Strasbourg, 26 February 1996

The Ministers' Deputies may wish to examine in particular those parts of this report which are placed within a box and which refer to important developments or basic questions likely to call for action at the political level.

    I.    Maastricht Treaty - Enlargement - European Economic Area - Cooperation
        with Central and Eastern Europe - Pact on Stability in Europe

B.    Cooperation in Specific Fields of Intergovernmental Activities

     I.    Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

     III.    Social and Socio-economic Problems

     IV.    Education, Culture, Heritage and Sport

     VI.    Health

C.    Relations between the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament

    I.    General remarks

    In pursuance of paragraph 7 of Resolution (89)40, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 5 May 1989, the Secretary General submits to the Committee of Ministers an annual report on the implementation of the Arrangement reached by means of an exchange of letters on 16 June 1987 between the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the President of the Commission of the European Communities. In response to the wish expressed by the Ministers' Deputies at their 432nd meeting the Secretariat undertook to provide more frequent information on developments in the relations with the Community. The report for 1995 has therefore been presented in two parts with this one covering the last five months. The first seven months of 1995 were dealt with in the previous memorandum (CM(95)125).

A.    GENERAL POLITICAL EVALUATION

I.    Maastricht Treaty - Enlargement - European Economic Area - Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe - Pact on Stability in Europe

    During the second part of 1995 there were a number of important developments in the European Union, both as regards its own institutional framework and enlargement as well as its links with the rest of Europe, which are of particular interest to the Council of Europe and constitute the background for the organisation's relations with the Union. As in the past, some information will therefore be provided on these developments in this part of the report.

    Applications for membership of the European Union have been lodged by Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland and Turkey as well as by a number of the associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary submitted its application in March 1994, Poland in April 1994, Romania and Slovakia in June 1995, Latvia in October, Lithuania and Bulgaria in December 1995 and the Czech Republic in January 1996. Further details about relations with these countries are set out below. The European Council in Cannes on 26-27 June 1995 reaffirmed that negotiations on the accession of Malta and Cyprus to the Union will begin six months after the conclusion of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. Representatives from these countries also participated in part of the Cannes meeting. On 17 July 1995, the Council of the Union adopted the detailed modalities for a structured dialogue with the two countries at ministerial and official level. The request for accession from Switzerland remains on the table but in the meantime the Council of the Union is considering relations with Switzerland on a bilateral basis and negotiations were held throughout 1995. As regards Turkey the European Parliament, after considerable discussion of the political situation in the country, gave its assent which enabled the customs union to enter into force on 31 December 1995 together with arrangements for strengthening political dialogue and institutional cooperation.

    The Treaty on European Union stipulates that an intergovernmental conference shall be convened in 1996 to review the Treaty. The European Council on Corfu in June 1994 decided to set up a Reflection Group to prepare for this conference consisting of

representatives of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of the President of the Commission as well as two representatives of the European Parliament. The Group was chaired by Mr. C. Westendorp, Spanish State Secretary for relations with the European Union. One of the tasks of the Reflection Group was to examine options for the necessary institutional reforms in the perspective of future enlargement of the Union. The Group submitted a progress report in September and its final report to the European Council in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995. In October 1995 the Ministers' Deputies adopted a document on considerations to be brought to the attention of the Reflection Group (CM(95)128). This document, which had been prepared by an Ad hoc Working Party set up by the Deputies, also included Recommendation 1279(1995) on the Intergovernmental Conference, adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly on 27 September 1995 (see also under below). In its report the Reflection Group did not specifically refer to either the document communicated to it by the Ministers' Deputies or to the Assembly Recommendation. It did, however, briefly refer to one matter dealt with in the Deputies' document, namely the possibility of the European Union becoming a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. In Madrid the European Council agreed that the Conference should be officially opened in Turin on 29 March 1996.

    The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) and its institutional structures remained the basis for relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and their partners in the European Union. The fourth meeting of the EEA Council took place on 21 November 1995. Among other matters, the Council assessed the overall functioning and development of the EEA Agreement, including the consultation and information procedures. The day before Foreign Ministers of EEA Countries had discussed within the framework of the political dialogue a number of foreign policy issues. It might be added that on 18 September 1995 EU and EFTA Ministers for financial and economic affairs held a joint meeting to discuss unemployment.

    It is recalled that one of the immediate results of the entry into force of the EEA Agreement was the participation of the EFTA countries concerned in important Community programmes in the field of education and training (ERASMUS, LINGUA, and COMETT, subsequently incorporated in the SOCRATES programme), youth (Youth for Europe), the audio-visual field (MEDIA programme) and other areas. Austria, Finland and Sweden now of course participate in these programmes in their capacity as member States of the European Union while the EEA Agreement remains the basis for such participation by the other EFTA States parties to the EEA Agreement.

    There is no doubt that the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union, the enlargement of the Union and the EEA Agreement will require increased efforts of coordination of the activities of, on the one hand, the Council of Europe and, on the other hand, those of the European Union or undertaken within the framework of the EEA Agreement. It is therefore important that an appropriate liaison is maintained not only with the competent Community bodies but also with the EFTA Secretariat. Member States of the Union and of EFTA States participating in the EEA Agreement also need to ensure proper coordination with the Council of Europe. This is important even if the number of EFTA/EEA States has now decreased.

    The European Council in Essen on 9-10 December 1994 marked an important step forward in the relations with the associated countries. It had been preceded by discussions in

the General Affairs Council and meetings with Ministers from the associated countries. The European Council decided that "structured relations" should be created. These would cover Community areas especially those with a trans-European dimension, the common foreign and security policy as well as home and judicial affairs. Beginning in 1995 it was agreed that meetings of Heads of State and Government would be held once a year, Foreign Ministers twice a year and Justice and/or Home affairs also twice a year. Furthermore meetings of Ministers responsible for other areas such as internal market development, environment, cultural affairs and education would be held at least once a year. The Council of the Union decided on 4 December 1995 to proceed to the signature of Protocols to the Europe Agreements concerning the opening of programmes in a wide range of areas. Because of the Council of Europe's own interests in the subject, reference should be made here to the draft programme for the action of the Union's member States and the Central and Eastern European countries in the field of judicial cooperation for the fight against international organised crime, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 26 September 1995.

    From 1989 onwards, the aim of the Union's policy has been to help the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to succeed with their political and economic reforms. For this purpose the Community has developed the PHARE programme which by now covers Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. On 12 June 1995 the Council decided to include Croatia among the eligible countries, the assistance is, however, currently suspended. On 30 October 1995 the Council approved the extension of the programme to "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". On 29-30 January 1996 the Council of the Union also marked its agreement in principle on the extension of the programme to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The European Parliament was consulted with regard to the two last mentioned countries and adopted its opinion on "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" on 16 February 1996.

    The situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and other parts of the former Yugoslavia has continued to be a central issue in the political agenda of the European Union. The Union plays an active part in the implementation of the peace plan and is providing the major part of the humanitarian effort. The European Council in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995, reiterated the willingness of the European Union to make a contribution to the reconstruction of former Yugoslavia. The Council of Europe was invited to the first meeting of donor countries and organisations on the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 20-21 December 1995.

    The European Union has also continued the deepening of its relations with the Russian Federation and the other new independent States of the former Soviet Union. The aim is to conclude partnership and cooperation agreements. Such agreements were signed with Ukraine on 14 June 1994, with Russia at the meeting of the European Council on Corfu (24-25 June 1994), with Moldova on 28 November 1994, with Kazakhstan on 23 January 1995 with Kyrgyzstan on 9 February 1995 and with Belarus on 6 March 1995. These agreements will come into force once they have been ratified by the Contracting Parties. Such agreements have also been initialled with regard to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Pending the entry into force of the partnership and cooperation agreements, interim agreements have also been negotiated. The agreement with Russia was signed on 17 July 1995 and entered, like that with Ukraine, into force on 1 February 1996. In May 1995 the Commission presented a communication on the future relationship between the Union and Russia. The Commission

submitted a proposal for a common position to be adopted by the Council which, among other things, refers to cooperation to promote and encourage fulfilment of conditions that will allow the Russian Federation's accession to the Council of Europe. This document was discussed by the Council on 17 July 1995. On 2 October 1995 the General Affairs Council discussed relations with Russia and adopted the following declaration:

    "The European Union has followed closely and with interest the process of democratic reform in Russia, including the calling of a general election for 17 December, and is pleased that the procedure for Russia's accession to the Council of Europe has been revived.

    The European Union hopes that resumption of the examination of Russia's application by the Parliamentary Assembly will lead to that country's swift incorporation in the Council of Europe, when it is established that the significant progress required to meet the standards imposed on its members has been made.

    The European Union is confident that the forthcoming accession of Russia to the Council of Europe will underpin the process of political reform and the commitment to democratic principles and the observance and protection of human rights. In that connection the European Union underlines the importance it attaches to cooperation programmes and the follow-up mechanisms established."

At its meeting on 20-21 November 1995 the Council pursued its discussion on the strategy towards Russia. In the conclusions adopted the Council reiterated its support for the accession of Russia to the Council of Europe. This support was confirmed by the European Council in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995.

II.    Joint Programmes between the European Commission and the Council of Europe

    Implementation of these programmes (i.e. the Programme for local government and legal system reform in the Baltic States, the Programme for assistance for the integration of populations with foreign origin in Estonia and Latvia, and the two programmes for assistance to Legal System Reform in Albania) has progressed satisfactorily. A positive assessment by all partners and the experience gained during the execution of these Programmes led to the decision to widen the scope of the joint activities between the Council of Europe and the European Union.

    The Council of Europe Secretariat drew up proposals for new Programmes for local government and legal system reform in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and for assistance for the integration of populations of foreign origin in Estonia and Latvia. These drafts were presented to the European Commission in December 1995. These new Programmes should be considered as follow-ups to the previous Joint Programmes.

    Implementation of the First Joint Programme for assistance with Legal System Reform in Albania, signed in July 1993, was completed in June 1995. Implementation of the Second Joint Programme started in March 1995. The implementation period was extended on 8 January 1996 until the end of this year. The main projects under this Second Joint Programme are the setting up of an Albanian magistrates school, a prison staff training academy and reform of the Albanian police academy. Some member states of the Council of Europe have declared their readiness to contribute financially to the implementation of these projects.

    The Covenant establishing the Joint Programme between the Commission of the European Communities and the Council of Europe for legal system reform, local government reform and the transformation of the law enforcement system in Ukraine was signed on 9 November 1995. Estimated cost of the first phase is 805.000 ECU.

    The Joint Programme between the Commission of the European Communities and the Council of Europe for the strengthening of the federal structure, introduction of human rights protection mechanisms and legal system reform in the Russian Federation was elaborated in cooperation with the European Commission in the autumn of 1995 and was signed on 14 February 1996.

    Moreover, the European Commission and the Council of Europe will develop in the context of the accompanying measures of the Stability Pact, a Joint Programme of activities in the field of minorities in Central Europe to be co-financed by PHARE and the Council of Europe. In December 1995, the Council of Europe presented a draft of the Joint Programme for Minorities in Central Europe. It is expected to be signed in March 1996.

    The proposal for a Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Communities on corruption and organised crime in states in transition was adopted by the Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption of the Council of Europe on 27 September 1995 and subsequently transmitted to the European Commission (see B.IX.6.). The Covenant establishing the Programme should be ready for signature in the first trimester of 1996.

    The Council of Europe participated in the Advisory Group for the PHARE/TACIS Democracy Programme (Brussels, 19 October 1995)

    Contacts have also been maintained with the Commission in its role as coordinator of the G 24 Group for assistance to Central and Eastern Europe.

III.    Cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union in other matters

    The Political Declaration of the Committee of Ministers of 5 May 1989 and the 1987 Arrangement between the Council of Europe and the European Community remain the basis and the framework for the development of the extensive cooperation which takes place on a day-to-day basis between the two institutions. A more detailed account of developments in specific areas is given in the following parts of this report.

    The practice of quadripartite meetings between the Council of Europe and the European Community was established by the Political Declaration of 5 May 1989 and the decision of the Council of the European Community on 20 March 1989. After an interruption of the practice for several years, the French Presidency took the initiative to convene such a meeting, the sixth of its kind, in April 1995. The seventh meeting was held in Madrid on 6 November 1995. It was attended, on the Council of Europe side, by Mr. J. Zieleniec, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Mr D. Tarschys, Secretary General, and, on the European Union side by Mr.C.

Westendorp, Spanish Secretary of State for relations with the European Union and by Mr. M. Oreja member of the Commission. The communique issued after the meeting is reproduced in Appendix I to this report. Among the matters discussed was the progress of work on the up-dating of the 1987 Arrangement which had been agreed at the previous quadripartite meeting. The participants were informed of the Commission's recent proposals for supplementing the 1987 Agreement by strengthening its active participation in the Committee of Ministers, at Ministerial, Deputy and Working Party level. They also considered the strengthening of relations between the European Union and the Council of Europe in new areas covered by the Treaty on European Union. Other matters dealt with was the future perspectives of the Council of Europe and the European Union, cooperation between the two organisations for the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in Russia and other New Independent States.

    Mr. C. Westendorp, Spanish Secretary of State for relations with the European Union and Chairman of the Reflection Group set up to prepare the European Union's 1996 Intergovernmental Conference, addressed the Parliamentary Assembly on 27 September 1995 during its debate on the 1996 IGC (see para. 269 below).

    At the political level it should also be noted that the Secretary General or the Deputy Secretary General met several members of the Commission for informal discussions during the period covered by this report. The Secretary General warmly welcomes the practice of such meetings and endeavours to extend it to all members of the Commission dealing with matters of mutual interest.

    The 1987 Arrangement provides for the possibility of inviting representatives of the Commission to attend discussions in the Ministers' Deputies on questions of mutual interest. During 1995 this possibility was not used. The Commission is hoping to ensure a more permanent presence in Strasbourg and, once the resources are available, open a delegation in Strasbourg. In this connection reference is made to the discussions at the Quadripartite meeting in Madrid on 6 November 1995 concerning the up-dating of the 1987 Arrangement.

