Establishment of a European Army
Motion for a recommendation
| Doc. 109
| 10 December 1951
Explanatory Memorandum
A defensive organisation for the European
nations is an immediate and absolute necessity.
Some means of organising the European Army
must, therefore, be found as rapidly as possible.
The Pleven Plan calls for organisation of the
military forces of only six countries, all members
of the Council of Europe—that is to say, of
the military forces of Western Europe.
The adoption and implementation of the
above proposal will provide us with a considerable
number of divisions, and will also enable
us to establish the nucleus of a close political
co-operation.
For these reasons, I have the honour to
submit to the Assembly the following proposal :
Draft Recommendation
" The Assembly,
Recommends the Committee of Ministers
to take all necessary steps to ensure :
a that Great Britain, France, Italy, and
Germany shall each contribute three divisions,
and that the other Member States
of the Council of Europe shall each contribute
one division, with the exception of Ireland, Iceland, the Saar and Luxembourg,
each of which shall put one
battalion at the disposal of the European
Army;
b that the Council of Europe, in full agreement
with the Committee of Ministers,
shall select the military Commander of
the above-mentioned forces;
c that political advisers from the Member
States of the Council of Europe shall be
appointed to assist the military Commander;
d that the necessary funds for the maintetenance
of the above-mentioned forces
shall be provided by the Member States
of the Council of Europe;
e that the military Commander, in consultation
with the Supreme Military Commander
of N. A. T. O . , shall decide what
sector is to be taken over by the first
nucleus of the European Army;
f that the forces of the European Army shall
be under the direct authority of the Supreme
Commander of the N. A. T. O.
forces.
