6 December 1995

Doc. 7433

1403-5/11/95-1-E

REPORT

on the request by the United States of America

for observer status with the Council of Europe

(Rapporteurs: Lord Finsberg

United Kingdom, European Democratic Group

and Mr Bársony, Hungary, Socialist Group)


Summary

      The Political Affairs Committee considers that the United States meets the requirements for observer status as set forth in Statutory Resolution (93) 26.

I. Draft recommendation

1.       The Government of the United States has made a formal request for observer status with the Council of Europe under the terms of Statutory Resolution (93) 26.

2.       The request has been supported by leading members of the United States Congress. They have expressed an interest in strengthening dialogue with the Assembly.

3.       The United States has close historical, cultural and political ties with Europe. In this century, it has contributed to the liberation and reconstruction of our continent, and to the preservation of peace and stability.

4.       In this latter regard, a major contribution has just been made in the form of the recent Bosnian peace agreement.

5.       The United States has signed and ratified Council of Europe conventions. It enjoys observer status with several intergovernmental and expert committees.

6.       A delegation of Congress is already entitled to take part in the Assembly's annual debate on the activities of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

7.       Dialogue with the Council of Europe has also been developed through the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE, ex-CSCE) and its Parliamentary Assembly.

8.       The Assembly considers that the United States meets the requirements for observer status as set forth in Statutory Resolution (93) 26. It will give careful consideration in due course to the separate issue of appropriate status for the United States Congress.

8.       The Assembly considers that the United States meets the requirements for observer status as set forth in Statutory Resolution (93) 26. It will give careful consideration in due course to the separate issue of appropriate status for the United States Congress.

9.       The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers grant observer status to the United States forthwith.

II. Explanatory memorandum

1.       The rapporteurs refer to their previous memorandum [doc. AS/Pol (1995) 43] and to the memorandum prepared by Mr Schieder [doc. AS/Bur (1995) 130] of 6 November 1995.

2.       They note the support for the initiative and the interest expressed in expanding dialogue with the Parliamentary Assembly, set out in the letter by the co-Chairmen of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Mr Tom Lantos and Mr John Edward Porter (see appendix).

3.       The rapporteurs will prepare a separate report on the development of relations with Congress.

APPENDIX

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

9 November 1995

His Excellency Miguel Ángel Martínez

President of the Parliamentary Assembly

of the Council of Europe

Palais de l'Europe

Strasbourg, France

Dear Mr President

      We have learned with great interest of the August letter in which Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke expressed to Secretary General Tarschys the interest of the United States in acquiring formal observer status at the Council of Europe. This interest was motivated in large measure, we understand, from a desire to ensure better coordination and enhanced collaboration with the activities of the Council in central and eastern Europe in strengthening democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. There can be no doubt that the Council's programs in this field play a key role in the future stability and prosperity of the entire European continent, and therefore in the overall security of all members of the democratic family of nations. We therefore welcome and support the initiative taken by the Administration in Assistant Secretary Holbrooke's letter.

      We understand that this issue is currently the subject of lively discussion by the member states of the Council of Europe, with a view to approving establishment of such a formal relationship in the not-too-distant future. We further understand that, should a relationship of this nature be established, the Parliamentary Assembly would desire and expect a similar linkage to be established with the Congress of the United States, in order to permit a dialogue among legislators, like the one which will result between the member states and the United States as a newly-admitted observer.

      While it is premature at this juncture to make any commitment as to the nature of such an eventual interchange between the U.S. Congress and the Parliamentary Assembly, we would like to assure you, Mr President, of our keen interest in expanding dialogue with fellow legislators concerning the transition to democracy and respect for human rights in central and eastern Europe. We are well-aware of the valuable role played by the Parliamentary Assembly in advancing the cause of human rights in Europe. Accordingly, we want to convey to you the interest of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus to serve as your point of contact with the United States Congress until other permanent arrangements can be worked out.

      Sincerely,

      Tom Lantos       John Edward Porter

      Member of Congress       Member of Congress

Co-Chairman, Congressional Human Rights Caucus

      Reporting committee: Political Affairs Committee.

      Budgetary implications for the Assembly: none.

      Reference to committee: permanent mandate.

      Draft recommendation unanimously adopted by the committee on 30 November 1995.

      Members of the committee: Lord Finsberg (Vice-Chairman), MM. Bársony (Vice-Chairman), Álvarez-Cascos, Antretter, Baumel, Mrs Belohorská, MM. Bergqvist, Bernardini, Björck, Bloetzer (Alternate: Gross), Bokov, Büchel, Bühler, Cerqueda Pascuet, Diacov, Eörsi, Fassino, Galanos (Alternate: Christodoulides), Gjellerod, Gotzev, Gricius, Güner, Hardy, Irmer, Iwiński, Kalus, Kaspereit, Kirsteins, La Loggia, Mrs Lentz-Cornette, MM. van der Linden, Machete, Martins, Masseret, Mimaroǧlu, Mitchell, Mühlemann, Nothomb, Paasilinna, Pahor, Mrs Papandreou, MM. Pavlidis, Pozzo, de Puig, Radulescu Botica, Mrs Ragnarsdóttir, MM. Schieder, Schwimmer, Severin, Sir Dudley Smith (Alternate: Mr Atkinson), MM. Špaček, Spahia, Mrs Suchocka, MM. Thoresen (Alternate: Berg), Urbain (Alternate: Staes), Mrs Veidemann, MM. Vella, Woltjer.

      N.B.       The names of those members who took part in the meeting are printed in italics.

      Secretaries to the committee: MM. Hartland, Kleijssen and Ms Chatzivassiliou.