    A number of meetings between senior officials from the Council of Europe and the Commission were also held during the period. On various occasions the two senior officials designated to oversee cooperation under the 1987 Arrangement, i.e. the Director of Political Affairs for the Council of Europe and Mr Boselli for the Commission, met in Strasbourg or Brussels. Other meetings dealt with specific areas (e.g. legal affairs, social affairs, youth and education) and will be referred to below under the fields concerned.

    As in the past, the Council of Europe Secretariat has been invited to a number of meetings organised by the European Union. In particular, the Commission has invited the Secretariat to meetings on media questions, social affairs, education and training, equality between men and women, public health and sport. Further details of some of these meetings are set out in the second part of this report. The Secretary General welcomes this practice and expresses once more the hope that such invitations will be extended to other areas of mutual interest as well. For its part the Commission has sent officials to attend numerous meetings of Council of Europe steering committees, committees of experts and conferences. In this way information has been given to the bodies concerned and to the Secretariat on work in progress in the Community in the areas concerned. In some cases the Commission has also presented written reports on relevant Community activities. This has been supplemented by a steady two-way flow of information and documentation either directly or through the Liaison Office in Brussels. The Brussels Office has also represented the Secretariat at a large number of meetings.

    The Secretary General notes with satisfaction that there is a definite increase in the number of projects carried out jointly as envisaged in the Arrangement of 16 June 1987 although none of them has quite the scope of the European Music Year or the European Cinema and Television Year or the North-South Campaign in the past. The Community's participation in the Council of Europe's programmes of cooperation and assistance to the Central and Eastern European countries, in particular the plans for the development of law and local democracy in Eastern Europe is of great importance. Details of this are set out under II above. Two joint programmes, one for Albania and one for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are well under way. It is hoped that the positive experience with regard to these programmes should lead to further joint ventures of this kind. The programmes concluded with regard to Ukraine (November 1995) and Russia (February 1996) constitute further important examples of such joint efforts.

    The second part of this report lists a number of other examples of joint activities with regard to biological standardisation, environment protection and in the fields covered by the Partial Agreement on the prevention of, protection against, and organisation of relief in major natural disasters.

    The Secretary General recalls once more the exemplary cooperation which had been developed in the field of drugs through regular meetings between representatives of the Pompidou Group and CELAD. The entry into force of the Treaty on European Union on 1 November 1993 had the effect of bringing a whole range of activities such as judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, immigration and asylum policy and the combating of drug addiction into the ambit of the Treaties. This has also meant that the Council of the Union and the Permanent Representatives Committee, assisted by a new Co-ordinating Committee of senior officials (the so-called K 4 committee) have become competent to deal with these matters.

Bearing in mind that many of the subjects in the field of justice and home affairs now discussed by the European Union not only with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe but also with other third countries, are also among the subjects traditionally dealt with by the Council of Europe, the Secretary General stresses once more that it is urgent to find ways and means for establishing a dialogue between the Council of Europe and the European Union in these areas. The Council of Europe side raised the need for increased cooperation with the European Union at the level of the Council of the Union in the fields of justice and home affairs at the quadripartite meetings in Paris in April and in Madrid in November 1995.

    The now well established cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Community with regard to the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity in Lisbon (North/South Centre) has continued. The Community budget for 1995 included a special budget line (400.000 ECU) for cooperation with the Centre. This enables the Commission to contribute to a number of projects organised by the Centre (see under E. below).

    The Secretary General also points to the progress made with regard to Community accession to Council of Europe conventions and agreements (see Appendix V). The discussion on Community accession to the European Convention on Human Rights is of particular significance because of the Convention's central position in the action of the Council of Europe. (see B.I.1. below). The accession of the European Community to the European Pharmacopoeia Convention is an important step forward and an example of how the European Union can make concrete use of the experience and structures of the Council of Europe in specific areas.

    The strategy adopted by the European Council to prepare the countries in Central and Eastern Europe for membership of the Union in due course is of utmost significance also for the Council of Europe which itself has a particular role to play in relation to these countries which have all more or less recently joined the organisation. The European Union is also developing new partnership relations with Russia and other new independent States of the former Soviet Union which have either recently been admitted or have applied to join the Council of Europe. There is therefore a greater need than ever to ensure close cooperation between the European institutions and to make the best possible use of available resources in a complementary manner. The strong support for the Russian accession to the Council of Europe expressed by the Council of the European Union should logically be reflected in the stepping up of joint Council of Europe/European Union action to consolidate the democratic reforms in Russia and the other NIS countries concerned. The two joint programmes relating to Ukraine and Russia are significant but ways and means ought to be found to draw up plans for even more substantial programmes.

I.    Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

    1.    Human Rights

        a.    Issues relating to the European Convention on Human Rights

    The Council of the European Union decided on 19 April 1994 to ask the Court of Justice of the European Communities for an opinion concerning the implications of accession for the EC Treaty.

    The Court of Justice proceeded to a hearing concerning this request for opinion on 7 November 1995. Thirteen EU member States (except Luxembourg and Austria) and representatives of the legal services of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union presented their opinions. No date has been fixed for the European Court of Justice's decision.

    Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly on 26 September 1995, Mr C. Westendorp, Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs, took the view that the best way to ensure the respect of human rights in the European Union would be the accession of the European Community to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Reflection Group for the preparation of the Intergovernmental Conference 1996 envisaged to introduce into the Treaty on European Union the possibility of sanctions against EU member States which do not respect human rights.

    At an informal meeting of the Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union, the German Minister for Justice proposed - in view of the revision of the Treaty on European Union - to start deliberations on the drawing up of a list of fundamental rights which could be included in the European Union structure (Berlin, 8 September 1994).

    The Parliamentary Assembly reiterated in its resolution adopted on 27 September 1995 the wish that the European Community should accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. It argued that the EC Treaty provisions on the protection of human rights are inadequate and at present there is no external monitoring of the Community's acts.

    The Commission of the European Communities is represented on the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH). It was represented at the meeting from 20 to 24 November 1995.

    The Committee of Ministers' contribution to the discussion about the reform of the Treaty on European Union at the Intergovernmental Conference in 1996 mentions the ECHR as an essential reference point, in terms both of rights guaranteed and judicial mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Europe as a whole.

    The European Commission published on 23 May 1995 a communication on how to take account of the respect of democratic principles and human rights in the agreements between the Community and third countries. The Commission refers to the European Convention on Human Rights as one of its preferred reference basis. The Council of the European Union adopted on 29 May 1995 a standard clause for the respect of Human Rights in agreements with third countries which allows the suspension of the agreements under certain conditions.

     The Council of Europe participated in the European Parliament's public hearing on the human rights clause in agreements of the EU with third countries (Brussels, 20-21 November 1995).

    The Commission presented its report on the implementation of measures intended to promote observance of human rights and democratic principles on 12 July 1995 (COM(95)191 final). The Commission noted that the Council of Europe's normative instruments are the European Community's preferred reference base. The Commission considers that its role is to form a link between the Council of Europe and the European Union by passing on information and preventing as far as possible the duplication of work.

    Following this the Commission submitted on 22 November 1995 a communication to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament in which it outlines its strategy for improving the respect of human rights in its external relations. This includes in particular the cooperation with international organisations, like the Council of Europe.

     b.    National Minorities

    The first stage of the standard setting work by the Council of Europe in the field of the protection of national minorities, initiated by the Vienna Summit of Heads of State and Government, was brought to a successful conclusion by the adoption of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on 10 November 1994 at the 95th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers and was opened for signature on 1 February 1995. The Framework Convention is the first ever legally binding multilateral instrument devoted to the protection of national minorities in general.

    The draft Framework Convention was prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee for the protection of National Minorities (CAHMIN), consisting of representatives from the member States of the Council of Europe and the European Commission and observers from the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities. The European Commission was unable to attend the meeting of the CAHMIN on 6-10 November 1995.

    Starting in November 1994 the CAHMIN took up work on the second part of its mandate which is to complete the drafting of a Protocol complementing the European Convention on Human Rights in the cultural field by provisions guaranteeing individual rights, in particular for persons belonging to national minorities. The draft Protocol was to be completed by 31 December 1995. At its 13th meeting (6-10 November 1995) the CAHMIN adopted an activity report which is at present under consideration by the Committee of Ministers. The Committee of Ministers decided in January 1996 to suspend the work of the CAHMIN on the draft Protocol and to make its working papers available to interested circles.

The CAHMIN will continue reflection on the feasibility of further standard setting in the cultural field and on the protection of national minorities.

     2.    European Social Charter

    A member of the Committee of Independent Experts of the Social Charter, a member of the Governmental Committee, as well as a Secretariat staff member of the Section, attended a Pan-european Seminar on the interdependence of international social and labour law instruments, in Budapest on 10 and 11 November 1995, organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and by the Belgian Christian Trade Unions Confederation (CSC).

    Staff members of DG V of the European Commission represented the European Union at this Seminar during which the European and international standardisation systems were presented including their particular and also their complementary aspects. In conclusion, the need to strengthen cooperation between trade unions, governments and all the European and international organisations was stressed in order to gain a greater awareness of the interdependence of the social and labour law instruments.

    The Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints, adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 22 June 1995, was signed on 9 November 1995 by the following seven states: Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. This Protocol will enter into force after ratification by five states.

    The revised European Social Charter is an international treaty which brings together in a single instrument all the rights guaranteed in the Charter of 1961 and the 1988 Additional Protocol, along with amendments to these rights and the new rights agreed and suggested by the Committee. It was drafted in such a way as to be an autonomous instrument, but with the same supervisory machinery as the Charter.

    The draft revised European Social Charter will shortly be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers for adoption after examination by the Group of Rapporteurs on Human Rights.

    The European Commission created in October 1995 a "Committee of wise men" to reflect upon the fundamental social rights in the European Union. The Committee met between October 1995 and January 1996 and will present a report on the future developments in this field and a possible revision of the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers.

     3.    Equality between women and men

    The good working relations between the Secretariat of the Council of Europe and the Commission of the European Communities (in particular the Equal Opportunities Unit) took shape during the period August-December 1995 in the following events.

    The Secretariat of the Council of Europe participated in the 39th (29-30 November 1995) meeting of the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities on Women and Men of

the European Commission which was essentially devoted to the Intergovernmental Conference of 1996 and to the structures and working methods in the field of equal opportunities.

    The 4th medium term action programme for equal opportunities between women and men (1996-2000) was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 5 December 1995.

    The Secretariat of the Council of Europe also participated in the Conference "Women propose" (Madrid, 24 November 1995) and in the preparatory meeting (Brussels, 1-2 December 1995) for the Conference on trafficking in women, planned for 1996.

    For its part, the Commission participated in the meeting of the Steering Committee for equality between women and men (CDEG, 23-26 October 1995) and gave information on the Commission's current work in this field. The Commission also participated in the Information Forum on national policies in the field of equality between women and men (Budapest, 6-8 November 1995).

    The Labour and Social Affairs Council of the European Union adopted on 5 October 1995 a resolution on the image of women and men in the publicity and the media. The Council makes a reference to the European Conference of Women Ministers from the Council of Europe member States in March 1994 in Brussels.

     4.    Racism and Xenophobia

         a.    EU global strategy - joint action programme

    In the framework of the development of a global strategy against racism and xenophobia at Union level, the Council of the European Union drew up a draft common action programme of the EU member States to fight against racism and xenophobia. The common action will focus on the alignment of national legislations, the harmonisation of judicial and administrative practices in the member States and the improvement of international cooperation. The European Council in Madrid in December 1995 urged adoption of the common action programme.

    The Consultative Commission on racism and xenophobia was set up on the basis of a decision of the European Council on Corfu in June 1994. The Council of Europe and the European Parliament participated in the Consultative Commission as observers. Its task was to make recommendations on cooperation between governments and the various social bodies in favour of encouraging tolerance and understanding of foreigners. It submitted its final report on its activities on 5 May 1995 to the Council of the European Union.

    This report was a contribution to the development of a global strategy against racism and xenophobia at Union level which is currently drawn up by the Council of the European Union in its different formations.

    On 24 July 1995 the Council of the European Union took the decision to prolong the mandate of the Consultative Commission in order to study, in close cooperation with the Council of Europe, the feasibility of a European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (see below B.I.2.b).

    As a contribution to the EU strategy for fighting xenophobia and racism, the Labour and Social Affairs Council of the European Union adopted on 5 October 1995 a resolution on the fight against racism and xenophobia in the fields of employment and social affairs. The Council underlined in this resolution the importance of the protection of human rights as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

    The Education Council of the European Union and the representatives of the member States adopted on 23 October 1995 a resolution on the response of the educational systems to problems of racism and xenophobia. The Council of the European Union invites the Commission in this resolution to assure an adequate cooperation with international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

    On the basis of the conclusions of a seminar on police training as regards racism and xenophobia (Toledo, 6-8 November 1995), the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union instructed the appropriate EU bodies to prepare an instrument in order to improve the training of police instructors and the basic police training with the aim to achieve a better understanding of racism and xenophobia and to prepare suitable responses.

         b.     Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia

    At its Summit held in Cannes, on 25-26 June 1995, the European Council asked the Consultative Commission on Racism and Xenophobia to extend its work in order to study, in close cooperation with the Council of Europe, the feasibility of a European Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia. In order to implement the cooperation requested by the European Council in Cannes, representatives of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the Council of Europe Secretariat participated in the meetings of the Consultative Commission held in Brussels on 29 September, 20 October and 17 November 1995.

    The representatives of the Council of Europe on the Consultative Commission submitted a written contribution containing a proposed broad outline for the joint establishment of an Observatory by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The Consultative Commission has not yet been able to discuss this possibility in any depth.

