Steps to be taken by the Committee of Ministers as a result of the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC)

Recommendation 134 (1957)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

see Doc. 648Doc. 648, Report of the Committee on General Affairs This Recommendation was adopted by the Assembly at its 8th Sitting, on 3rd May 1957

The Assembly,

Welcoming the conclusion of the Treaty instituting the European Economic Community, and having urged the Governments and Parliaments of the six countries to make every effort to ensure the speedy ratification of the Treaty,

1. Recommends to the Committee of Ministers that they should propose to the Governments of the Six the signature of an agreement providing, inter alia, for an annual report to be presented by the Commission of the European Economic Community to the Consultative Assembly and for joint meetings between the Consultative Assembly and the E E C Assembly, for discussion of the extent to which the activities of the European Economic Community are likely to impinge on the economic and political life of the other members of the Council of Europe. This discussion should be based both on the E E C report called for above, and a corresponding report from the O.E.E.C. ;

2. Recommends also that the Committee of Ministers make arrangements as a matter of urgency for the European assemblies to be consulted on the administrative regulations for the staff of the European Economic Community and of the European Atomic Energy Community now being prepared by the Interim Committee in Brussels, and, furthermore, that this occasion be used to work out concrete proposals regarding a European Civil Service embracing the staff of as many European organisations as possible, these proposals to be presented to the European assemblies within one year ;

3. Recommends also that the nine other Members of the Council of Europe should approach in good time the six Governments of the European Economic Community and other competent bodies of that organisation so that investment and development arrangements which are to be made with regard to the areas of the E.E.C. still to be developed can be co-ordinated with those which may be undertaken within the framework of the O.E.E.C. for the development of similar areas in the wider community ;

4. Recommends also that the Committee of Ministers should give every assistance to the investigations being made by O.E.E.C. into the possibility of associating other nations with the European Economic Community under the general form of a free trade area, as suggested by the Government of the United Kingdom, by proposing, if not the formal inclusion of agricultural products in the Free Trade Area, at least effective arrangements by which such countries can look forward to an expansion of their markets for agricultural products in the food-importing countries ;

5. Recommends that the proposed creation of a European Free Trade Area should be accompanied by suitable provisions enabling all interested overseas countries and territories not covered by the European Economic Community to become associated with such an Area on terms to be determined on the basis of joint consultation.