29 July 1983

Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 2097 (LXIII) of 29 July 1977 and General Assembly resolution 32/160 of 19 December 1977, in which the Assembly proclaimed the period 1978-1988 Transport and Communications Decade in Africa,

Noting the decision taken by the Conference of African Ministers of Transport, Communiications and Planning at its third session, held at Cairo from 8 to 11 March 1983, concerning the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Tangiers-Lagos axis,

Noting also decisions G (XXXVII) of 2 April 1982 and I (XXXVIII) of 22 April 1983 of the Economic Commission for Europe, in which the Executive Secretary was requested to continue to co-operate with the secretariats of the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Western Asia on projects of interest to the Mediterranean countries,

Bearing in mind the recommendation adopted by the fifth session of the African Highway Conference, held at Libreville from 6 to 11 February 1983, concerning the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Tangiers-Lagos axis,

Bearing in mind also the results of the seminar on the transport situation in the Mediterranean region, held at Barcelona in June 1983,

Noting with satisfaction the progress made by the Joint Moroccan-Spanish Committee in studies for the project for a Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar,

Convinced of the importance of the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar for the Mediterranean region and for the African and European continents with regard to the development of interregional and good-neighbourly relations,

Referring to its resolution 1982/57 of 30 July 1982, in which the Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa were requested to evaluate the studies available regarding such a link and to identify, on that basis, the problems related to its establishment,

Taking note with satisfaction of the interim report prepared by the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa,

Also taking note of the conclusions of that interim report,

1. Recommends the Governments of Marocco and Spain to take account of those conclusions in their further technical, economic and legal studies of the feasibility of such a link and, in particular, to undertake consultations with all the countries of the subregions concerned;

2. Invites the Governments and international organizations concerned, as well as research agencies, to co-operate with the Governments of Morocco and Spain in the pursuit of those studies and in the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the interim report, taking duly into account the international geopoilitical, economic and cultural consequences of the project;

3. Requests the Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa:

(a) To continue their efforts in accordance with the recommendations in the interim report, particularly with regard to the choice of the method of construction, the updating of the economic appraisal, the international legal problems deriving from the method of construction selected, and the coherence of the transport infrastructures in Europe and Africa;

(b) To report, through the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa, to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1984 on the progress made;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the efforts that have already been made to provide, within the limits of the resources available, to the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Europe the resources for the discharge of those tasks.