    At their 550th meeting (20-22 November 1995), the Ministers' Deputies, after having been informed of the outcome of the meeting of 17 November 1995 of the Consultative Commission, inter alia, considered that the Pan-European vocation of this Observatory could best be achieved through joint action (Joint Venture) of the Council of Europe and the European Union along the lines proposed by the Council of Europe representatives in their written contribution to the Consultative Commission. The Deputies invited the Chair of the Committee of Ministers to transmit this contribution officially to the Council of the European Union with a view to the Madrid European Council and to stress the advantages which a joint Observatory with a Pan-European vocation would have, both politically and economically.

    At its meeting held in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995, the European Council took note of the interim report from the Consultative Commission and instructed it to continue its proceedings on that basis and complete the feasibility study for a European Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia in time for the European Council meeting in June 1996.

    At their session on 9 November 1995 the Committee of Ministers stressed the importance of co-ordination between the Council of Europe and the European Union in the fight against racism, bearing in mind the Council of Europe's wider geographical coverage.

         c.    Cooperation with the European Commission

    In its proposal for a medium-term social action programme (1995-1997) the European Commission referred to the Council of Europe in the context of the fight against racism.

    Following a commitment given in the medium-term social action programme, the European Commission adopted on 13 December 1995 a communication on racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism, accompanied by a proposal to the Council of the European Union to designate 1997 as the "European Year against Racism". The communication takes the work of the Consultative Commission on racism and of the Council of the European Union (Social Affairs, Education, Youth and Justice and Home Affairs) into account.
The communication sets out seven key areas for action:
-    Promoting integration and opening pathways to inclusion;
-    Promoting equal opportunities and reducing discrimination;
-    Raising public awareness and combating prejudice;
-    Preventing racist behaviour and violence;
-    Monitoring and punishing racist crime;
-    International cooperation;
-    European level legislation.
The Commission underlines in the communication its wish to intensify cooperation with the Council of Europe. The results of the previous work done by the Council of Europe will be taken into account. The Commission mentions in particular the possibility for joint projects and programmes and the exchange of experience at officer level, as well as the cooperation with the ECRI and the CDMG.

    The Commission of the European Communities was represented at the meetings of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI, 26-29 September and 5-8 December 1995).

        d.    Cooperation with the European Parliament

    The European Parliament adopted on 26 October 1995 a resolution on the fight against racism and xenophobia. The European Parliament called for the inclusion of a clause for non-discrimination on racial basis into the Treaty on European Union. It also demanded the transfer of the mandate of the Consultative Commission on racism and xenophobia from the European Union (justice and home affairs) to the European Community to allow better coordination and control by the Parliament.

    The Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television (T-TT) is following closely the discussions within the institutions of the European Union on the proposal for revision of the "Television without frontiers" Directive. At its 7th meeting (21-22 November 1995), the Standing Committee had a detailed exchange of views with a senior official of DG X on the decisions taken on the proposal by the Council of Audio-visual/Culture Ministers at their meeting on 20 November 1995. The Standing Committee has now decided to align certain provisions of the Convention with the proposal, so as to ensure a harmonised European-wide approach to transfrontier programme services. The same DG X official also provided detailed information on the developments regarding the proposal at a contact meeting with national regulatory authorities responsible for broadcasting, organised by the Secretariat General of the Council of Europe on 5 and 6 December 1995.

    It may be noted that the Standing Committee has expressed the wish to be able to work on the basis of the texts emanating from the EU Council, believing that its progress on the amendment of the Television Convention is limited by the non availability of the most up-to-date versions of the amendments to the Proposal. The Standing Committee has invited the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to contact his homologue in the EU Council with a view to exploring ways of placing the Council texts at the disposal of the Committee.

    The European Commission was represented at the following meetings:
-    Steering Committee on the Mass Media (28 November-1 December 1995)
-    Group of Specialists on media in a pan-European perspective (27-29 September 1995)
-    Group of Specialists on the portrayal of violence in the media (5-6 October 1995)
-    Group of Specialists on the impact of new communications technologies on human rights and democratic values (30-31 October 1995)
-    Committee of Experts on media concentrations and pluralism (7-8 December 1995)

    The European Commission was not represented at the following meetings:
-    Group of Specialists on sound and audio-visual piracy (16-17 October 1995)
-    Group of Specialists on media and intolerance (6-7 November 1995)
-    Group of Specialists on the protection of journalists (15-17 November 1995)

    The Secretariat received an invitation to participate in a hearing on new communications technologies and their implications for the protection of copyright and neighbouring rights, which was organised by the Commission in Brussels on 8 and 9 January 1996.

    In many social and socio-economic fields there is cooperation with the Commission which functions in varying degrees of intensity and success. The cooperation in the Pharmacopoeia and on population issues are particularly positive examples.

    1.    Social security

    The Commission of the European Communities was represented at the 7th Social Security Training Course (Vienna, Association of Austrian Social Security Institutes, 4-8 September 1995) with a speaker on the theme: Regulation EC 1408/71 and the implications of EU enlargement, the European Economic Area and the Europe Agreements.

    The Council of Europe was represented at the European Conference on the free movement of workers within the European Union and the perspectives of Community coordination in the context of Regulation 1408/71 (Crete, 11-15 October 1995).

    2.     Social action

    Contacts with DG V at Secretariat level are particularly concerned with social exclusion and with family affairs.

    The Commission of the European Communities (DG V) was represented at the first meeting of the Partnership Committee of the Council of Europe's Project on Human Dignity and Social Exclusion (Strasbourg, 12-13 October 1995).

    The Council of Europe was represented at the European Conference on "Social Exclusion: A Major Challenge for Public Welfare Services" in Santiago de Compostela, Spain from 18 to 20 October 1995, which was jointly organised by the Spanish Ministry of Social Affairs, the Commission of the European Communities, the Regional Government of Galicia and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

     3.    Demography and Migration

    Contacts with the Council of the European Union have been maintained and members of the Secretariat were invited to present contributions to several seminars organised by the Spanish chairmanship.

    As far as the Commission is concerned, representatives from DG V and Eurostat actively participated in the work of both Steering Committees (CDMG and CDPO) and their subordinate committees. Concerning the CDPO, partnership programmes have been envisaged to implement certain parts of the intergovernmental programme of activities. Similarly, where Roms activities are concerned, a tripartite collaboration (OSCE, European Union, Council of Europe) has been set up and regular contacts for developing cooperation are planned.

     4.     Social Development Fund

         a.    European Commission

    The Social Development Fund participated in the pledging conference in Brussels in December 1995 on the democratic reconstruction in Bosnia-Herzegovina and other parts of former Yugoslavia, organised jointly by the Commission and the World Bank.

    The aim of this participation was to follow the evolution of the international effort which is taking shape, to gain a better understanding of the concrete needs and to identify possible contributions which could be made in the framework of the Fund's statutory possibilities. Concrete action will be decided on by the competent organs, in the beginning of 1996.

    A project for co-financing the restructuring of the health sector in Bulgaria was approved in November 1995. The project includes construction of primary health care centres, emergency services and centres for blood transfusion.

    This pilot project, bringing together the Commission's PHARE service, the World Bank and the Social Development Fund, constitutes the first concrete example of the synergy effects which can be produced by cooperation between the Fund (co-financing of construction work and equipment purchases) and PHARE (financing the feasibility studies and non-material components of the project).

    The loan approved for Bulgaria by the Social Development Fund amounts to 9,076,000 ECU. It covers 23% of the total cost of the project.

    The PHARE representatives in different Central and Eastern European countries having declared that they are ready to cooperate with the Fund, joint projects can be realised as soon as the countries concerned will have become members of the Fund.

         b.    European Investment Bank

    The contacts with the EIB with a view to continued cooperation described in the previous report have continued at different levels.

    The increased cooperation with the EIB has a triple aim:
-    to give the Fund the opportunity to benefit from the experience and models of organisation of these institutions;
-    exchange and confront useful information;
-    examine the areas in which co-financing is possible.

    1.    Council for Cultural Cooperation

    After the discussion held by the CDCC in January and its Bureau in June and further to the political impulsion given at the 6th quadripartite meeting between the Council of Europe and the European Union (Paris, 7 April 1995) See footnote 1 the strengthening of the cooperation with the European Union has remained a major objective, so much for the CDCC as for the specialised Committees (particularly the Education Committee).

    The 7th quadripartite Meeting (Madrid, 6 November 1995), confirmed the orientations which had been outlined six months earlier in Paris. In discussion, the representatives of the European Union proposed further to strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture and education - fields in which the Council of Europe has special experience, and in which Articles 126 and 128 of the Treaty on the European Union expressly invite cooperation with the Council of Europe. The representatives of the Council of Europe, for their part, warmly welcomed this proposal: culture and education represent priority areas for the Council of Europe: its achievements in these fields have been made available to the new democracies. They made reference in particular to the European dimension of the education and minorities questions and emphasised that education and culture constitute an important aspect of European construction, contributing to democratic security and reconciliation.

    At its meeting in November 1995, the Bureau of the CDCC held another discussion on cooperation between the European Union and the Council of Europe in the cultural and educational fields, on the basis of document CDCC-BU (95)27. The members of the Bureau noted that there was a clear trend towards an improved and intensified relationship between the Council of Europe and the European Union and that the new member states of the Union were playing a leading part in this. The proposal to hold a specific debate on this subject was coming therefore at a propitious moment when there was new potential for genuine cooperation between the two organisations, particularly in the CDCC's fields of action (in this respect, the work carried out by the Education Committee was a good example for the other specialised committees). This debate therefore required careful preparation; adequate time must be devoted to it and an effort made to ensure it was attended by sufficiently high-level representatives from both the Council of Ministers of the European Union and from the European Commission. In conclusion, the Bureau decided to hold a specific debate on cooperation with the European Union in the cultural and educational fields as part of the general policy debate during its 64th session (23 January 1996) and in this context decided to invite the Chairpersons of the Culture and Education Committees of the European Union to this debate, as well as the two Director Generals responsible for DG X and DG XXII of the European Commission.

    2.    Education

    The Education Committee attaches the greatest importance to the co-ordination of its own activities with those of the other European organisations. The European Union is a particularly important partner, in the light of both the Vienna Declaration and Article 126 of the Maastricht Treaty, which specifically refers to the Council of Europe. To this end the Education Committee, at its 12th session (March 1995), adopted a text reiterating both the importance it attaches to this question and the items on its programme which seemed to present most opportunities for cooperation of this kind and in respect of which there should be cooperation as a matter of priority.

    The proposals included in the document were the main subject of the discussions at the meeting of 18 July 1995 between the Secretariats. The Education Committee subsequently made cooperation with the European Union within its area of activity the subject of its FORUM at its 13th session (26-27 September 1995).

    At the end of the discussion, attended by a representative of the Commission, the Committee instructed the Secretariat to implement the proposals for short-term cooperation drawn up at the inter-secretariat meeting of 18 July 1995. These activities relate to secondary education (joint conference in 1997); school links and exchanges (cooperation under COMENIUS); Europe at school (new form for this joint activity); modern languages ("Common European Framework", final conference of the "Language learning and European citizenship" project, European Language Portfolio/Passport, Graz Centre seminar and colloquy); Thesaurus (future development and management); and "European Year of Education and Lifelong Learning" (various contributions from the Education Committee and/or Secretariat).

    Where the policy to be followed in this framework was concerned, the Committee instructed its Chair and Vice-Chair to prepare a document setting out its position for the discussion to be held on this subject at the CDCC's 64th session in January 1996 (see document CC-ED (95) 45). The principles adopted are: respect for the specific character of each of the two institutions, consultation before the start of activities in order to avoid duplication and to strive for the best possible synergy and complementarity, effort to add value to both partners' activities through cooperation, definition of realistic, practical and pragmatic activities in cooperation, taking into account of budgetary and human resources consequences.

    On the subject of the arrangements for this cooperation, the Committee pointed out that it would be appropriate to supplement the dialogue between the Secretariats organised regularly for several years by establishing an ongoing relationship with its European Union counterpart. It was suggested that an item "Cooperation with the Council of Europe" be placed on the agenda of the Union's Education Committee on the beginning of every new Presidency.

    The European Union was invited to the symposiums on "Educational reform in Central and Eastern Europe: outcomes and process" (Prague, October 1995) and on "Mutual understanding and the teaching of European history: challenges, problems and approaches" (Prague, October 1995).

    The European Commission issued in November 1995 a White Paper on education and training "Teaching and learning - towards the knowledge-based society".

         a.     Modern languages

    The Council of Europe and DG XXII (education, training, youth) continued their cooperation in the development of a Common European Framework of reference for language learning and teaching. The aim is to provide guidance to those concerned with the planning and certification of language learning at all levels, and to facilitate the comparison of qualifications and consequently educational and professional mobility.

    The Council of Europe was represented, at the invitation of the Spanish Presidency, to the Conference on "Languages in the Europe of diversity" (Madrid, December 1995) and "Social participation in Education" (Segovia, December 1995). The Commission will be invited to the Educational research workshop on the effectiveness of modern language learning and teaching (Graz, 5-8 March 1996).

         b.     "Europe at school"

    At the EU / Council of Europe inter-service meeting in July 1995 it was decided to intensify the cooperation between the COMENIUS programme and the Council of Europe network for school links and exchanges.

         c.    Academic Mobility and Recognition    

    The Secretariat and the ENIC See footnote 2 Bureau attended the autumn meeting of the NARIC See footnote 3 Network (Bruxelles, 22 November 1995). The ENIC Bureau met in the building of DG XXII with the participation of a representative of the Commission (the Chair of the NARIC Network) (Brussels, 21 November 1995).

         d.    Higher education

    The European Commission is a member of the project group on "access to higher education in Europe" set up under the Higher Education an Research Committee.

    Cooperation with the ORTELIUS consortium, which publishes electronic and prints information on the higher education systems of the European Union, was explored within the feasibility study for a third edition of the Council's Student Handbook. The Bureau of the CC-HER decided in November to publish the Handbook in late 1996, in cooperation with a

German publisher and with financial support from the German government. The Handbook will cover the 29 countries within the CDCC which are not members of the European Union, complementing the ORTELIUS publications.

        e.    Educational research

    The European Education Thesaurus, a structured list of more than 3300 descriptors (keywords) for indexing documentation, is jointly managed and developed by the Council of Europe and the Commission. It exists in nine languages of the Union and in five other European languages.

         f.    Vocational training

     The Council of Europe was represented at the meetings of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training of the European Commission (Brussels, 17 October and 9 November 1995).

