Part A.
Co-ordination of European Policy within the Council of Europe
Considering that, notwithstanding the changes of a general nature to be made in the Statute of the Council of Europe, which form the subject of a separate Recommendation of the Assembly, it is necessary to work unremittingly for the co-ordination of European policy as far as the Statute in its present form permits,
Considering that the vital need for close co-operation between Europe and the nations across the Atlantic demands a simultaneous strengthening of European unity, which is an essential pre-requisite for the normal and balanced growth of such co-operation,
Considering that, in consequence, it is necessary for the Council of Europe to contrive a means whereby the Member States may consult and reach agreement with one another on the development of their foreign policy, so as to arrive at a concerted policy and an agreed formulation thereof :
1. (a) The Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers that each of the Member States be asked to appoint a Minister to be specially responsible for European Affairs.
(b) The Ministers for European Affairs will meet at regular and frequent intervals and act as substitutes for the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, so that the Committee of Ministers may become an organ for semi-permanent consultation, with the aim of co-ordinating, in close association with the Commonwealth countries, the external policy of Member States.
(c) In certain cases this co-ordination may permit the appointment by the Committee of Ministers of Delegates of the Council of Europe, with instructions :
to represent Member States in international negotiations or in the administration of certain international organisations ;
to formulate or promote a common policy in the main sectors of European activity with a view to the economic, financial and social unification of Europe as a whole.
Part B.
Creation of a Political Community in the spirit of the Washington Declaration
Recalling the fact that the constitution, of a European Political Authority with limited functions but real powers has from the outset been the fundamental aim assigned to the Council of Europe ;
Considering that the establishment of this Authority is at present incompatible with the policy of several States, which declare themselves unable to accept it,
Recalling the Joint Declaration made at Washington, on the 14th September, 1951, in which the three Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the United States, France and the United Kingdom, spoke of the existence of a “European Continental Community”, with which the Government of the United Kingdom “desires to establish the closest possible association at all stages in its development”,
Considering that the threat overhanging Europe, and the necessity for the joint organisation of defence, render highly desirable the formation of a European Army, in which the largest possible number of Member States of the Council of Europe should participate, and which should receive its instructions from some controlling political body,
2. (a) The Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers that they encourage the rapid conclusion of an Agreement between those Member States who are so disposed to institute a Political Authority, subject to the democratic control of a Parliamentary Assembly. The competence of this Authority shall be limited to those fields of Defence and Foreign Affairs in which the joint exercise of sovereignty is rendered necessary by the organization of a European Army, and its use within the framework of the Atlantic Pact.
(b) This Agreement should prescribe the form of association which may be established between the Political Community thus created, and Members of the Council of Europe not adhering thereto, more especially the United Kingdom,
3. The Assembly requests that each Member State define its position concerning this Recommendation, bearing in mind the forthcoming Session of the North Atlantic Council in Lisbon.
Part C.
Considering that it is necessary to give fresh impetus to the economic, financial and social unification of Europe as a whole, in close co-operation with the Commonwealth countries,
4. The Assembly recalls its Recommendation of 5th September, 1949, for the convening of a Europe-Commonwealth Conference, and is of the opinion that such a Conference might among other things examine the possibility of setting up an association between free Europe and the sterling area.
Part D.
5. The Assembly recalls that, in those fields where unification would at present seem premature, it may be advisable to resort to the method of setting up further Specialised Authorities, which would remain open to all the Members of the Council of Europe.