European integration

Recommendation 337 (1962)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 24th and 25th September 1962 (14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Sittings) (see Doc. 1479, Report of the Political Committee) Text adopted by the Assembly on 25th September 1962 (17th Sitting).

1. The Assembly,

2. Noting with satisfaction the positive results achieved at the Brussels Conference concerning the British application for accession to the European Economic Community, but regretting that certain problems have not been solved and that the Conference has had to adjourn ;

3- Conscious of the threat to the cause of European unity resulting from the uncertainty entailed by this adjournment ;

4. Convinced that, after the progress already made in the negotiations, the points left in suspense can be agreed if there is a mutual effort at conciliation, provided that the essential characteristics of the Community and its possibilities of future economic and political development are respected while, at the same time, adequate safeguards are found for the interests of the Commonwealth, which could not be damaged without serious dangers ; remembering the substantial development of European trade with, aid to, and investment in the Commonwealth ;

dependence, that ties of interdependence should be established between his country and Europe as soon as its unity has been fully achieved ;

18. Considering that it is the duty of the qualified spokesmen of Europe to respond to this proposal and to give their agreement to the principles which inspired it and to the developments which it implies ;

19. Considering that it is desirable to undertake forthwith a study of the consequences which may result from the American offer and of the concrete solutions which can be envisaged to give it effect,

20. Recommends the Committee of Ministers :

a to invite the Governments of the member States of the European Economic Community and the Government of the United Kingdom to resume and continue, until a successful conclusion is reached, negotiations concerning the British application for accession, and to seek an agreement which, on the one hand, fully respects the essential characteristics and the possibilities of political and economic development of the Community and, on the other, ensures a fair balance between the advantages and disadvantages for the Commonwealth arising out of Britain's accession ;

b to invite the Governments of the member States of the European Economic Community to continue the negotiations which have already started with Denmark, Norway and Turkey and to begin negotiations with Ireland ;

c to invite the Governments of the member States of the European Economic Community to examine the possibility of some form of economic agreement between Portugal and the European Economic Community ;

d to invite the member Governments of the European Economic Community to define their position as regards the problems raised by the applications for association of Austria, Sweden and Switzerland and to begin negotiations with these countries as soon as possible with the firm intention of arriving at an agreement which, without affecting any vital clauses of the Treaty of Rome, is compatible with the legal and political requirements of neutrality, judged in the light of the present international situation ;

21. Recommends the resumption of the negotiations for the setting up of a European political union complying with the principles stated in Recommendation 313 of 17th May 1962 and for the participation in this union of the countries which will have become full Members of the European Economic Community, particularly the United Kingdom ;

22. Recommends also that a differentiated system of European unification should be worked out enabling a real Community to be progressively brought into being with institutions capable of formulating and of implementing a common will, especially in the economic, political and military fields, and of allowing for the association with this Community of States which will not be able or will not wish to commit themselves to full membership ;

23. Recognises the historical importance of the declaration in which President Kennedy proposed, on 4th July 1962, that ties of interdependence should be established between his country and Europe as soon as it has achieved its unity ;

24. Affirms that the principles defined in the declaration of 4th July 1962 correspond to the aspirations of the peoples represented in the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe ;

25. Recommends the Committee of Ministers to begin as soon as possible to study the problems raised by this declaration and states its willingness to take part itself in this study, if possible in collaboration with members of the Congress of the United States.