    3.    Culture

    The European Commission was represented at the 11th meeting Culture Committee of the Council for cultural cooperation (CC-Cult, 8-10 November 1995).

    The Council of Europe attended a meeting organised by the French Ministry of Culture and the European Commission (DG X) in Paris on 8 and 9 June 1995 on the subject of "Studies and Statistics on Culture". A report on the present state of cultural statistics in the member countries of the European Union was presented and projects for future activities in this field were discussed during a second meeting held in Madrid on 13 and 14 October 1995.

    The Council of Europe was invited to participate as observer in the European Commission's conference on the Mediterranean society "A challenge for three civilisations - the three monotheistic religions" (Toledo, 4-7 November 1995).

    The "Prix Europa" for European television productions, which was created by the Council of Europe together with the European Cultural Foundation and with the participation of the European Commission, was awarded on 16 November 1995 in Strasbourg in the presence of Mr Hänsch, President of the European Parliament and Mr Baer, Director for culture in DG X of the European Commission.

         a.    Cultural routes    

    In the field of tourism and cultural routes cooperation is frequent. Activities connected with the "Architecture without Frontiers" cultural route based on rural habitats are co-financed by DG XXII and the Council of Europe. Recently launched routes such as the "European Network of Discovery Cities" and the "Via Francigena" are placed under the aegis of the two institutions. DG XXII was represented at meetings held in Strasbourg concerning the Viking Routes and the Hanseatic Routes. The Secretariat of the Cultural Routes participated actively in the study on cultural tourism prepared by the European Cultural Agency for the DG XXII.

         b.    Centenary of the Cinema

    In November 1993, the Cultural Affairs Council of the European Union adopted a resolution on the Cinema's First Century in which it "called on the Commission to participate in the campaign, notably in liaison with the Council of Europe". In the framework of the close cooperation with the European Parliament, a Council of Europe Secretariat representative participated in the meetings of the European Parliament's Cinema and Audiovisual Intergroup.

    The celebrations of the Centenary of the Cinema - patronized by the Council of Europe - take place between summer 1995 and 1996, i.e. around the anniversary of the first public showing of a film on 28 December 1895 in the Grand Café in Paris. The European Union has freed special funds for the Centenary of Cinema and some of the projects initiated by the Council of Europe have received important grants:

-    The European Union supported, in particular, the Exhibition "Illusion.Emotion.Reality", which opened at the Kunsthaus in Zurich on 9 November 1995. This travelling exhibition, which is placed under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will then be staged in Venice, Vienna and Madrid.
-    It supported also the "Danube Film" Ship, an event organised between Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest with the accent on women in cinema.

    The Conference of European Ministers of Culture, intended to be one of the high points of the Centenary celebrations and originally planned for October 1995, has been postponed to October 1996. It therefore appeared important to organise a meeting concerning the future of European cinema before the end of 1995, so as to take advantage of the Centenary's impact. Thus, the colloquy "Towards the European Cinema of the 21st Century" was held in Strasbourg on 12-13 October 1995, in conjunction with the European Parliament and the Commission; it brought together approximately 300 producers, heads of professional organisations, representatives of public authorities, parliamentarians.

    The following subjects were discussed in two workshops: "What future for the European cinema?" and "What support for the European cinema industry?". The colloquy was opened both by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Vice-President of the European Parliament; it was closed by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport of the Council of Europe and by the Commission's Director General of DG X. This type of cooperation between the three Institutions for the organising of such an event was a first and took place under very good conditions.

     4.    Cultural heritage

    The proposal for the RAPHAEL programme, a community action programme in the field of cultural heritage, has been officially transmitted to the Council of Europe. Meetings were held between the Council of Europe's Cultural Heritage Division and the Commission's Cultural Programmes Section. These meetings served to set out the areas and activities the two sides could collaborate upon.

    Meetings also took place with the European Parliament's rapporteur on the RAPHAEL programme. The Council of Europe participated in a session organised by the European Parliament's Commission on culture on 5 September 1995 in Brussels to discuss the programme.

    At a meeting of the European Union's Committee for Cultural Affairs which took place in Brussels on 14 June 1995, delegations expressed the hope that a meeting bringing together the Directors of Heritage and senior political officials of the "15" be organised in Paris by the Commission, to coincide with the one organised by the Council of Europe. The European Union's meeting took place on 6 September and the Council of Europe's was held on 7 September. Each organisation took part in the meeting arranged by the other. The European Union meeting was devoted to a discussion on the RAPHAEL programme and referred to cooperation between the two organisations. The main items on the agenda of the Council of Europe meeting were the preparation of the IVth European Conference of Ministers responsible for the cultural heritage and the situation of movable heritage in Europe, particular reference being made to the problem of unlawful trafficking in cultural property.

    The Council of Europe and the European Commission worked together on the organisation of the European Heritage Days which were launched at a ceremony in Paris on 8 and 9 September 1995.

    The Foundation Pro Venetia Viva was transformed into the "Foundation Venetia - European Foundation for cultural heritage professions" with the modifications to the statute of the foundation as approved by the Board of the European Pro Venetia Viva Foundation on 1 June 1995. The European Union is represented by the European Parliament in its Foundation Board and puts scholarships at its disposal. The new Foundation has already received the support of the LEONARDO programme; there are on-going discussions with a view of granting support from the other EU programmes (in particular the RAPHAËL programme).

    5.    Sport

    The Chair of the CDDS, a Bureau member and a senior official of the Council of Europe had a meeting with the Director for Sport and a head of Unit in DG X of the European Commission (Brussels, 14 September 1995). The main results were:

-    an agreement to ensure that there will be no double financing of projects by SPRINT and Euratlon
-    an agreement in principle to continue EU financial contribution to the Europack project in 1996,
-    an agreement that the Commission will study ways of helping to finance the Clearing House,
-    an agreement that the Commission will evaluate its Fair Play campaign and possibly propose joint work with the Council of Europe in 1996.

    A new Commission communication on sport is in preparation. It is possible that sport will be included in the list of competences of the EU at the IGC 1996.

    In the light of the statement of the European Commission that the European Union had no competence in the anti-doping field, the Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention agreed that full and complementary relations with the European Union should be pursued, with a view to continuing joint projects, regular exchange of information and discussion of policy and cooperation with the Commission in matters which are covered by Community competence (e.g. import and circulation of illegal substances in the European Union).

    In the context of work carried out by the Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention, the joint project on the production of an education and information guide against doping in sport, to which the European Commission contributed 40,000 ECU, has been completed.

    Regular meetings between the European Commission, the Council of Europe Secretariat and members of the CDDS Bureau ensure coordination of activities. The Commission was represented at the Bureau meeting of the Steering Committee for the Development of Sport (12-13 September 1995).

    The main result of a meeting of Council of Europe officials with Commission officials (DG X) responsible for sport (Brussels, 14 November 1994) was that the joint work on EUROPACK (educational pack aimed at young people for preventing and combating doping in sport) is much appreciated and was be continued in 1995.

    A Council of Europe official attended the meeting of the Subcommission on Youth and Sport of the Committee of the Regions to present the Council of Europe's work on violence associated with sport (Brussels, 5 September 1995). The Committee of the Regions currently prepares a report on this subject.

    6.    EURIMAGES

    Concerning the details of the relationship of EURIMAGES with MEDIA I, the report for the period January-July 1995 remains valid.

    The policy of EURIMAGES with regard to the MEDIA I programme has been to work as closely as feasible with the projects, in a spirit of complementarity. It should also be noted that, as a joint governmental activity, EURIMAGES operates on a different level of subsidiarity than the European Union, and closer to the national level, in that its detailed decisions are taken by national representatives.

    The links with the MEDIA I programme covered systematic exchange of information, a territorial division of responsibilities (with our distribution support programmes) and complementary use of the same agency (with Europa-Cinemas). Any and all of these three types of relationship can be developed and operated with MEDIA II.

    MEDIA II (1996-2000) consists of two separate programmes : the "MEDIA II - Development and Distribution" which was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 10 July 1995, and the "MEDIA II - Training" which was adopted on 22 December 1995.

    The Board of EURIMAGES has closely followed the evolution of MEDIA II in order to maintain the complementarity between our two structures and to avoid duplicating the use of public funds.

    Finally, the Secretariat of EURIMAGES, together with some of the EURIMAGES Board members, has been associated with the Colloquium "Towards the European Cinema of the 21st Century" organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

    The Commission submitted its proposal for the establishment of a European Guarantee Fund to promote cinema and television production and the involvement of the European Investment Fund on 30 November 1995 to the Council of the European Union. The Fund would complement the objectives covered by the MEDIA II programme.

     7.    Audiovisual Observatory

    The European Commission is a member of the European Audiovisual Observatory and, therefore, it attends all regular meetings of the Observatory. The Commission is represented by the DG X in the Executive Council which has convened on 4 October in Warzaw and on 23 November in Strasbourg, and in the Bureau of the Executive Council on 14 September and 16 November 1995 in Strasbourg.

    On the professional level the Observatory co-operates closely with Eurostat in matters relating to cultural and audiovisual statistics. Experts of Eurostat have taken part this Autumn in workshops concerning on-line information services organised by the Observatory.

    The Observatory and the European Commission collaborate in distributing both legal and practical information related to the audiovisual sector. The Commission is a member of the editorial board of IRIS-legal review magazine of the Observatory, and the Observatory publishes in its Sequentia magazine practical information concerning media related initiatives of the Commission, in particular the Media-programme.

    In general, relations and collaboration with the Observatory and the European Union, especially between the Commission and Eurostat, are good and collaborative.

V.    Youth

     1.     Intergovernmental cooperation

    Where intergovernmental cooperation is concerned, the representative of the European Union took part as an observer in the meetings of the European Steering Committee for Intergovernmental Cooperation in the Youth Field (CDEJ) and in those of the latter's Working Group on Youth Information and Counselling.

    Cooperation should be developed in the field of voluntary service by young people, inter alia. The CDEJ's Working Group on Youth Mobility in Europe is in fact now working on a draft international legal instrument on the status of voluntary service, and in 1996 the European Commission's DG XXII is to start an activity relating to European voluntary service for young people. Hence it has been mutually agreed that the two institutions will complement each other on this subject. In particular, a representative of DG XXII should take part in the meetings of the CDEJ's working group which is examining voluntary service.

    The Labour and Social Affairs Council of the European Union welcomed in its resolution of 5 October 1995 on cooperation with third countries in the field of youth the work of the Council of Europe done in the field of youth exchange. The Council sees the necessity of training of youth trainers, drawing on the experience of the Council of Europe in this field.

    The Council of the European Union organised an informal meeting of youth Ministers from the EU, the EFTA and the Central and Eastern European countries and from Malta and Cyprus (Madrid, 2 November 1995). The Council of Europe was not invited to attend the meeting.

    The Council of Europe participated in the meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Youth for Europe III Programme (Brussels, 27-28 November 1995).

     2.    Youth research

    Since October 1995 the cooperation between the two organisations in the field of youth research has taken a more concrete form. The Council of Europe was invited to the first meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group (Brussels, 9 October 1995) which consults the Commission on the procedure for application and selection of research projects concerning youth.

    It is too early to evaluate the outcome of this type of cooperation. The role of the Council of Europe in this is not yet well-defined but it clearly cannot be one of a "junior partner", given the long experience of the Youth Directorate in European youth research cooperation.

    The principles followed by the Council of Europe in the field of youth research could be presented as follows: stimulation of communication between researchers and research establishments in Europe, methodological development towards an increased comparability of national research, accent on participatory research and policy-evaluation research. The European Union has its priorities with the evaluation of its own youth policy programmes and statistical studies of youth population. In addition, the structural differences between the two organisations do not facilitate cooperation.

    Nevertheless, the objective, as both sides understand it, is to intensify information exchange and try to join resources and knowledge for the benefit of European youth research. It is also through the experts, members of the Scientific Advisory Group, who have long participated in the conception and implementation of the Youth Directorate's research

programme, that we hope to promote our principles within the Union's research programme, and reach a new level of co-operation.

    3.    European Training for youth workers in multicultural settings

    Under the Belgian Presidency, the Ad Hoc Group on Youth of the Council of the European Union accepted a proposal of the presidency, to hold a European Training for youth workers in multicultural settings, a long term pilot project against exclusion (September 1995 - March 1996). The experiences of the Council of Europe European Youth Centre's Long-Term Training course and experience in the framework of the Youth for Europe programme and the priority youth actions created the basis for this pilot project.

    The Commission of the EU and the Council of Europe's Youth Directorate are both concerned about the need to promote active youth participation in the construction of a Europe that is more in touch with its citizens and places greater emphasis on solidarity and respect for difference. Such an approach attaches special importance to developing tolerance in young people and preventing attitudes which lead to social exclusion. It is of particular relevance to the considerations which led the two institutions to making a priority the combat against, racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism, intolerance and violence.

    Following a request of the Commission of the EU, the National Youth Service of the Ministry of Youth in Luxembourg took charge of the management of this pilot project, financed by the European Commission and implemented in co-operation with the Council of Europe European Youth Centre (EYC). The Governing Board of the EYC welcomed this opportunity for concrete co-operation with the EU and delegated two members of the EYC tutorial staff to be part of the educational team for the entire duration of the project.

    The project was opened to candidates from countries participating in the Youth for Europe III programme (recruitment through National Agencies) and for Central- and Eastern European member countries of the Council of Europe (recruitment through the Youth Directorate's partners in the voluntary and governmental sectors). 25 participants were chosen on the basis of their youth work profile in the field of social exclusion with the aim of creating synergies on local, national and European level.

