The Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco was created by Decree of 20 February 1953 as an organ of connection with that international organization of those bodies and entities of public and private nature. activities related to education, science, culture and communication in our country.

Since the last restructuring of the Commission, carried out by Royal Decree 2572/1982 of 24 September, significant changes have been made in the organisation, action and programmes of Unesco and in the configuration of Spanish public administrations, due, on the one hand, to the modifications produced in the field of the General Administration of the State and, on the other, to the structuring of the territorial administrations by virtue of the process Regional development. This new situation advises a modification of the Commission to provide it with a more flexible composition and in line with the current reality, which at the same time allows it to develop its functions more effectively.

Effectively, the Spanish Constitution, in its article 149.2, provides that the State will consider the service of culture as essential duty and attribution, and in its article 3, paragraph 3, establishes that the wealth of the different Spanish language arrangements are a cultural heritage which will be the subject of special respect and protection. Therefore, this Royal Decree is proposed, with the restructuring of the Spanish National Commission of Cooperation with Unesco, to collect in its organization and operation the requirements that derive from the cultural and linguistic diversity of Spain.

This Royal Decree also complies with the Resolution adopted in the 27th. Unesco General Conference on the arrangements for cooperation between Unesco and the National Commissions. In this Resolution the General Conference invited the Member States to empower their National Commissions to be the indispensable framework for the expression and assembly of the living forces of the intellectual community at the national level. which, as stipulated in the Charter of National Commissions, ensures the presence of Unesco in each Member State. The Conference also recalled the status of liaison bodies and information centres of the National Commissions, authentic natural mediators with the intellectual communities and representatives of civil society, for which the National committees should be equipped with the necessary resources.

In its virtue, on a joint proposal of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs; of Education and Science, and of Culture, with the approval of the Minister for Public Administrations, and after deliberation of the Council of Ministers in its Meeting of May 13, 1994,

DISPONGO:

Article 1.

The Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will have the following purposes:

(a) Advising the Government, the organs of the General Administration of the State, the Permanent Delegation of Spain to the said Organization and the Spanish delegations at the conferences on the issues of Unesco. (a) General and regional meetings or meetings of a technical nature to which Spanish representatives attend.

b) Maintain the liaison with the Unesco Secretariat and other organizations dependent on it, without prejudice to specific competence in this respect from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish diplomatic mission to the Unesco.

c) Canalize the presence of the Autonomous Communities in Unesco to reflect on Spanish participation the plurilicultural and multilingual reality of Spain in the international projection of Spanish culture.

d) Establish permanent contact with the various public administrations and entities, organizations and individuals that develop tasks related to education, science, culture and communication; interested in the activities of Unesco.

e) To inform public opinion of the Unesco programmes by means of dissemination in the various cultural, scientific and communication media, promoting and coordinating the Spanish participation in these programmes, The results of the work carried out in our country are being applied in our country.

f) To transmit to UNESCO proposals on the problems and needs of our country in education, science, culture and communication.

g) Conduct outreach campaigns on the organization's grants and scholarships and participate in the selection processes of the applicants.

(h) Give publicity to vacant posts at the Unesco of officials and experts and, where appropriate, deal with and report the requests of applicants to perform them.

i) Exercise the powers that Spanish public bodies or UNESCO dependents may assign to it and, in particular, participate in the elaboration and implementation of the plans and programmes of that Organization "

Article 2.

The Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco will be made up of the plenary, the Executive Council, the Advisory Council, the President and the Secretariat.

Article 3.

a) The Plenary is composed of the following Vocals:

1. Two representatives from each of the following Ministries: Foreign Affairs; Education and Science, and Culture.

2. A representative of each of the following Ministries: Public Works, Transport and the Environment; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the Presidency; for Public Administrations; Health and Consumer Affairs; Social Affairs, and Trade and Tourism.

3. A representative of each of the Autonomous Communities.

4. The Permanent Delegate of Spain to UNESCO.

5. The cultural aggregates integrated in the Permanent Delegation of Spain to Unesco.

6. A representative of the association of local state entities with greater implementation.

7. A representative of the Higher Council of Scientific Research.

8. A representative of the Inter-Ministerial Science and Technology Commission.

9. The Director of the National Library.

10. The Director of the Prado Museum.

11. A representative of the Superior Council of Sports.

12. Twenty-five members, at most, appointed by the President of the Commission, on a proposal from the Executive Council, previously selected from among personalities in the world of education, science, culture and communication, or representing institutions at national or regional level, as well as non-governmental groups, and whose activity has a special connection with the subjects listed. His appointment shall be made for a period of two years, which may be extended for successive periods of equal duration.

(b) The President and the Secretary-General of the Commission shall be the Chair and the Secretary-General of the Committee, respectively.

(c) The Plenary shall perform the following functions:

1. To study and approve the Commission's plans and line of action in accordance with its aims and to discuss, and where appropriate to approve, the annual activity report.

2. Identify the priorities for action by the Commission.

3. Adopt initiatives which contribute to the best functioning of the Commission and to the fulfilment of its objectives.

4. To elect the President of the Commission.

d) The Plenary Session shall meet in ordinary session once a year and in extraordinary session when proposed by the Executive Council or at the request of at least half of the members of the Commission.

Article 4.

(a) The Executive Board shall be responsible for the implementation of the plenary agreements and, in particular, for planning and coordinating the activities of the Commission with particular reference to the work of the preparation and control of the budget.

