UN General Assembly
1946

An Assembly resolution, dated 2 February, brought before the Economic and Social Council the problem of the economic reconstruction of devastated areas. The Sub-Commission set up to undertake the enquiry has carried out extensive investigations in the limited time at its disposal, and has made suggestions of great interest. The Belgian delegation regrets that the Economic and Social Council has not yet adopted them in their entirety. The Council would not wholly fulfil its task if it limited its investigations to the direct help to be given to countries which have suffered most from the war. It is necessary to avoid disorganized reconstruction, which would lead to fresh economic dislocation and to fresh obstacles to international co-operation. On the contrary, plans for economic reconstruction should be brought into harmony with each other, and contribute to the economic development of Europe as a whole. In this connection, the establishment of a coordinating body, of a European Economic Commission, which the Sub-Commission has proposed and consideration of which the Council has postponed until its next session, seems to be indispensable.