    The training is structured in five phases:

Phase 1     Introductory training course (Luxembourg, 3-17 September 1995)
Phase 2     Project phase in the participants' countries (September -December 1995)
Phase 3    Mid-term evaluation, continuation of the training (Luxembourg, 11 -2O December 1995)
Phase 4    Project phase in the participants' countries (December - March 1995)
Phase 5    Completion of the training, final evaluation (EYC Budapest, 22 - 29 March 1996)

    The objectives of the training are the following:
-    to provide a specific training for youth workers, youth leaders and people in charge of training;

-    to develop strategies to combat racism, xenophobia and violence;
-    to enable participants to plan, run and evaluate a youth project in accordance with the outlined criteria;
-    to reflect on notions such as Europe, solidarity, multicultural society, tolerance and put these ideas into youth work practice;
-    to be a part of an intercultural experience with the aim of developing expertise and know-how on intercultural learning as an educational concept;
-    to acquire know-how on youth policies at European and national level;
-    to analyse the link between individuals' behaviour and the development of European democracies and draw the relevant conclusions;
-    to create a space for personal and professional development in general.

    To date, each participant developed a project against social exclusion - the majority of the projects will be financed by the Youth for Europe III programme, others with the help of national sources and the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.

    Careful negotiations and compromises from all institutional partners were necessary during the preparation phase to let this project become reality and an example of concrete co-operation between the institutions.

     4.    Youth Campaign against Racism

    The European Youth Campaign against Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-semitism and Intolerance profited from the following possibilities for cooperation:

    The European Commission DG X provided financial assistance to the campaign project "European Action Week Against Racism" (production of posters and other information material), and to the Intercultural Festival ("MOUSSEM Festival") which was organised in the framework of the campaign in Amsterdam on 17 - 23 June 1995.

    The European Commission DG XXII provided financial assistance to the campaign project "European Youth Trains" (July 1995), which allowed the participation of a group of young people from the Maghreb countries.

    The secretariat of the European Youth Campaign exchanged information also with the European Commission DG V concerning practical projects against racism and xenophobia.

    The "Youth for Europe III" programme of the European Union was used by several national campaign structures and national NGOs, to organise specific projects, meetings and exchange programmes connected to the European Youth Campaign against Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-semitism and Intolerance.

VI.    Health

    1.    Public Health

    The European Commission participated in the 38th meeting of the European Health Committee (28-30 November 1995). It was also represented at the third meeting of Senior Officials preparing the 5th Conference of Health Ministers to be held in Warsaw in November 1996 (30 November - 1 December 1995).

    The Commission has been invited to participate as full member in the Committee of experts on the use of medical examinations for employment and insurance purposes and in the Committee of experts on quality assurance in health care. The Commission was unable to attend the second meeting of these two committees, held respectively on 21-22 November and on 8-9 November 1995.

         a.    Education for Health

    Since 1991, the Council of Europe has run an education for health programme in schools together with the European Commission and the WHO (Europe). The aim is to create a network of schools across Europe to promote health amongst young people. Over 30 countries have joined the network and have chosen the schools in their countries which will participate in the programme. Every country has a national co-ordinator to follow the programme at national level. An international planning committee (IPC) composed of representatives of the three institutions meets regularly to monitor the developments in the programme. The last meeting of the IPC was held in Luxembourg on 23-24 November 1995.

    The Council of the European Union has welcomed the network of Health Promoting Schools, which is specifically mentioned in the Draft Action Programme on Health Promotion, Information, Education and Training.

         b.    Organ transplants

    A computerised network between organ transplant centres for the rapid exchange of livers, largely financed by the European Communities will be put on trial for a period of two years. France, Switzerland and Italy will participate in the scheme.

    The European Commission was represented at the meeting of the Select Committee of experts on organisational aspects of cooperation in organ transplantation (2-3 March 1995).

         c.    Blood transfusion and immunohaematology

    Following a communication of the European Commission on Blood Safety and Self-Sufficiency in the European Community (21 December 1994), the Council of the European Union adopted in June 1995 a Resolution reaffirming the need to achieve self-sufficiency in blood and its derivatives in accordance with the principle of voluntary non-remunerated blood and plasma donations. The Resolution calls on the Commission to take full account of the Council of Europe's discussions and to continue its cooperation with the Council of Europe.

    In the light of these developments the CDSP has agreed to discuss cooperation with the European Commission at its next meeting.

    The CDSP is carrying out an enquiry on the collection and usage of blood and plasma in 1995 in the non-Community States using a questionnaire drawn up by the European Commission for use by the Community States.

    The European Commission was considering the preparation of a draft Council Decision for approval of the revised Protocol to Agreement n° 26 on the exchange of therapeutic substances of human origin.    

    The Commission was not represented at the last Task Force meetings for the restructuring of blood transfusion systems in Eastern and Central Europe.

    2.    Partial Agreement in the Social and Public Health Field

    The European Commission actively participated in the following meetings:

-    Committee of Experts on flavouring substances (9 - 13 October 1995)
-    Committee of Experts on pharmaceutical questions (17 October 1995)
-    Seminar "The pharmacist and the challenge of new social trends" (18 - 20 October 1995)
-    Committee of Experts on materials coming into contact with food (13 - 16 November 1995)

    The Secretariat was invited to take part in a session of the Pharmaceutical Committee of the European Union.

    The Commission declined our invitations to the following meetings:

-    Committee of Experts on cosmetic products (21 - 24 November 1995)
-    Committee of experts on the training of personnel, other than health care personnel, concerned with rehabilitation (architects and town planners) (5 - 6 October 1995)
-    Working Group on the ageing of persons with disabilities (29 November - 1 December 1995)
-    Working Group on vocational assessment of people with disabilities (4-5 December 1995)
-    Committee of Experts for the application of the WHO international classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps (6-8 December 1995)

    3.    European Pharmacopoeia

    The European Union acceded to the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia on 22 September 1994. The Commission of the European Communities participates regularly in the sessions of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission and the Technical Secretariat of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission is represented as observer and scientific advisor at all meetings of specific working parties organised by the Commission, notably the Pharmaceutical Committee on Medicines for Human Use and the Pharmaceutical Committee on Medicines for veterinary Use, as well as the Inspection Working Party.

    The Secretariat participated in the following meetings organised by the Commission of the European Communities:

-    Veterinary Pharmaceutical Committee of the Commission of the European Communities (Brussels, 29 September 1995).
-    Working Party on "Control of medicinal products and inspections"(Brussels, 16-17 October 1995)

    In addition the Commission of the European Communities has proposed to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (set up on 1 January 1995) that the European Pharmacopoeia Secretariat be asked to participate as an observer in meetings of the technical groups of the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products and the Committee for Proprietary Veterinary Products.

    In recent months the Secretariat has therefore participated in the following meetings in London (European Medicines Evaluation Agency):
-    "Biotech" Working Party (5-6 September 1995),
-    "Biotech" Working Party (12-13 November 1995),
-    CPMP Working Party (5-6 October 1995),
-    Immunological veterinary medicinal products Working Party (13 November 1995)

    The application of the contract on biological standardisation signed between the Community and the Council of Europe is progressing satisfactorily. Programme No 1 is completely finished. It has been followed by a programme to up-date certain studies (eg. follow up to results on mumps and rubella vaccines). The European working standards adopted within the framework of this programme are being distributed in an extremely satisfactory manner and this demonstrates the importance of having made these substances available to European users.

    The establishment of a European network of official medicines control laboratories started after the first meeting held in Strasbourg on 26 and 27 May 1994. A handbook has been elaborated. A newsletter has been set up (three issues published in 1995). A proficiency studies scheme has been initiated : three joint studies have been carried out to revise the assay of antibiotics monograph for the replacement of dangerous reagents.

    A meeting of OMCL was organised in Strasbourg on 25-27 September 1995 to identify coordinating actions for testing and sampling medicinal products in Europe. A group

of rapporteurs has been nominated in order to make proposals and prepare guidelines : this group has met on 27 October and 13 December 1995.

    In order to clarify the administrative organisation of the Secretariat of the Pharmacopoeia and the OMCL, to avoid any mixing of responsibilities and to maintain the confidentiality of each activity, the General Administration of the Council of Europe has decided to change the name of the administrative structure known as the "Technical Secretariat of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission" to the "European Department for the Quality of Medicines" (EDQM). Within the European Department for the Quality of Medicines, Division I.II. and III are responsible for the elaboration of monographs and general methods of analysis of the European Pharmacopoeia, publications and the European Pharmacopoeia laboratory; Division IV is responsible for the administration of the European OMCL Network.

    The EDMQ also includes a specialised administrative section dealing only with the procedure for the certification of stability of monographs.

    4.    Pompidou Group

    Cooperation with the PHARE programme has continued to expand. Agreement has now been reached on PHARE participation in the Demand Reduction Staff Training Programme and numerous contacts have been made with PHARE consultants and national coordinators in the planning of the programme. This programme is now running successfully.

    The Council of Europe participated actively in the first part of the meeting of the PHARE Multi-country Drugs Coordination Committee (Riga, 9-11 October 1995) concerning the PHARE multi-country drugs programme and the evaluation of its implementation. The Council of Europe was not invited to the second part of the meeting.

    The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Spanish Presidency in the Council of the European Union organised a Conference on Drugs Policy in Europe (Brussels, 7-8 December 1995). The Conference falls in the framework of the EU Action Plan to combat drugs which was adopted by the European Council in June 1995. The Council of Europe was invited as observer.

    The Pompidou Group Secretariat attended the November meeting of the Management Board of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the joint meeting in September of the Management Board, Scientific Committee and national focal points. A seminar on prevalence estimation will be organised jointly with the EMCDDA in summer 1996. The Pompidou Group Permanent Correspondents have also decided in June to grant the EMCDDA observer status at their own meetings. It is hoped that the first steps in practical cooperation will be further developed rapidly.

    The Commission was represented at the 36th meeting of the Permanent Correspondents and EMCDDA at the 23rd meeting of experts in epidemiology.

    Among developments in the EU, the adoption of the EU Action Plan to Combat Drugs, 1995-1999, the ongoing discussion of a Community Action Programme on the Prevention of Drug Abuse and the decision of the Council of the European Union concerning financing of "third pillar activities" (justice and home affairs) all have important implications for future cooperation with the Pompidou Group. Discussions with DG V have already started concerning the prevention field to avoid overlapping with the Pompidou Group activities already under development. Criminal justice matters represent another area where the Pompidou Group has long experience and ongoing activities.

    The Council of the European Union underlined in its conclusions of 2 June 1995 on the action plan for the fight against drugs the importance of coordination and complementarity with the programmes of the Council of Europe.

    In its common position on the Community action programme for the prevention of drug addiction in the framework of the action in the field of public health, adopted on 20 December 1995, the Council of the European Union encourages the European Commission to cooperate with the Pompidou Group and other competent international organisations.

VII.    Environment and regional planning

     1.    Environment

         a.    Management of Space and Natural Habitats

    The Commission was represented at the Seminar for Managers of Diploma-holding Areas which was held from 11-14 September 1995 at the Peak District National Park in the United Kingdom.

    Furthermore, the Commission was represented at the 5th meeting of the Group of Specialists on tourism and environment (16-18 October 1995).

         a.    Bern Convention

    The European Community is Contracting Party to the Bern Convention. The European Commission is present at the meetings of its Standing Committee. The Commission contributes 10.000 ECU to the implementation of the working programme of the Convention.

    The European Commission regularly invites the Council of Europe as an observer to the Scientific Working Group of the Habitats Directive. The Secretariat was present at its last meeting in Brussels on 27 September 1995.

    The Nature Centre of the European Environment Agency invites the Secretariat to take part in its technical meeting. The Secretariat attended the meeting of its Consortium on 4 October 1995 in Paris and one of its meetings (CORINE Databank) from 5 to 6 October 1995 in Paris.

    In its conclusions on the Pan-european Conference of Ministers for Environment (Sofia, 23-25 October 1995), the Council of the European Union approved the elaboration of the Pan-european strategy for biodiversity and landscape under the auspices of the Council of Europe. The strategy defines the framework for European actions, for instance the EU's Natura 2000.

     2.    Regional planning

    The Council of Europe and the European Commission organised a second Joint Conference on "Regional planning of Greater Europe in cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe" (Prague, 16-17 October 1995). This was a sequel to the conference held in Dresden in 1993 on "Prospects for the Development of the Continent of Greater Europe".

    The European Commission was represented at the meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of CEMAT (Prague, 18 October 1995).

    3.    Open Partial Agreement on Major Hazards

    The European Commission was represented at the meeting of the Committee of permanent correspondents open Partial Agreement on Major Hazards (11 October 1995).

    Cooperation with the Commission focuses on three main sectors :

-    The European Warning System :
    The Commission receives warning messages sent by the Executive Secretariat of the Agreement in the case of major catastrophes.

-    Implementation of Resolution 2 on the role of space technologies to assist risk management :
    The Commission co-chairs, together with the European Space Agency, the Steering Committee for the prospective study, the results of which should be presented at the next Ministerial session of the Agreement in 1996.

    The Commission together with the European Space Agency and the Council of Europe Agreement organised a workshop at ESRIN on the use of space technologies for Risk Management focusing on the Presentation and Validation of Users' needs (Frascati, 13-14 November 1995).

-    Preparation of the European Programme on Training in Risk Sciences (FORM-OSE):
    Through the ERASMUS programme, the Commission has positively evaluated two proposals put forward in the framework of this European Union programme. One concerns the development of Curriculum (Action III) in Bordeaux in October 1995 and Grenada at the end of 1995 and the other concerns intensive training programmes (Action IV) in Poitiers: economic hazards, in Rome: natural hazards, in Brussels: health hazards.

VIII.    Local democracy

    Mr Fischler, Commissioner responsible for agriculture and rural development, submitted in November 1995 his comments on the draft European Rural Charter of the Council of Europe to the Parliamentary Assembly and put forward some concrete proposals for amendments.

