by members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to all member states without a requirement for a visa.
Signed[1]:
Finsberg, United Kingdom, EDG
Durant, United Kingdom, EDG
Rathbone, United Kingdom, EDG
Sinka, Latvia, EDG
Baumel, France, GDE
Barsony, Hungary, SOC
Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR
Gricius, Lithuania, LDR
Bowden, United Kingdom, EDG
Speed, United Kingdom, EDG
Laakso, Finland, UEL
Jeszenszky, Hungary, EDG
Bj�rk, Sweden, EDG
Fenner, United Kingdom, EDG
Davis, United Kingdom, SOC
Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC
Martinez, Spain, SOC
Bergqvist, Sweden, SOC
Behrendt, Germany, SOC
Horn, Germany, SOC
De Decker, Belgium, LDR
Antretter, Germany, SOC
Gross, Switzerland, SOC
Masseret, France, SOC
Mackie of Benshie, United Kingdom, LDR
Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR
[1] SOC : Socialist Group
EPP : Group of the European People's Party
EDG : European Democratic Group
LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
UEL : Group of the Unified European Left