601st meeting – 17 September 1997
APPENDIX 9
(item 9.2)
REPLY
TO RECOMMENDATION 21 (1996)
ON THE 4TH CONFERENCE ON MEDITERRANEAN REGIONS
OF THE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES OF EUROPE (CLRAE)
The Committee of Ministers has studied with interest Recommendation 21 (1995) on the 4th Conference on Mediterranean regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE).
The Committee of Ministers acknowledges that the Conferences of Mediterranean regions organised regularly by the CLRAE in co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is a good means to spread the values of the Council of Europe among local and regional elected representatives and the general public.
The Committee of Ministers shares the view expressed by the Congress concerning the importance of dialogue between States of the Mediterranean Basin, including where appropriate at the level of territorial authorities, especially in relation to respect for human rights, the rule of law, the combating of racism and intolerance and common environment problems. It noted the CLRAE's wish that the role of local authorities in Mediterranean co-operation be strengthened and the North-South Centre's "Trans-Med" programmes enhanced.
As regards in particular paragraphs 10.I and II of the Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers proposes that the dialogue which the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe want to open with the Committee of Ministers with a view to the 5th Conference of Mediterranean Regions taking place in Montpellier in 1998, take place within the Working Party on Co-operation in the Mediterranean Basin, possibly in the Autumn of 1997.
It is recalled that the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers spoke directly to the Congress at its session of 3-5 June 1997 and also touched upon the North/South activities of the Council of Europe. On this occasion he underlined that taking into consideration the priority given to the consolidation of democratic changes in Central and Eastern Europe, and because of the budgetary situation of member States, the Committee of Ministers was obliged to reduce resources requested for actions out of Europe. Nevertheless, the Organisation has an instrument to promote its ideals and values of democratic Europe - the Lisbon Centre for Interdependence and World Solidarity - the work of which the representatives of local and regional authorities are closely associated, within the framework of the Quadrilogue.
The Committee of Ministers has transmitted this Recommendation to Governements of member States, as well as to the European Commission, European Parliament and to the Committee of Regions of the European Union.