26 July 1985

52nd plenary meeting

Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1982/57 of 30 July 1982, 1983/62 of 29 July 1983 and 1984/75 of 27 July 1984 concerning the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar,

Referring to the conclusions contained in the interim reports prepared by the Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Europe pursuant to those resolutions and bearing in mind the discussion on this question in the First (Economic) Committee of the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1985,

1. Takes note of the development of studies and work on the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar and the efforts made by Morocco and Spain as co-sponsors of the project, in consultation and co-operation with the Governments of the countries concerned, the international organizations and research institutes of the western Mediterranean region;

2. Invites the Governments of Morocco and Spain to continue to furnish information to Governments, international organizations, research institutes and universities in the Mediterranean area and other regions, as well as to the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa, to continue consultations and co-operation with them and to make concerted efforts with a view to the elaboration of the project;

3. Requests Governments, international organizations and research institutes to continue to co-operate with the Governments of Morocco and Spain and with the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa in developing studies and work on the project;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to explore the possibility of using extrabudgetary funds to provide the competent commissions with the necessary resources to carry out economic studies on the development of transport in the Mediterranean region in relation to the Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar;

5. Requests the Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Europe to submit an interim report on the development of project studies to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1987.