    Contacts were established between the Council of Europe's LODE programme manager and the Commission's DG I, IA, XVI, the European Human Rights Foundation (which manages the PHARE/TACIS Democracy programme), the European Business and Information Centres Network (which runs the Business Innovation Centres Project of the Commission) and the Director of the new TACIS City Twinning programme. The aim of the contacts was to cooperate in the field of local development in Central and Eastern European countries. After initial exchanges of information, Commission officials and programme managers were invited to events organised in the framework of the LODE programme, e.g. the seminar on local and regional democracy in Central and Eastern Europe (22 November 1995.

    The European Commission was represented at the meeting of the Steering Committee on local and regional authorities (CDLR, 6-8 December 1995).

IX.    Legal cooperation

     1.    General aspects

    On 10 November 1995, an inter-organisation meeting of legal advisers took place in Brussels. Discussions were held in particular on the Intergovernmental Conference due to open in spring 1996, relations with countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the accession of the European Community to treaties elaborated within the Council of Europe, and the audit procedures for activities involving a financial contribution from the Community. Information was also exchanged on the activities of the European Union and on treaties being prepared within the Council of Europe.

    The Commission of the European Communities (DG IA - external relations with Europe and the NIS) has granted a sum of 70.000 ECU to the European Commission for Democracy through Law, to contribute to its activities for the development and consolidation of democracy and human rights in Central and Eastern Europe and in South Africa. A representative of the Commission of the European Communities participated in meetings of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice, 8-9 September and 24-25 November 1995).

    The European Convention on insolvency procedures was initialled in the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union on 25 September 1995. It was noted that the Council of Europe Convention on certain International Aspects of Bankruptcy (ETS 136) influenced the elaboration of the European Union Convention.

     2.    Legal cooperation

    The Commission of the European Communities was represented at the meeting of the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ, 29 November - 1 December 1995). At this occasion the Spanish representative to the CDCJ reported - as representative of the Presidency in the Council of the European Union - on the meeting of the Steering Group on Judicial Cooperation (civil matters).

     3.    Public international law

    Cooperation continued with the Commission of the European Communities, which was represented at the meeting the Committee of legal advisers on public international law (CAHDI, 12-13 September 1995).

    4.    Administrative law

    The Project Group on Administrative Law (CJ-DA) has finalised the preparation of a "Handbook on the Principles of Administrative Law concerning the Relations between Administrative Authorities and Private Persons in Europe" which puts together and explains the standards of administrative law as expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights and in the Recommendations adopted by the Committee of Ministers ever since the beginning of the 1970's. This synthesis is of manifest usefulness, in particular for the setting up of mechanisms for the monitoring of commitments which has been adopted by the Committee of Ministers. It is hoped that the handbook will be published in mid 1996.

    5.    Bioethics

    The European Union continued its active participation in the work of the Steering Committee on bioethics (CDBI). In particular, two Commission officials took part in the plenary meetings (5 - 7 September and 20 - 22 November 1995).

    In the European Parliament a report was drawn up on the draft Bioethics Convention. The Council of Europe is an observer in the meetings of the embryo and foetus protection committee, set up by the European Commission.

     6.    Corruption

    The Multidisciplinary Group on Corruption (GMC) adopted on 27 September 1995 a draft programme of action against corruption. This programme is expected to be adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 1996 and includes a proposal to draft one of several international instruments to fight corruption. The European Commission is actively participating in the work of the Council of Europe.

    Moreover, the Council of Europe and the European Commission (PHARE programme) are finalising discussions on a draft joint programme (project Octopus) on corruption and organized crime in Central and Eastern Europe. This project would concern legislation and practical action against organised crime in States in transition.

    7.    Nationality

    The Commission of the European Communities was represented at the plenary meeting of the Committee of experts on nationality (CJ-NA, 7-10 November 1995) whose main priority item is the drafting of a European Convention on nationality.

    8.    Territorial asylum, refugees and stateless persons

    This activity is promoting the development of a common standpoint of the member States for the solution of legal and practical problems with which they are confronted in the fields of asylum, refugees and stateless persons. It is also facilitating exchanges of views and information on legislative and policy developments in member and observer States and at other relevant international fora, including information on the case law of the judicial organs of the European Convention on Human Rights.

    Considering the specific problems encountered by Central and Eastern European member States as well as the pan-European dimension of the asylum issue, at present four main subjects are on the agenda of the Ad hoc Committee of experts on Legal Aspects of Territorial Asylum, Refugees and Stateless Persons (CAHAR):

-    the concept of safe third country;
-    the right to appeal by asylum-seekers whose applications have been rejected;
-    return of rejected asylum-seekers.

-    the granting of refugee status to victims of pogroms.

    The Vienna Group (Group of Senior Officials responsible for the Follow-up to the Conference of Ministers on the Movement of Persons from the Central and Eastern European Countries), when concluding its work in September 1994, asked the appropriate Council of Europe fora to continue activities. As from November 1995, the CAHAR and the CDMG (European Committee on Migration) provide a joint forum, linked to their regular meetings, for the continuation of the discussion on items previously covered by the Vienna Group.

    The Commission of the European Communities was represented at the ad hoc Committee of Experts on the legal aspects of territorial asylum, refugees and stateless persons (CAHAR, 26-28 September 1995).

    9.    Data protection

    In the intergovernmental field, the drafting of recommendations on the protection of data collected in the medical, statistical, insurance and new technologies sectors are of particular interest to the Commission, since on 24 October 1995 the Council of the European Union adopted the Directive on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.

    The European Union thus became competent for data protection in most fields and coordination started last year under the Spanish presidency. However, to this day, no agreement has been reached among the European Union member States on several aspects of the CJ-PD work. In particular, the CDCJ at its 64th session (November 1995) could not approve the draft Recommendation on medical data, which some delegations considered might be incompatible with the Directive.

    For this reason, the Commission took part in the meeting of the Project Group on Data Protection (CJ-PD, 21-24 November 1995) and the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data (7-10 November 1995). It attended also the Working Party on personal data collected for insurance purposes of the Project Group on data protection (12-15 September 1995) and the Working Party on new technologies (17-20 October 1995).

    The communication from the Commission to the Council of the European Union with the proposal for the mentioned Directive included a request for a mandate to begin negotiations with a view to preparing a protocol providing for Community participation in the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108). The Commission also attended the 2nd meeting of the drafting Group of the Convention's Consultative Committee (31 May - 2 June 1995).

    The Council of Europe, the European Commission and the OECD cooperated with the International Chamber of Commerce for the organisation of the 2nd Symposium on privacy and data protection (Brussels, 27 January 1995). The problem of Community accession to the Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data (ETS 108) was discussed. The Commission recommended it, but it was felt by the participants that the accession would take a very long time. It was envisaged to organise a joint Council of Europe/European Commission seminar on data protection in 1996.

    The Europol Convention for the creation of a European office for the exchange of information between the national criminal police authorities and the analysis of criminality was signed by all member States of the European Union on 26 July 1995. Article 14 of the Convention refers to the Council of Europe's Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data (ETS 108) and Recommendation R (87)15.

    10.    Animal protection

European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (ETS 87)

    The European Community is Party to the Convention and participates very actively, at the level of the Commission, in the work of the Standing Committee.

    At its last meeting (28 November - 1 December 1995), the T-AP adopted, at unanimity of the votes cast, a Recommendation concerning domestic fowl (Gallus gallus).

European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (ETS 123)

    The European Community has signed the Convention (10 February 1987). Six Member States of the European Union have ratified it (Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain and Sweden). A proposal for a decision providing for accession of the Community to the Convention with a reservation on its Article 28, paragraph 1, was presented by the Commission to the Council of Ministers (COM(94)366 final). The European Parliament adopted on 19 September 1995 its proposals for modification of the Commission proposal.

    The European Community, represented at the level of the Commission, participated very actively in the meeting of the Working Party for the preparation of the third Multilateral Consultation of the Parties to the Convention (26 - 29 September 1995).

    Furthermore, in accordance with the decision of the Commission to invite the Secretariat General of the Council of Europe to the meetings of the Competent Authorities for the Directive 86/609/EC, a representative of the Secretariat participated in a meeting on statistics concerning laboratory animals.

    The objective of this meeting was to finalise the tables which will be used for the collection of statistical data required by Directive 86/609/EC. Indeed, the Commission, in agreement with the Competent Authorities, had decided "to use the models adopted in the Council of Europe Convention" at the Multilateral Consultation (COM(94)195 final). The discussions aimed at harmonising the two systems of tables which will be used to implement on the one hand the Directive 86/609/EC and on the other hand the Convention ETS 123.

    11.    Crime problems

    The Council of the European Union as well as the Commission of the European Communities are represented by observers at the

-    European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC)
-    Committee of Experts on the operation of European Conventions in the penal field (PC-OC),
-    Project Group : "Europe in a time of change" : crime policy and criminal law (PC-TP),
-    Committee of Experts on the protection of the environment through criminal law (PC-EN).

    In the context of the possible accession of Columbia to the Convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of proceeds from crime (ETS 141), the Troika of the Council of the European Union issued a communication concerning the negotiation of agreements between the European Union and the member States of the Andin Pact on money laundering. The Council of the European Union will also examine whether it will support an accession of the Andes countries to the Council of Europe Convention, a matter which is under consideration in the Ministers' Deputies.

I.    General remarks

    Cooperation between the two parliamentary institutions, which has developed considerably since the end of 1993, has benefited mainly during the period under review from the momentum imparted by preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) of the European Union, due to open on 29 March 1996.

    In September 1995, the Parliamentary Assembly held two major debates on:

-    the European Community's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, and

-    the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference

and adopted three texts on this subject, which are appended (Appendices II, III, IV).

    In November 1995, the Bureau of the Assembly considered follow-up to the IGC debate and agreed on exchanges of views between the relevant EP committees and PACE rapporteurs. The Bureau also approved proposals for reinforcing the status of meetings between delegations from the two Bureaux.

    The European Parliament, for its part, has given special attention to Council of Europe treaty law. The Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights is preparing reports on the draft Convention on Bioethics and on the European Convention on copyright and neighbouring rights in relation to transfrontier satellite broadcasting. The European Parliament has also repeatedly supported the European Community's proposed accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.

    On 19 September 1995, the European Parliament voted on the modified proposal for a Council decision signifying conclusion on the Community's behalf of the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes See footnote 4 .

    The Assembly was represented at the EP public hearing on the IGC on 17-18 October 1995 in Brussels.

    PACE and European Union representatives cooperated in monitoring several elections, eg in Palestine on 20 January 1996.

    2.    Economic Affairs

    A member of the EP attended the meeting opened to delegations from non-European members of OECD, organised by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development on 27 September 1995. EP representatives also took part in the PACE debate on the activities of OECD on 28 September 1995.

    The PACE was represented at the EP colloquy on the World Trade Organisation on 23 November 1995.

    3.    Legal Affairs

    At its meeting on 22-24 January 1996, the EP's Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights held an exchange of views with the Chairman of the Council of Europe's Steering Committee on Bioethics.

    4.    Cultural Affairs

    On 12-13 October 1995 the EP, the CE and the European Commission jointly organised a colloquy in Strasbourg on European cinema in the 21st Century.

    On 16 November 1995, the Committee on Culture and Education of the PACE held an exchange of views with a delegation from the EP's cultural committee on the information super-highway and other topics of common interest.

    The Committee on Culture and Education of the PACE is preparing a report on European cultural cooperation and will have contacts in this context with representatives of the European Commission and the EP cultural committee.

    5.    Environment, Regional Planning, Local Authorities

    The EP and PACE committees responsible for regional planning were represented at a colloquy on regional planning in cooperation with the countries of central and eastern Europe in Prague (16-17 October 1995).

    The third pan-European Conference of Environment Ministers was held in Sofia on 24-25 October 1995. The EP and PACE rapporteurs conferred regularly during preparation of the reports presented at the Conference by the two assemblies.

    6.    Science and Technology

    The two committees responsible for scientific matters plan to hold a joint meeting shortly.

    The Parliamentary Assembly was represented at the meeting of the EP's Technology assessment network in The Hague on 28-29 September 1995.

    7.    Migration, Refugees

    On 26 February 1996 the PACE's Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography will hold a joint meeting with the EP's Committee on Civil Liberties.

    8. Agriculture

    A joint meeting of the two agriculture committees will be held on 19 March 1996 on the theme of Enlargement of the European Union - the implications for agriculture and farm policies.

III.    Activities of particular interest of the two assemblies and their committees

    1.    Political and Institutional Affairs

    In its Opinion No 193 of 25 January 1996 on Russia's application to join the Council of Europe, the PACE argues that the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme for Russia should give special attention to supporting and reinforcing NGOs in the area of human rights and the establishment of a civil society.

    The EP Resolution of 13 December 1995 on human rights in Turkey stresses that Turkey should abide by the rules of the international organisations of which it is a member, such as the Council of Europe, and the conventions of which it is a contracting party, such as the European Convention on Human Rights.

    The PACE's Recommendation 1279 of 27 September 1995 on the 1996 IGC of the European Union proposes in particular:

-    revising Article 230 of the Treaty of Rome to include European Community recognition of the achievements and role of the Council of Europe in defining and monitoring the rule of law and the legal and democratic standards of pan-European society and to make membership of the Council of Europe a condition for accession to the European Union;

-    establishing links between the Common Foreign and Security Policy and political dialogue in the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers;

-    reinforcing and diversifying the cooperation brought about by the joint programmes of assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe;

-    setting up a working party to determine arrangements for the European Community's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and the practical implications for the Council of Europe;

-    inviting the European Community to sign several other Council of Europe conventions.

    In its Resolution 1067 (1995) on the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference of the European Union, adopted on 27 September 1995 (see Appendix II), the PACE proposes:

-    that the EP and the PACE exchange annual activity reports;

-    that the two presidents be invited to attend the, at present, quadripartite meetings between the European Union and the Council of Europe;

-    that the two parliamentary institutions increase their cooperation through regular, practical meetings of their bureau delegations, which should be given genuine terms of reference as to the topics to be covered and the decisions they are empowered to take.

