COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
________
RESOLUTION (93) 51
CONFIRMING THE CONTINUATION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRE
FOR GLOBAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND SOLIDARITY
(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 21 October 1993
at the 500th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
The Representatives on the Committee of Ministers of Cyprus, Finland, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey;
Recalling Resolution (89)14 establishing a European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity ("North-South Centre"), adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 16 November 1989 at its 85th Session;
Having regard to the Report reviewing the pilot phase of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, its achievements and its specific contribution, which was presented to the Committee of Ministers at the end of the Centre's initial period of three years in conformity with its Resolution (89)14;
Having noted the additional review Reports submitted by the four personalities nominated by the Centre's quadripartite partners, parliamentarians, governments, local and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations;
Having regard to Resolution 998, adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly on 12 May 1993, confirming inter alia the wish for a continuation of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity;
Having regard to Resolution (93)247, adopted by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities, expressing similar support for the continuation and further strengthening of the North-South Centre;
Considering that efforts towards the attainment of the Centre's objectives as stated in Resolution (89)14 require sustained action at European level and in member States, building on the useful experience already gained and the quadripartite structures and working methods developed during the Centre's pilot phase;
Underlining the urgent need for new and renewed efforts that meet the requirements of an interdependent world through strategies of co-operative action in a spirit of solidarity;
Welcoming the strong support from the Government of Portugal at the time of establishing the North-South Centre and during its pilot phase as well as the special attention and support expressed by various member governments and the European Community to ensure its continuation;
Having regard to the decision taken by the Committee of Ministers at the 430th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies (7 November 1989), on the establishment of a European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity on the basis of a partial agreement, thereby enabling the member States which wish to do so to pursue these objectives within the Council of Europe,
Resolve to confirm the continuation of the European Centre for
Global Interdependence and Solidarity ("North-South Centre") created as a
partial agreement by the adoption of Resolution (89)14 on 16 November 1989, to be managed
autonomously as an establishment set up by the Council of Europe and subject to the
provisions contained in the appended revised statute which enters into force upon adoption
of the present Resolution.
Appendix to Resolution (93) 51
DRAFT REVISED STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRE
FOR GLOBAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND SOLIDARITY
Article 1 - Aims and Functions
1.1 The aims of the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity ("the Centre") are to provide a framework for European co-operation for the purpose of increasing public awareness of global interdependence issues and to promote policies of solidarity in conformity with the aims and principles of the Council of Europe.
1.2 The Centre will thus serve to:
a. help in maintaining and enhancing the process of quadripartite communication and co-operation between parliamentarians, governments, non-governmental organisations ("NGOs") and local and regional authorities which emerged during the North-South Campaign;
b. provide a framework, a sounding board and a launching platform for, and give a European dimension to, initiatives by member governments and other actors in the area of multilateral co-operation for sustainable development;
c. improve education and information on the fundamental issues of global interdependence and solidarity, and promote liaison between the competent government departments and services of the member countries as regards their public awareness work on interdependence, both directly and in their support of NGOs;
d. strengthen co-operation and contacts between NGOs from the North and South, active in promoting a better understanding of interdependence and in pursuing solidarity in their various dimensions and issue areas;
e. create an interface between Europe and the South to generate new ideas and proposals for constructive relations and to act as a think-tank on interdependence problems;
f. develop working relations with the United Nations system, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Community prior to its accession as provided for under Article 3.3 below and other international institutions and organisations active in relation to global interdependence;
g. generally act as a focal point for
the follow-up to be given to the North-South Campaign whilst helping to avoid duplication
of efforts among and within its member countries, in particular by improving information
exchange on national and international initiatives related to interdependence.
Article 2 - Location of the Centre
The aims and functions listed under Article 1 will be pursued by a centre whose
premises are located in Lisbon by courtesy of the Government of Portugal.
Article 3 - Membership of the Centre
3.1. Any member State of the Council of Europe and any other Contracting Party to the European Cultural Convention may join the Centre at any time by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
3.2. Other States may be invited to accede to the Centre by a decision of the Committee of Ministers taken by the majority provided for in Article 20.d of the Statute of the Council of Europe and by the unanimous vote of the representatives of the member States of the Centre entitled to sit on the Committee after consulting the other members of the Centre.
3.3. The European Community is invited to join the Centre.
Article 4 - Organs of the Centre
The organs of the Centre are:
a. Executive Council and the Bureau;
b. The Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre.
Article 5 - Executive Council
5.1. The members of the Executive Council shall be:
a. eight representatives of governments of members of the Partial Agreement setting up the Centre, as designated by the Committee of Representatives of Members for a period of two years;
b. four parliamentarians, two of whom designated by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and two of whom designated by the European Parliament, for a period of two years;
c. four members designated for a period of two years by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) through its North-South Working Party, in its extended membership, ie inclusive of representatives of the international associations of local and regional authorities;
d. six members, designated for a period of two years, one of whom by the Liaison Committee of NGOs enjoying consultative status with the Council of Europe, and five of whom by the Executive Council as composed by its members designated in conformity with Article 5.1.(a) to (g) (inclusive), and selected from national and international non-governmental organisations active in the fields of development, environment and human rights education, media co-operation and youth;
e. the Secretary General of the Council of Europe or his/her representative;
f. a representative of the Commission of the European Communities;
g. three representative personalities
from different regions of the South invited by the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe, on the advice of the Bureau of the Executive Council of the Centre.
