The recommendation acknowledges that courts and other authorities do not always provide rapid solutions to meet the protection and assistance needs of children and their families and that effective emergency measures should be widely available. The recommendation is based on four principles: (1) courts and other competent authorities which deal with family matters should have sufficient emergency powers and resources to protect children and other persons in need for special protection and assistance and whose interests are in serious danger; (2) courts and other competent authorities should be ready to act at any time in extremely urgent cases; (3) simple and expeditious procedures should be available to ensure that decisions are made quickly; and (4) the existence of an international element in family matters should not be allowed to cause delay in reaching a decision. The Committee of Ministers recommends that all Council of Europe member states implement these principles to meet the emergency needs of children and their families.