European Defence Community

Resolution 12 (1952)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

This Resolution was adopted by the Assembly at its Ninth Sitting, 30th May, 1952 (See Docs. 6 and 27, Reports of the Committee on General Affairs).

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 of 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 with the U. S. S. R. at the appropriate moment ;

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Considers that guarantees to this effect might be sought specifically

a in measures to ensure that the European Defence Community is without delay subordinated to a Political Authority endowed with powers strictly limited to the purposes of the Treaty but powers which are, nevertheless, real ;

b if not in the actual participation, at least in the closest possible association with the European Defence Community, of Great Britain and of those other Member States of the Council of Europe which may desire to be so associated ;

c in the development of the European Defence Community within the framework of the Council of Europe,

d in a guarantee by the United States of America designed to prevent the withdrawal from, or violation of, the Treaty by a Member State.

4. 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 Resolutions 13 and 14, these Resolutions being concerned respectively with the relations between the European Defence Community and certain other Member States of the Council of Europe, and with the question of the most appropriate means to be adopted for the elaboration of the Statute of the European Political Community.

5. 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).