The origins of the Council of Europe
The origins of the Council of Europe
Letter to Ernest Bevin from the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity (21 July 1948)
TextOn 21 July 1948, the International Committee of Movements for European Unity (ICMEU) questions Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Minister, on the United Kingdom's position concerning the creation of a European Assembly.
Memorandum on the convening of the European Assembly (August 1948)
TextIn August 1948, the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity sets down in a memorandum the efforts that it has been making for the past three months since the Congress of Europe in The Hague in order to persuade governments to establish a European Assembly.
Towards a European Assembly’ from La Nouvelle République (28 August 1948)
TextOn 28 August 1948, in an article in the Toulouse daily newspaper La Nouvelle République, Paul Ramadier, former French Prime Minister and Chairman of the Political Committee at the Congress of Europe in The Hague three months earlier, welcomes the action taken by the pro-European movements and the line adopted by the governments concerning the idea of a European Assembly.
‘The proposed European Assembly’ from Le Monde (28 August 1948)
TextOn 28 August 1948, the French daily newspaper Le Monde depicts the United Kingdom’s reservations towards Europe, particularly with regard to the proposed European Assembly, and attempts to discover the reasons for such a guarded attitude.
British note concerning the European Assembly (7 September 1948)
TextOn 7 September 1948, the British authorities express a number of doubts about the memorandum drawn up by the International Committee for the Coordination of European Movements (ICCEM) with a view to the establishment of a European Assembly.
Statement by the French representative before the Standing Committee for the Brussels Treaty (18 October 1948)
TextOn 18 October 1948, the French representative to the Standing Committee for the Brussels Treaty calls on all the delegations from the Five to work together for the establishment of a European Assembly.
Memorandum on the British proposal for a Council of Europe (Paris, 26 November 1948)
TextOn 26 November 1948, the British delegation on the Committee for the Study of European Unity, chaired in Paris by Édouard Herriot, proposes the creation of a Council of Europe which would consist of a Consultative Assembly and a Council of Ministers.
Summary record of the fourth session of the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Powers (London, 27–28 January 1949)
TextAt the fourth session of the Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Powers, held on 27 and 28 January 1949, the Foreign Ministers of the five Powers agree on the establishment of a Council of Europe consisting of a ‘ministerial committee’ and of a ‘consultative body’.
Draft invitation to attend the preparatory conference of the Standing Committee of the Treaty of Brussels (25 February 1949)
TextFollowing the deliberations of the Standing Committee of the Treaty of Brussels, its Secretary-General draws up a draft invitation to attend the preparatory conference of the Council of Europe, to be issued to the governments of Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
Draft organisation of the Council of Europe established by the Standing Committee of the Treaty of Brussels (4 March 1949)
TextFinal version of the draft organisation of the Council of Europe, submitted by the Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the Treaty of Brussels on 2 February 1949.
Statement by the British delegation (London, 28 March 1949)
TextOn 28 March 1949, the British delegation participating in the negotiations of the Five on the establishment of a Council of Europe sends to its partners a preparatory note concerning the conduct and objectives of the final phase of their work.