Resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers at its 9th Session, 2 August 1951.

COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

________

 (adopted by the Committee of Ministers at its 9$th$ Session, on 2 August 1951) 

The Committee of Ministers,

Having regard to Article 20.a of the Statute, which provides that recommendations by the Committee of Ministers to member governments require the unanimous vote of the representatives casting a vote and of a majority of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee;

Having regard to Recommendation 3 adopted by the Consultative Assembly in August 1950;

Desirous, whenever possible, of reaching agreement by unanimous decision, but recognising, nevertheless, that in certain circumstances individual members may wish to abstain from participating in a course of action advocated by other members;

Considering that it is desirable for this purpose that the procedure of abstention already recognised under Article 20.a of the Statute should be so defined that the individual representatives on the Committee of Ministers should be able, by abstaining from voting for a proposal, to avoid committing their governments to the decision taken by their colleagues,

  If the Committee, by the unanimous vote of the representatives casting a vote and of a majority of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee, decides that abstention from participation in any proposal before it shall be permitted, that proposal shall be put to the Committee; it shall be considered as adopted only by the representatives who then vote in favour of it, and its application shall be limited accordingly.  Any additional expenditure incurred by the Council in connection with a proposal adopted under the above procedure shall be borne exclusively by the members whose representatives have voted in favour of it. 
 * Resolves: