8 July 1987

35th 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, 1984/75 of 30 July 1984 and 1985/70 of 26 July 1985 on a Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar,

Referring to the conclusions contained in the interim report prepared in compliance with those resolutions by the Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic Commission for Europe on the development of studies relating to the project for a Europe-Africa permanent link through the Strait of Gibraltar,

Welcoming the co-operation on the project between the Economic Commission for Africa, the Economic Commission for Europe, the Governments of Morocco and Spain and centres for transport studies in the Mediterranean region,

Conscious of the importance of the project for the development of transport in the region and the consolidation of North-South relations,

Conscious also of the implications of the project for the promotion of scientific and technological research throughout the world,

1. Invites the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa to co-operate with the Governments of Morocco and Spain in establishing groups consisting of research institutes, industrial companies, construction enterprises and financial institutions to follow up and develop project studies;

2. Invites the countries concerned to co-operate with the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic Commission for Africa with a view to better integrating the project in land transport networks in the Mediterranean region;

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

(a) To allocate as far as possible the resources necessary for the evaluation of studies and work relating to the project, with due consideration to the programme of work of the Economic Commission for Europe for 1988-1989;

(b) To submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1989, an interim report on the progress of studies and work relating to the project carried out in co-operation with the competent non-governmental organizations.