(ETS no. 20)
Paris, 13.XII.1955
The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Considering that the improvement of therapeutic methods is an important aspect of social
progress the development of which among member countries is mentioned in the Preamble and
Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe as being one of the primary aims of the
Council;
Having regard to the principle of equal social and medical treatment for nationals of
member countries which governed the signing of the Interim Agreements on Social Security
and the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance;
Desirous of making available to any war cripple, being a national of a member country, all
existing therapeutic methods in any member country, and hoping therefore that the European
nations will introduce a system of mutual exchanges, covering not only cripples but also
technical methods and medical personnel;
Considering that such exchanges would greatly contribute to the promotion among the
peoples of Europe of a spirit of solidarity and general understanding,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The term "cripples", for the purpose of this Agreement, shall include all
persons, military or civilian who, as a result of war, have suffered an amputation or who
are suffering from impairment of the power of movement.
The provisions of the present Agreement may in due course be extended to other categories
of invalids following an exchange of letters between two or more of the Contracting
Parties.
Article 2
The Contracting Parties shall, through the Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
exchange technical information on medical treatment afforded to cripples in their
respective countries.
They shall, in particular, indicate those specific forms of treatment which it is possible
to give in their countries to the various categories of cripples and also the
possibilities of receiving cripples who are nationals of the other Parties.
Article 3
Any Contracting Party shall receive in its territory, within the limits specified in
the second paragraph of the preceding article, crippled nationals, duly sponsored, of the
other Parties, in order that they may benefit by any special treatment of which they stand
in need and which is not available in their own country.
The appropriate Ministry in the country responsible for the requesting cripple shall
transmit such request for entry directly to the appropriate Ministry in the country able
to provide the necessary treatment. Each case shall be treated individually between the
said Parties.
Article 4
The Contracting Parties shall facilitate the delivery between themselves of artificial
limbs and of orthopaedic equipment where these are lacking and of urgent need to their
cripples.
Article 5
A Contracting Party shall endeavour to receive in its territory medical personnel and
skilled technicians from any other Party in order that these may complete their training
in therapy in the manufacture of artificial limbs and in the functional re-education of
cripples.
Article 6
The costs arising from the provisions contained in Articles 3 and 5 of the present
Agreement shall be borne exclusively by the requesting country.
The receiving country will, as far as possible, reduce the amount of these costs.
Article 7
The present Agreement shall be open to the signature of the members of the Council of
Europe who may accede to it either by:
1. signature without reservation in respect of ratification;
2. signature with reservation in respect of ratification.
Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe.
Article 8
The present Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following
the date on which three members of the Council shall, in accordance with Article 7, have
signed the Agreement without reservation in respect of ratification or shall have ratified
it.
In the case of any member of the Council who subsequently shall sign the Agreement without
reservation in respect of ratification or who shall ratify it, the Agreement shall enter
into force on the first day of the month following such signature or deposit of the
instrument of ratification.
Article 9
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may invite any non-member State to
accede to the present Agreement. Such accession shall take effect on the first day of the
month following the deposit of the instrument of accession.
Article 10
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify members of the Council:
a. of the date of entry into force of this Agreement and the names of any members who have
signed without reservation in respect of ratification or who have ratified it;
b. of the deposit of any instrument of accession in accordance with Article 9;
c. of any notification received in accordance with Article 11 and its effective date.
Article 11
The present Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely.
Any Contracting Party may terminate its own application of the Agreement by giving one
year's notice to that effect to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised to that effect, have signed the
present Agreement.
Done at Paris, this 13th day of December 1955, in English and in French, both texts being
equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of
the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall send certified copies to each of the
signatory and acceding governments.
Совет Европы. Бюро договоров на
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