Statutory Resolution (93) 26

Statutory Resolution (93) 26 on observer status

 (adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 May 1993 at its 92$nd$ Session)



The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Articles 15.a and 16 of the Statute of the Council of Europe;

Having regard to the Parliamentary Assembly's proposals for institutional reforms within the Council of Europe;

Bearing in mind the changed political situation in Europe and the world;

Convinced that this situation requires increased co-operation between the Council of Europe and non-member States sharing the Organisation's ideals and values;

Considering that an institutional framework should be given to such co-operation;

Considering that the provisions hereinafter set out are not inconsistent with the Statute of the Council of Europe;

Resolves as follows:

Any State willing to accept the principles of democracy, the rule of law and of the enjoyment by all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and wishing to co-operate with the Council of Europe may be granted by the Committee of Ministers, after consulting the Parliamentary Assembly, observer status with the Organisation. States enjoying observer status shall be entitled to send observers to those of the Council of Europe Committees of experts which were set up under Article 17 of the Statute and to which all member States are entitled to designate participants. States enjoying observer status shall be entitled, upon invitation by the host country, to send observers to conferences of specialised ministers. Decisions on inviting States enjoying observer status to participate in the activities of Partial, Enlarged or Enlarged Partial Agreements shall be taken in accordance with the rules applicable to the respective agreement. Observer status gives no right to be represented on the Committee of Ministers or the Parliamentary Assembly unless a specific decision has been taken by one of these organs on its own behalf. States enjoying observer status may appoint a permanent observer to the Council of Europe. An international intergovernmental organisation willing to co-operate closely with the Council of Europe and deemed able to make an important contribution to its work, may be granted by the Committee of Ministers, after consulting the Parliamentary Assembly, observer status with the rights set out in Articles II, III and IV for States enjoying observer status. AThe Committee of Ministers may suspend and, after consulting the Parliamentary Assembly, withdraw observer status.