    In this context, it should also be noted that paragraph 3 of the draft resolution on the IGC contained in the PACE's Doc 7373 was referred back to committee by the Assembly on 27 September 1995. This paragraph reads:

    "In the framework of its considerations on the future institutions of Europe, the Assembly should rapidly prepare and present to the Intergovernmental Conference the case for becoming the second Chamber of the European Union".

    PACE Resolution 1066 (1995) on the situation in certain parts of former Yugoslavia urges the European Union to extend TEMPUS and PHARE funding to educational and other projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    2.    Economic Affairs, External Economic Relations

    The EP report See footnote 5 (A4-281/95) on the Council of Association between the European Communities and their member states, and the Slovak Republic:

-    refers to the difference of interpretation concerning the neighbourly relations and friendly cooperation agreement between Slovakia and Hungary (of 1995), particularly the passage relating to PACE Recommendation 1201;

-    invites See footnote 6 the Council of the European Union to act through the Council of Association

to ensure that Slovakia abides by the CE's recommendations, in particular with regard to its treatment of the Hungarian minority.

    3.    Social Affairs

    In its Recommendation 1286 (1996) on a European strategy for children, the Assembly's proposals include involving the European Parliament in the work of a permanent multidisciplinary intergovernmental structure able to deal with all issues relating to children, to be set up within the Council of Europe.

    On 25 October 1995, the EP adopted a decision on the common position agreed by the Council of the Union with a view to the adoption of the EP and Council decision on a Community action programme of health promotion, information, education and training. The EP proposes supporting a European network of health promotion schools, in cooperation with the Council of Europe and WHO.

    4.    Legal Affairs

    On 18 January 1996, the EP adopted a resolution on poor conditions in the European Union's prisons. This text refers to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on the situation in Irish prisons and calls for strict application by the member states of the minimum rules drawn up by the Council of Europe. It also repeats an earlier EP proposal for the drafting by the relevant EP committee of a Prisoners Social Charter incorporating, clarifying, supplementing and up-dating the Council of Europe minimum rules.

    Another resolution adopted by the EP on 18 January 1996 on trafficking in human beings proposes to the Council of the Union that the Community accede to the ECHR in order to strengthen Community powers in this area. The report on which this text is based (A4-326/95) contains a brief review of the Council of Europe's work on trafficking in human beings.

    On 27 September 1995, the PACE adopted Resolution 1068 (1995) on the European Community's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Assembly inter alia encourages the European Parliament to continue its efforts in favour of the steps necessary for submission of a formal application to accede to the ECHR.

    5.    Cultural Affairs

    The EP Resolution of 15 November 1995 on the Communication of the Commission on the recognition of qualifications for academic and vocational purposes advocates taking into account the Council of Europe's information network on recognition of qualifications.

    Also on 15 November 1995, the EP adopted a decision (under the cooperation procedure) on the implementation of a training programme for the European audio-visual programmes industry (MEDIA II - Training). The EP proposes coordinating regulatory provisions and investment incentives with the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

    In its decision of 12 October 1995 and the report (Doc A4-225/95) on a Community

action programme for the cultural heritage (RAPHAEL), the EP proposes developing complementary activities and partnerships with the Council of Europe. It also advocates cooperation between the Council of Europe, the European Union and UNESCO on World Heritage monuments and sites.

    6.    Environment, Local Authorities

    In its Resolution 1076 (1996) on environment policy in Europe (1994-95), the PACE welcomes the cooperation with the EP in the preparation of the reports presented by their respective committees at the third pan-European Conference of Ministers of the Environment. The Parliamentary Assembly also considers it important to coordinate action in the environment field and improve efficiency.

    7.    Science

    PACE Resolution 1075 (1996) invites member governments concerned, the European Union and the OSCE to take a series of measures on scientific and technological cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

    8.    Migration, Refugees, Combatting racism

    The PACE's Recommendation 1288 (1996) on Albanian asylum-seekers from Kosovo (see also Resolution 1077 on the same subject) proposes that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe organise a population census in Kosovo in cooperation with the European Union.

    PACE Recommendation 1287 (1996) on refugees, displaced persons and reconstruction in certain countries of former Yugoslavia proposes that the Committee of Ministers ask the European Commission:

-    to continue supplying humanitarian aid in former Yugoslavia in cooperation with NGOs;

-    to promptly conclude cooperation agreements with Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

    The EP Resolution of 26 October 1996 on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism supports the idea of making a joint racism and xenophobia observatory a European Union body that would cooperate with the Council of Europe.

    9.    Agriculture

    In Recommendation 1289 (1996), the PACE calls upon the Committee of Ministers to ask the European Union and the contracting parties to the European Convention on the Protection of Animals during International Transport to take a number of measures to improve the present situation. The Assembly also considers it necessary to improve cooperation with the European Union on stock farming and animal slaughter.

    Resolution 1072 (1995) on the importance of the wool industry for rural areas in difficulty presents a series of proposals to the European Union for improving the situation in this industry.

IV.    References in reports or texts adopted by one institution to the activities of the other

    1.    European Parliament

-    Resolutions of 15 November 1995 assenting to the proposals for Council and Commission decisions on conclusion of the European agreements between the European Communities and the member states, and Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia;

-    report on Community action programmes for the prevention of drug addiction (Doc A4-171/95);

-    report on EUROPOL (Doc A4-335/95);

-    report on the draft recommendation of the Council of the European Union concerning a standard bilateral readmission agreement between a member state of the European Union and a third state (Doc A4-184/95).

    2.    Parliamentary Assembly

-    Resolution 1078 (1996) on the economic situation in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine;

-    Resolution 1070 (1995) on strategic technologies.

V.    Resolutions officially communicated to the other institution

    1.    European Parliament texts

-    resolution of 18 January 1996 on poor conditions in the European Union's prisons;

-    resolution of 16 November 1995 on the need to respect human rights and democracy in Slovakia;

-    resolution of 26 October 1995 on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

-    resolution of 21 September 1995 on support for the network of "cities of asylum";

-    resolution of 21 September 1995 on the Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on immigration and asylum policies;

    2.    Parliamentary Assembly texts

-    Resolution 1067 (1995) on the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) of the

European Union;

-    Resolution 1068 (1995) on the accession of the European Community to the European Convention on Human Rights;

-    Recommendation 1279 on the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference.

VI.    Questions in the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly

    The following questions in the European Parliament concern Council of Europe matters:

-    Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Questions Nos E-1817, 1818, 1819, 1885, 2013, 2061 and H-444/95);

-    violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (No E-1879/95);

-    North-South Centre (No 2061/95);

-    Bioethics Convention (No H-522 and 589/95 and question by Mr Mezzaroma - sitting of 19 September 1995);

-    Romania's undertakings vis-à-vis the Council of Europe (intervention by Mr von Habsburg of 13 July 1995);

-    non-Slovak religious services in Slovakia (No E-1887/95).

    At Question Time with the Chairman-in-office of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 24 January 1996 (AS (1996) CR 5), Mr Hughes asked a question on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, Mr Valleix a question on the IGC and Mrs Aguiar a question on cooperation with the European Union on the setting up of a European racism and xenophobia observatory.

I.    Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions

    Within the framework of the last meeting of the Standing Committee on 20 November 1995, a meeting of the Chamber of Regions was held, open to all Congress members. On this occasion, a dialogue took place with a representative of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, Mr C. Gray, assisted by a Member of the Secretariat of this body. The participants held an exchange of views with them, on subjects of particular interest for possible future cooperation.

    Mr A. Tchernoff, President of the CLRAE, addressed the Committee of the Regions at its plenary session on 17 January 1996.

    The Committee of the Regions was represented at the 4th Conference of Mediterranean Regions organised by the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (Cyprus, 20-22 September 1995). Representatives from the Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament, the Commission and the European Investment Bank were invited to the preparation Group for the Conference. The fifth conference is foreseen for 1997 in Languedoc-Roussillion.

    The Council of Europe Secretariat is regularly invited to participate in the plenary sessions and in the meetings of the Commissions of the Committee of the Regions as observer. The Presidents of the two organisations agreed to hold annual meetings.

    The two Secretariats continued to keep regular contact in order to exchange information on their calenders and activities.

II.    Cooperation with the European Commission

    Two speakers from the European Commission presented the LEONARDO Programme and the PHARE and TACIS Programmes at the 8th Seminar of the European Network of Training Organisations for Local and Regional Authorities (ENTO, 9-10 November 1995)

    Two representatives of the PHARE and TACIS Programmes delivered presentations each at the seminar on "local and regional democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and on the technical assistance programme" and answered the participants' questions (22 November 1995).

    The CLRAE and the European Commission organised a joint conference under the title "Towards a common strategy for regional planning in Greater Europe" (Prague, 16-17 October 1995). The aim of the conference was to discuss a common strategy for regional planning in Greater Europe, which figures as one of the key elements in the EU's pre-accession strategy.

    A Commission representative was invited to the meeting of the working group on regional planning of the CLRAE in order to present the Europe 2000+ study of the Commission to the members of the group (Mugla (Turkey), 26-76 October 1995).

    In the framework of the programme of the local democracy embassies initiated by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, many contacts have been established with the institutions of the European Union. The embassy of Maribor (Slovenia) is supported by the PHARE Democracy programme. The embassies in Tuzla (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and Osijek (Croatia) are financed by the budgetary line B7-5201 "Aid or democratisation and Support for the Peace Process in the Republics of the Former Yugoslavia" (so called Abou line). New applications have been submitted in this field in the autumn 1995 by the Delegates of Maribor and Osijek.

III.    Cooperation with the European Parliament

    Contacts have been established to inform members of the European Parliament (and especially the Delegation for the Relationship with South-Eastern Europe) and Commission officials of the programme of the local democracy embassies following the signing of the peace agreements and the implementation of a reconstruction plan, since embassies constitute well established and operational structures.

    The Secretariat participates on a regular basis in the work of the European Parliament Intergroup "Minority Languages". The Parliamentarians who are members of this group are interested, inter alia, in the signature and ratification of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages. MEPs regularly draw the attention of their respective Governments to this matter. These meetings are also the occasion for contacts with officials of the European Commission notably with DG XXII (Education, Training and Youth).

    The Lisbon based North-South Centre of the Council of Europe (European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity) co-ordinates its activities closely with the European Union which is represented on the Centre's Executive Council by a representative of the European Commission and two members of the European Parliament. Many of the Centre's activities are co-funded by the European Commission.

I.     Education and Training

    As a follow-up to the Co-ordination Meeting on Pedagogical Materials for Global Citizenship (Amsterdam, 12 March 1995), the North-South Centre is also working on the preparation of an Education Information Booklet composed of existing materials.

II.    Youth Programme

    The North-South Centre participated in the General Assembly on ACP-EU Youth Co-operation in Hässelby Slott, Sweden, organised by the Youth Forum of the EU from 27 September to 1 October 1995. The Centre ran one of the development education workshops at the meeting. During this period the Centre also prepared for its Third North-South Training Course for Youth Organisations (February 1996)

III.    Trans-Med Programme     

     As a result of the meeting on "The implementation of Resolution 1013 (1993) on the Middle East Peace Process: Israelo-Palestinian peace through democracy", held by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 9-11 July 1995 in Rhodes, five Middle East Peace Process Working Groups/Task forces have been established as an active contribution to the Peace Process. The groups were designed to offer the Palestinian people the chance to benefit from the experience and know-how of the Council of Europe, particularly in the areas of the establishment and reinforcement of democratic institutions and human rights. The first Task force on "Economic Development and Reconstruction" met in Brussels from 15-16 November 1995. The remaining four will take place in January and February 1996. Themes: "Human Rights, Penitentiary and Judiciary Systems" (Strasbourg), "Local Democracy" (Gerona), "Youth and Education" (Tunis) and "Elections and the implementation of the democratic institutions" (Jericho).

    The Centre launched MedGate, a coherent set of World Wide Web pages linking organisations and information on the Mediterranean through the Internet. From 29-30 September 1995, experts on Mediterranean issues gathered in Malta to discuss the overall strategy for developing MedGate. MedGate opened its doors to participants attending the various Conferences in Barcelona from 24 November to 1 December 1995 with an ambitious operation based at "El Café Internet" in Barcelona. The aim of MedGate's presence in

Barcelona was to demonstrate to those working on Mediterranean issues the potential of information technology. Mr Jos Lemmers was a speaker at the Barcelona Euromed Civil Forum's working group on Migration, presiding over and speaking at the session on Socio-cultural Integration in Host Countries.

    The North-South Centre also participated in the First Euro-Mediterranean Forum for Co-Development organised by the Centre for Mediterranean and International Studies in Tunis on 5-6 October 1995. It also participated in"Two banks of the Mediterranean, face-to-face or side-by-side?" a round-table organised by the Institut Universitaire d'Etudes du Développement (IUED) on 24 October 1995 in Geneva.

    The Ministers' Deputies approved on 22 November 1995 the text of the Council of Europe contribution to the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona (27-28 November 1995) organised by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. In this contribution the efforts and achievements of the Council of Europe in the field of trans-mediterranean cooperation were pointed out. The Council of Europe was not invited to participate in the Barcelona Conference.

I.    Publishing and Documentation Service

    In the last six months cooperation between SEDDOC and the European Union institutions has been concentrated in the following areas:

     1.    EUROLIB

    EUROLIB was set up in 1988 at the instigation of the European Parliament to coordinate the activities of the libraries of the Community institutions as well as the libraries of other international organisations which wished to participate. For some months this project has been managed and financed by the Library Services of the European Commission. Participants in the project include not only the European Union institutions but also the University Institute of Florence, the College of Europe in Bruges, the European Institute of Public Administration, the European Investment Bank and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

    The 12th General Meeting of EUROLIB took place in Strasbourg on 2-3 October 1995, at the invitation of the Council of Europe. The meeting was the occasion for an in-depth discussion of matters of common interest, and in particular the development of on-line databases both for internal reference purposes and for access by the general public to institutional documentation. SEDDOC presented its ongoing PRIDE (Production and Retrieval of Information and Documents through Electronics) project, the objectives of which include the development of such databases over the forthcoming 2-3 years.

     2.    Liaison meeting of the heads of the printing workshops of the European Union institutions

    These inter-institutional meetings take place regularly (between the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, the European Parliament, the Court of Justice, the Commission, the Council of European Union, EUROCONTROL, the Economic and Social Committee, and the Council of Europe). At the meeting held at the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, discussions focused in particular on pre- and post-printing equipment, the use of Docutech and the management of production on demand, installation of a work-flow management system, and joint purchase of consumables such as printing paper. There was also an exchange of information on the consequences of a continuous use of recycled paper on printing equipment and its potential effects on the operators.

     3.    Routine cooperation of the Documentary Information Section of the Council of Europe and European Parliament documentalists

    Under the terms of the 1989 agreement between the two institutions, the Library continues to offer space for the European Parliament documentalists to run library and information services during the week-long sessions in Strasbourg. In return, the Council of Europe receives gratis collections of the European Union documents in paper and microform.

The European Parliament now has access to the Council of Europe's bibliographical database CERES, not only in Strasbourg but also in Luxembourg and Brussels.

    The Head of the Documentary Information Section and the Archivist, both participate in the regular Strasbourg meetings of the Steering Committee of ECPRD (European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation).

    The Head of the Publishing and Documentation Service, and the Head of the Documentary Information Section, had an exchange of views in Brussels with the Head of the Commission's Library Services, who also chairs EUROLIB. A number of common problems and solutions were discussed, and further action is envisaged, in particular concerning on-line databases and thesaurus development (cf also - EUROLIB above).

II.     European Emblem

    A new edition of the Guide to the use of the Emblem is currently being produced in cooperation with the Commission's DG for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual. The layout and graphics of the booklet have already been forwarded to the Commission, and printing is currently under way.

Council of Europe - European Union Meeting

MADRID, 6.11.95 - At the invitation of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of European Union, a "quadripartite" meeting (the seventh of this kind) was held in Madrid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 November 1995. The participants were for the European Union, Carlos WESTENDORP, Spanish Secretary of State for relations with the European Union, and Marcelino OREJA, Commissioner of the European Commission and for the Council of Europe Josef ZIELENIEC, Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, as well as Daniel TARSCHYS, Secretary General.

    The participants first discussed the progress of work on the up-dating of the Arrangement of 16 June 1987 on cooperation between the European Community and the Council of Europe. A review of this Arrangement had been agreed at the previous quadripartite meeting in Paris on 7 April 1995 in order to adapt it to take account of institutional and political developments in the European Union and the Council of Europe since its conclusion in 1987. The participants were informed of the Commission's recent proposals for supplementing the 1987 Arrangement by strengthening its active participation in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, at Ministerial, Deputy and Working Party level.

    The participants also considered the strengthening of relations between the European Union and the Council of Europe in new areas covered by the Treaty on European Union. They took note of the present stage of discussions which were still at a preliminary stage. They encouraged officials in both organisations involved and the competent European Union and Council of Europe bodies to work out the appropriate procedures enabling a full discussion at the next quadripartite meeting of this item.
    
    The meeting further provided an opportunity to exchange views on the future perspectives of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The participants discussed the Council of Europe's system of monitoring the honouring of obligations undertaken by its member States and the prospects of its further enlargement and welcomed the recent and forthcoming admission of several new member States. They took note of the declaration adopted by the Council of European Union on 2 October 1995 on the accession of Russia to the Council of Europe and expressed the hope that Russia and other candidate States would soon be in a position to join the Organisation. The European Union side recalled, among other things, that the forthcoming accession of Russia to the Council of Europe will underpin the process of political reform and the commitment to democratic principles and the observance and protection of human rights.
    
    The participants took stock of the cooperation between the European Community and the Council of Europe for the promotion of democracy and the rule of law in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and in Russia and other New Independent States (NIS) as well as in the implementation of the accompanying measures under the Pact on Stability in Europe. They

Ref. 553(95)

expressed satisfaction over the positive development of this cooperation and reiterated the will to pursue and broaden their common efforts. In this connection, they welcomed the conclusion shortly of a first agreement between the Council of Europe and the European Community for the benefit of the Russian Federation and Ukraine involving funds under the TACIS programme. They further underlined that assistance to reconstruction in the former Yugoslavia should be complementary and mutually reinforcing, based on an agreed evaluation of needs and taking account of each contributing partner's particular spheres of competence.

    The participants also exchanged views on the preparation for the 1996 intergovernmental Conference of the European Union. In this connection, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union gave an oral report about the present work of the Reflection Group set up to prepare the Conference. Moreover, the participants welcomed the adoption by the Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe of a document concerning the place and role of the Organisation in European construction, which was brought to the attention of the Reflection Group. They emphasised the important contribution made by the Council of Europe to democratic security in Europe.

    The Council of Europe participants referred to the efforts undertaken by the Council of Europe and the European Union's Consultative Commission on racism and xenophobia in order to prepare a study on the feasibility of setting up an Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia as requested by the European Council at its meeting in Cannes on 26-27 June 1995. The Participants stressed the importance of finding common solutions in order to fight effectively racism and xenophobia in the whole of Europe.

1.    The European Community and the Council of Europe have the common task to set out guidelines for European construction, which is achieved as much by intergovernmental co-operation as by integration.

2.     The European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are the European institutions, elected by universal suffrage, which are best placed to meet the democratic demands of the people of Europe.

3.    The Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament have regular contacts thanks to meetings between delegations of their respective Bureaux, the most recent one having taken place on 6 April 1995.

4.    Also certain committees of the Parliamentary Assembly and European Parliament hold joint meetings _ in particular on agriculture, social, health and family affairs, science and technology. Moreover, there are regular consultations between the Committees dealing with legal questions, human rights, public freedoms, culture, environment, local authorities, migrations, demography and refugees.

5.    The Assembly welcomes the regularity and the quality of European Parliament reports underlining the need to increasing co-operation with our Assembly _ the most recent leading to the resolution of 15 December 1993.

6.     Moreover, by its Resolution of 30 November 1994, the European Parliament asked that states joining the European Union should already be member states of the Council of Europe.

7.    The Parliamentary Assembly and European Parliament are both elected by universal suffrage and guarantee democratic principles in Europe. This should facilitate the strengthening of their co-operation.

8.    For these reasons, the Parliamentary Assembly proposes to the European Parliament that both bodies

    i.    address to each other an annual report on their activities;

    ii.    arrange for joint committee meetings as well as hearings and conferences on subjects of common interest;

    iii.    arrange for more reciprocal invitations to Rapporteurs on questions of common interest;

    iv.    agree to a common position on the participation of their Presidents in the present quadripartite meetings, attended on behalf of the Community by the Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Ministers and the President of the Commission and on behalf of the Council of Europe by the Chairman-in-Office of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General;

    v.    intensify co-operation by giving a regular and practical character to the meetings of delegations of their Bureaux, which should have a genuine mandate as regards questions to be discussed and the nature of decisions to be taken.

9.    The Assembly calls on the governments of the European Union's member states to examine, at the Intergovernmental Conference, ways and means of improving co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union, so that the two institutions take one another's work into due account in order to avoid duplication of work. The Union should adhere to as many Council of Europe conventions as possible, and participate in relevant Partial Agreements.

10.     Before embarking on new activities, the European Union should examine whether these activities can be better pursued within the Council of Europe, wherever appropriate with the support and co-operation of the Union.

11.    The Assembly emphasises the need to ensure the follow-up of its consideration of the institutional developments in progress and wishes the Bureau, at its level, to take the appropriate measures.

ERES1068.WP

1.    The Assembly solemnly reaffirms its dedication to respect for and effective protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe.

2.    In its Resolution 745 (1981) the Assembly expressed itself "desirous both to widen and to strengthen the scope of the Convention's implementation" and called on the European Community to make a formal application to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights in the near future. It repeated this wish in Recommendation 1017 (1985), considering that "the time has now come ... for the political decision to be taken for the Community to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights".

3.    Noting that the European Parliament, on its side, has made similar recommendations, the Assembly welcomes the position repeatedly taken up by the European Parliament, notably in its resolutions of 15 December 1993, 18 January 1994 and 11 April 1995, where it reaffirmed the need for accession by the Community. The Assembly also takes note of the Commission's opinion, as well as the decision of 19 April 1994 of the Council of the European Union, that the Court of Justice of the European Communities should be consulted on the subject.

4.    The European Parliament has referred many times, notably in its resolution of 18 January 1994, to the existence of gaps in the system for protecting fundamental rights, which have become more serious with the widening of the Community's powers and which will exist "until such time as the Community is subject to the monitoring procedures provided for under the European Convention on Human Rights, in the same way as its member states".

5.    The Assembly is convinced that the Convention constitutes an unparalleled framework for the safeguard of fundamental rights and freedoms in Europe and that the protection afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights's institutions should be extended to all persons affected by Community law.

6.    The Assembly notes that the European Convention on Human Rights is not applicable to the organs of the European Community or to their legal acts. It points out that accession would strengthen the safeguard of human rights in Europe, ensure effective protection of the rights of Community citizens and establish coherence in the system for safeguarding fundamental rights, while avoiding any risk of parallel interpretation of the Convention's provisions by the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

7.    The Assembly therefore expresses the hope that the Community will soon take the necessary steps to submit its formal application for accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.

8.    It encourages the European Parliament to continue to advocate such action, while emphasising the paramount importance of the European Parliament's support in the matter.

9.    It calls on the parliaments of the European Union's member states to promote the Community's accession, in particular by urging their governments to back within the Council of Ministers any formal accession proposal presented by the European Commission.

EREC1279.WP

1.    The Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) of the European Union, which is to be held in 1996, will have to take some important decisions for the revision of the Treaty on European Union.

2.    A reflection group was set up on 2 June 1995 to prepare for this conference.

3.    Three objectives are on its agenda: to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the European Union, to make the Union's policies more consistent and to prepare for enlargement of the Union to include the countries which have applied for membership.

4.    The reflection group is to submit its conclusions in December 1995 at the meeting of the European Council in Madrid.

5.    The decisions taken on these matters will have implications for the other European institutions. It is therefore proper for the Council of Europe to make its position known straight away, in order to make its contribution to the preparations for the IGC.

6.    Relations between the European Union and the Council of Europe are based upon Article 230 of the Treaty of Rome and on the institutional Arrangement concluded on 16 June 1987. These provisions should be revised, in particular in the light of the Council of Europe's significant contribution to preparing central and east European countries for Union membership.

7.    There is regular co-operation in several sectors of activity, and the European Community has also acceded to seven Council of Europe conventions.

8.    Co-operation on assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe, to which the Community makes a large contribution, began recently.

9.    At this stage, it would be appropriate to take the opportunity of the 1996 Inter-Governmental Conference to put practical and more rapidly achievable proposals to the European Union.

10.    The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers.

i.    propose a revision of Article 230 of the Treaty of Rome, so that the European Community recognises therein the Council of Europe's achievements and role in respect of the definition of the rule of law and the monitoring of legal and democratic standards of the pan-European society, and inclusion of membership of the Council of Europe as a condition for accession to the European Union;

ii.     draw the attention of their governments (in particular those of the European Union member states) to:

    a.    the considerable acquis of the Council of Europe in the fields covered by the European Union's Third Pillar (Justice and Home Affairs), as well as in the sphere of culture, education and science;

    b.    the democratic "oversight" that is being exercised in these areas by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly;

    c.    the already supranational character of the European Convention on Human Rights;

iii.    propose to the European Union the establishment of appropriate links between its own "political dialogue", and the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including co-operation at secretariat level;

iv.    invite the European Community to open a delegation in Strasbourg with the Council of Europe to ensure the regular follow-up of co-operation;

v.    define the modalities of enabling the Council of Ministers of the European Union to participate on a regular basis in the work of the Ministers' Deputies, and to be associated with their work on questions of mutual interest;

vi.    confirm the practice according to which the President of the European Commission, or his representatives of a senior level, are invited to participate in meetings of the Committee of Ministers at ministerial level;

vii.    strengthen and diversify the co-operation set up by joint programmes with the European Community on assistance to the countries of central and eastern Europe;

viii.    set up forthwith a working party to determine the manner of the European Community's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and its practical implications for the Council of Europe;

ix.    invite the European Community to accede to the revised Social Charter, the "Transfrontier Television" Convention and all the treaties which allow it to accede.

1)    Conventions to which the Community is a Party

     a)    by signature

        26    European Agreement on the Exchange of Therapeutic Substances of Human Origin (1959)

        33    Agreement on the Temporary Importation, Free of Duty, of Medical, Surgical and Laboratory Equipment for Use on Free Loan in Hospitals and other Medical Institutions for Purposes of Diagnosis or Treatment (1960)

        39    European Agreement on the Exchange of Blood-grouping Reagents (1962)

        84    European Agreement on the Exchange of Tissue-typing Reagents (1974)

     b)    by signature followed by acceptance

        87    European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976)

        104    Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)

     c)    by accession

        50    Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia (1964).

2)    Convention which the Community has signed but not yet ratified, accepted or approved

        123    European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)
    
3)    Conventions to which the Community may become a Party :

     a)    by signature

        65    European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968)

        145    Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1992)

        153    European Convention relating to questions on copyright law and neighbouring rights in the framework of transfrontier broadcasting by satellite (1994)

     b)    by signature followed by ratification, acceptance or approval

        102    European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)

        132    European Convention on Transfrontier Television (1989)

        150    Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Resulting from Activities         Dangerous to the Environment (1993)

     d)    by accession (at the invitation of the Committee of Ministers)

        121    Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (1985)

        130    Convention on Insider Trading (1989)

        138    European Convention on the General Equivalence of Periods of University Study (1990)

        147    European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (1992)

4.    Conventions to which the Community may be invited to accede after their entry into force

        139    European Code of Social Security (Revised) (1990)
    
        143    Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (revised) (1992)