European political and economic integration

Recommendation 347 (1963)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 16th and 17th January 1963 (21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Sittings) (see Docs. 1537Docs. 1537, Report of the Economic Committee, 1545, Report of the Political Committee, apd 1549, draft Recommendation presented jointly by the Chairmen and Rapporteurs of the Political and Economic Committees). Text adopted by the Assembly on 17th January 1963 (24th Sitting).

1. The Assembly,

2. Considering that the negotiations which started in October 1961 for British entry into the European Economic Community have lasted for a longer period of time than it took the Six to prepare the Rome Treaty ;

3. Convinced that the present phase of negotiations is the most crucial one and that a final decision should be taken within a few months ;

4. Convinced that a failure of the present negotiations would mean a setback in efforts to create true European unity and that thereby the West would lose an opportunity which is unlikely to occur again in the near future to establish comprehensive Atlantic co-operation ;

5. Convinced that the duty of the West towards the developing countries can only be fulfilled if Europe pools its inventiveness and integrates its resources in an enlarged EEC ;

6. Recalling that it has always considered that the difficulties delaying the accession to the European Economic Community of the United Kingdom and other Members of the Council of Europe, as well as the association with the Community of certain States, are not insurmountable and that they can and must be resolved in a spirit of conciliation, provided that the principles and rules established under the Treaty of Rome are respected and subject to the adoption of the measures of adaptation and transition that are necessary in the overriding interest of the progressive political and economic integration of Europe,

7. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to send an urgent appeal to the parties to the Brussels negotiations with a view to an agreement being reached as quickly as possible.