5.2 The Executive Council shall, within the limits of its financial resources made available for that purpose, decide on the programme of activities of the Centre on the basis of proposals made by the Centre's Executive Director and taking into account programme recommendations submitted by the Consultative Assembly and other advisory bodies.
5.3. The programme and budget of the Centre shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast and a majority of the members of the Executive Council, including the favourable vote of at least six government representatives.
5.4. The Executive Council shall meet twice a year, one of its
annual meetings being held in conjunction with meetings of possible advisory bodies.
Article 6 - The Bureau
6.1. The Executive Council shall elect for a period of two years from among its members a Bureau composed of a chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and four members, whilst ensuring that two of them are governmental representatives and that parliamentarians, NGOs, local and regional authorities and the South are each represented on the Bureau as well as the Commission of the European Communities.
6.2 The Bureau shall monitor the preparation and execution of programmes and prepare the meetings of the Executive Council, with the assistance of the Centre's Executive Director.
Article 7 - Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre
7.1. Meetings of the Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre shall be convened in Strasbourg twice a year for the purpose of establishing the ceiling of financial resources available for the Centre's regular programmes, as well as to determine the contributions to the operational expenditure of the Centre, on the basis of indications from the Executive Council regarding the programmes and envisaged activities.
7.2. During these meetings, the representatives may also pledge voluntary contributions for specific programmes to be carried out by the Centre;
7.3. The representatives shall examine and agree on proposed
contributions and grants from other donors to support the Centre and its activities.
Article 8 - Consultative Assembly
8.1. Any member State of the Council of Europe, any other Contracting Party to the European Cultural Convention and any State having acceded to the Centre pursuant to Article 3.3. shall be invited to appoint a national delegation, preferably quadripartite, to a Consultative Assembly on Global Interdependence and Solidarity which will be convened as an activity of the Centre every second year. The delegation members should be designated and mandated respectively by their government, parliaments, local and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations active in the field of global interdependence and solidarity.
8.2. The Consultative Assembly shall further be composed of participants chosen in accordance with decisions of the Executive Council and its Bureau with a view to reflecting the broad range of actors who share an interest in raising public awareness in Europe of global interdependence and the need for new policies of solidarity, including a quadripartite delegation of representative personalities from different regions of the South.
8.3. The general task of the Consultative Assembly is to
continue and expand the process of quadripartite communication and co-operation between
governments, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities and non-governmental
organisations, as well as to involve the social partners and the media, on the issues of
global interdependence and solidarity, and its specific role shall be to elaborate,
through a structure of programme related working groups and quadripartite group sessions,
recommendations concerning programmes and priorities for consideration and appropriate
follow-up by the Centre's Executive Council.
Article 9 - Secretariat of the Centre
9.1. The secretariat of the Centre shall be headed by an Executive Director. The number of staff shall be determined by the Executive Council in the light of the tasks and the agreed programmes of the Centre, and subject to approval by the Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre.
9.2. The secretariat shall in particular:
a. prepare programmes for the implementation of the aims and functions listed under Article 1;
b. serve as a liaison centre and clearing-house for information on activities concerning global interdependence;
c. constitute basic documentation on interdependence issues, in contact with universities and appropriate centres in Portugal and elsewhere;
d. maintain working relations with the United Nations system, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Community and other international institutions and organisations as may be relevant to the programmes of the Centre;
e. provide meeting facilities for the
organs of the Centre and for activities in pursuance of its aims.
Article 10 - Financial Arrangements
10.1 Expenditure relating to the implementation of common secretariat expenditure and an allocation to the programme account shall be covered by the regular budget of the Partial Agreement establishing the Centre, within the limits agreed by the Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre and governed by a set of specific regulations to be proposed - if necessary - by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, agreed by the Executive Council of the Centre, and approved by the Committee of Ministers;
10.2 Additional expenditure relating to programmes as well as consultants and temporary staff recruited on the basis of specific needs arising from such programmes shall be covered by special voluntary contributions made available by members of the centre, the European Community and/or other donors to fund these programmes.
10.3 The travel and subsistence expenses of persons attending meetings of the Executive Council shall be paid by the member State or the organisation concerned, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Council on the basis of special purpose allocations specified in the budget of the centre.
10.4 The travel and subsistence expenses of persons attending meetings of the Consultative Assembly shall be paid by the government or the organisation concerned, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Council on the basis of special purpose allocations specified in the budget of the Centre.
10.5 The travel and subsistence expenses of persons attending meetings of the Committee of Representatives of Members of the Centre shall be paid by their respective governments or institutions.
10.6 Additional expenditure arising from the organisation of statutory meetings elsewhere than at the seat of the Council of Europe or the premises of the Centre shall be borne by the host country.