(b) The Executive Board shall present the report and report to the plenary session, in the session corresponding to each year, and shall propose to the plenary the appointment of the members of the Advisory Board.

(c) The Executive Board shall be composed of the following members of the Commission's plenary session:

1. A representative of each of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Education and Science; Culture and Social Affairs appointed by the respective Ministers. The representative of the Ministry of Education and Science shall act as President of the Council.

2. The Permanent Delegate of Spain to UNESCO.

3. Three representatives of the Autonomous Communities, elected by the members of the Autonomous Communities at the plenary session of the Commission every two years, taking into account their diverse competences.

4. Two members of the 25 appointed by the President of the Commission referred to in Article 3 (a), elected by the plenary session. One of them shall have the status of a representative of one of the institutions referred to in that paragraph.

5. The Secretary-General of the Commission, who shall be the Secretary-General of the Executive Council.

d) The Executive Board shall meet in ordinary session at least once a quarter and in extraordinary session on a proposal from the President of the Executive Council or the majority of its members.

Article 5.

(a) The Advisory Board is responsible for the study and advice of the Commission in all matters related to the activities of the Advisory Board, especially in those which refer to education, science, culture and communication.

(b) The Advisory Board shall be composed of the following members of the Commission's plenary session:

1. A representative of each of the Ministries of Education and Science and Culture, appointed by the respective Ministers. The representative of the Ministry of Culture shall act as President of the Council.

2. Twelve personalities of recognized prestige related to education, science, culture and communication, chosen by the plenary of the Commission.

3. The Secretary-General of the Commission, who shall perform the duties of the Secretary of the Advisory Board.

(c) Within the Advisory Board may be those sections or working groups deemed necessary for the homogeneous treatment of matters relating to the field of activity of the Advisory Board. The sections or working groups may in turn have the participation of persons who at any time are deemed necessary, whether or not they are members of the Commission, without their participation in a section or working group involving their participation in the work of the membership of the Advisory Board.

d) The Advisory Board shall hold as many meetings as are necessary in the judgment of its President, being convened twice a year at least.

Article 6.

(a) The President of the Commission shall be elected from among its members by the National Commission, which shall adopt the agreement in plenary session, and shall be appointed by the Order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

b) It is for the President of the Commission to convene the plenary session, to set the agenda, to conduct the meetings and to ensure the implementation of their agreements. The President of the Commission shall also chair the meetings of the Executive Council and the Advisory Board when he has the right to attend any of his meetings.

c) The appointment of President shall be made for a period of two years, which may be extended for two other periods of equal duration.

d) In the event of the President's absence, the President of the Executive Council shall be the Chair of the Commission.

Article 7.

(a) The Secretariat is responsible for the management of the ordinary business which will allow the effective development of the activities and the functioning of the Commission's services.

(b) The Secretary-General of the Commission, to be appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, shall be at the head of the Secretariat. The appointment shall take place by means of the free designation procedure, upon public notice, between officials of group A, referred to in Article 25 of Law 30/1984 of 2 August of Measures for the Reform of the Civil Service, and in accordance with the conditions of the relevant employment relationship.

(c) The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the following tasks:

1. The implementation of the agreements to be adopted by the Commission, with the signature and representation of the Commission.

2. The headquarters of staff and administrative services.

3. Budgetary management.

4. Coordination with the Permanent Delegation of Spain to UNESCO on the Commission's own issues.

5. The exercise of the Secretariat of the Plenary, the Executive Council and the Advisory Board.

6. Those delegated to it by the President, the Plenary, the Executive Council or the Advisory Board of the Commission.

(d) The Secretariat shall have the staff who derive from the corresponding employment relationship.

Article 8.

The Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco depends on the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Education and Science, and Culture on the competence of each of them, and organically will be attached to the Directorate-General for Cultural and Scientific Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 9.

(a) The appropriations for the expenditure on organisation and operation of the Commission shall be entered in the General Budget of the State.

(b) The Executive Board may accept grants or contributions which, as a general rule or application, are received from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as well as other International organisations or national institutions, both public and private.

First transient disposition.

The current Commission will maintain its validity and full operation until it is established in accordance with this Royal Decree and its components are designated according to it.

Second transient disposition.

The powers conferred upon the President and the Executive Council of the Commission, for the appointment of twenty-five members, at most, in the terms provided for in Article 3 of this Royal Decree, shall be assumed in the First constitution of the plenary session, to which the President of the Commission and the Executive Committee in force at the date of publication of this rule.

Single repeal provision.

The Royal Decree 2572/1982 of 24 September, for which the Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco is restructured, is hereby repealed, as well as any other standard of equal or lower rank which is opposed to the provisions of the Treaty. in this Royal Decree.

Final disposition first.

In all matters of procedural order not covered by this Royal Decree, the provisions of Chapter II, Title II, of Law 30/1992, of 26 November, of the Legal Regime of the Public administrations and the Common Administrative Procedure.

Final disposition second.

The composition of the Spanish National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco may be modified by the Order of the Minister of the Presidency, on a joint proposal of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs; of Education and Science, and of Culture, subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Administrations, when it is intended to adapt the said Commission to the administrative reorganisations which are approved after the entry into force of this Royal Decree.

Final disposition third.

The Minister of the Presidency is authorised, on a proposal from the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Education and Science, and Culture, after approval by the Minister for Public Administrations, to lay down the provisions which are necessary for the application of what is established in this Royal Decree.

Given in Madrid on May 13, 1994.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of the Presidency,

ALFREDO PEREZ RUBALCABA