Council of Europe

The first part of the twelfth ordinary session of the Consultative Assembly opened on April 25, 1960, with the election of Mr. Per Federspiel (Danish Moderate Liberal) to the Presidency, replacing the late Mr. John Edwards. After the closure of the first sitting, Mr. Jacob Javits, Republican Senator from New York, addressed the group; he emphasized the necessity for the two European economic organizations—the “Six” (European Economic Community) and the “Seven” (European Free Trade Association)—to pursue policies in conformity with the spirit and objectives of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GAIT), adding that the United States was ready to accept participation in the reorganized Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). Mr. J. O. Krag, Danish Foreign Minister, then presented the report of the Committee of Ministers. He informed the Assembly of the valuable contacts which had been made by the Special Assembly Group with the Group of Four entrusted with the task of drawing up the reorganization of OEEC; that the transfer of the health activities of the Western European Union to the Council had taken place; and that the Assembly's recommendations regarding economic policies had been transmitted to OEEC and other responsible organizations. Other reports were heard, among them one from the Chairman of the Cultural Committee, which drew attention to the proposal to create a European University and a Council for Higher Education and Research; his recommendation secured the Assembly's unanimous approval.