The Assembly,
Recalling its Recommendation of 11th August, 1950, on the European Army (2nd Session, 1950; Doc 52, Recommendation 5);
Taking note of the signature of the Treaty setting up the European Defence Community and the approval given by the North Atlantic Council at Lisbon to the principles on which the European Defence Community is based ; Considering that the effective establishment of the European Defence Community will represent an essential step in the construction of a united Europe, reinforce the security of Europe, strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and increase the prospects of preserving peace; Affirming that the conclusion of the Treaty setting up the European Defence Community will not prevent the holding of conversations at the appropriate moment with the U. S. S. R. ;
Renews its support for the policy of establishing a European Defence Community which will secure the. integration in a European Army of the forces of the greatest possible number of Member States of the Council of Europe.
Requests the Governments taking part in the European Defence Community Conference, and the other Governments concerned; to make every effort even now that the Treaty has been signed, but without, however, causing any further delay, to remove the difficulties to which the Treaty still gives rise in its present form. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that the institutions of the European Defence Community and the forces placed under its control shall be of a genuinely European character, and that the engagements contained in the Treaty shall not hereafter be called in question.
Considers that guarantees to this effect might be sought specifically.
Calls the attention of the Governments concerned to the means of implementing the proposals contained in paragraphs 3 (a), 3 (b) and 3 (c) above, which are put forward in the Resolutions on the relations between the Exiropean Defence Community and certain other Member States of the Council of Europe and on the most appropriate means of drawing up the Statute of the European Political Community.
Decides to communicate to the Committee of Ministers for information the Explanatory Memorandum of the Report of the Committee on General Affairs on the European Defence Community (4th Session, 1952; Doc. 6).
The Committee on General Affairs submits to the Consultative Assembly the following Resolution :
The Assembly,
Taking note of the conclusion of a Treaty of Mutual Assistance between the United Kingdom and the European Defence Community;
Taking note of the United Kingdom Proposals to seek within the framework of the Council of Europe the forms of association which are possible between the Specialised Authorities, including the European Defence Community and the Member States of the Council of Europe not Members of the Specialised Authorities;
Taking note of the conversations which arc at present being held between delegations of the United Kingdom and of the Member States of the European Defence Community;
Considers it to be highly desirable that the treaty of mutual assistance (referred to in the first paragraph) be supplemented by agreements specifying the nature and form of the links to be established between the European Defence Community and. the United Kingdom
2. Suggests that such agreements (which might also be extended to countries other than the United Kingdom) should include the following provisions :
3. Considers that in this way a European army on a broader basis may be formed by means of a permanent association between the forces of the European Defence Community and contingents from the United Kingdom and other European States, operating together within the framework of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
4. Urges the Governments taking part in the European Defence Community to suggest as soon as possible to the other Governments concerned a form of association of this nature between them and the European Defence Community.
The Committee on General Affairs submits to the Consultative Assembly the following Resolution :
The Assembly,
Considering that several Governments and Parliaments have held it essential that the establishment of the European Defence Community should be accompanied by the constitution of a supranational Political Authority;
Considering that it would be of great advantage if the basic principles of this Authority and the limits of its powers were defined within the next few months, without waiting for the entry into force of the Treaty instituting the European Defence Community;
Reaffirming its belief that each step towards the unity of Europe should be taken together by as many European nations as possible;
Considering therefore that it is necessary, in the spirit of the proposals made by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, that the States which are unable to be full participants in the institutions of the said Authority should have the opportunity of associating themselves closely with those institutions at all stages of their development, and the possibility at some later date of adhering thereto;
Considering that by virtue of Article 33 of the Treaty setting up the European Defence Community, the Assembly of the European Defence Community is identical with that of the Coal and Steel Community;
1. Considers that the clauses in the Treaty of the European Defence Community which relate to the determination of the future political structure of Europe should be incorporated in a Special Agreement, distinct from the Treaty itself, and capable of being put into effect immediately;
2. Suggests that, by the terms of this Agreement, and, choosing whichever of the procedures outlined below is the more rapid, the Governments of the Six States which are participating in the restricted Communities should charge.
— either the Assembly for which provision is made in the Treaty setting up the European Coal and Steel Community, as soon as this Assembly has been established,
— or the Assembly of the Council of Europe, sitting with a restricted membership in accordance corresponding to the number and allocation of seats provided for in the Assembly of the European Defence Community,
to draft the statute of a supranational Political Community, which would remain open to all Member States of the Council of Europe, and which would, moreover, include provisions for the association in the Political Community of those States which do not become full Members of this Political Community.
Instructs the Standing Committee, should the Six Governments agree to the second of the alternatives, to set up the restricted Assembly envisaged above.
3. Requests that, in order to ensure that these tasks be carried out within the framework of the Council of Europe :
4. Requests that the Council of Europe bring to a rapid conclusion its study of the United Kingdom proposals for establishing organic links between the Communities and the Council of Europe.
The Assembly,
Decides to set up an ad hoc Committee, whose members shall be appointed by the Bureau, and which shall undertake immediately the elaboration of a draft Constitution for the Political Community envisaged in the above Resolution.
The Committee examined Amendments I, 2 and 3 to the Report AS (4) 6 which it had previously submitted. It took the opportunity also to revise certain texts, in order to take account of events which had occurred since the initial Report was compiled.
The three draft Resolutions hereunder correspond to the texts submitted in the initial Report; to these texts have been added the Amendments detailed in what follows.