The Assembly :
1. Thanks the Commission of the European Atomic Energy Community for the transmission of its Fourth General Report;
2. Notes with great satisfaction that, while the period covered by the third Report experienced slow and inadequate progress, the period covered by this Report witnessed progress to the point of largely making up for the time-lag of the preceding year, and that expenditure on research has now amply reached the rate set for the five-year programme defined in the Treaty;
3. Convinced that Euratom has an important role to play in the raising of the living standards of the Community in so far as it can contribute to the abundant supply of energy at low prices ;
4. Notes with satisfaction the successful establishment of the joint research centres and the conclusion by the Commission of about one hundred association contracts with national research centres and industrial establishments, and believes that these means of promoting research will not only contribute to the Community research programme, but will stimulate increased competence in the nuclear field throughout the Community;
5. Notes with satisfaction that, within the framework of "association contracts", co-operation has not only advanced within the Community but has been increased with third countries and with international organisations, requests the Commission to continue its endeavours to increase its co-operation with European third countries, and with the European Nuclear Energy Agency, since it considers that such a policy will have an important bearing on the success of European integration, and considers the Commission's endeavours in this field as evidence of its intention to develop international co-operation in the peaceful uses of the atom on an ever increasing scale;
6. Notes with interest that the cost of nuclear reactors in the production of electricity still constitutes a serious difficulty, but that in the Commission's view nuclear production of electricity is likely to become generally competitive with the cost of electricity production by classical sources before 1970;
7. Notes with interest that a Convention has been drawn up by the member States which covers the risks attendant on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, sincerely hopes for the early signature of the Convention, and would support the.
8. Notes with interest the Commission's opinion that the use of nuclear energy to drive merchant ships still involves the solving of many problems before it can be of real economic advantage; further notes the creation within the Community of a liaison committee to co-ordinate the various schemes in this field in order to avoid dissipation of effort, and requests the Commission and the member Governments to invite other European countries to be represented by observers on this Committee in order to assure the fullest possible co-operation and co-ordination of the various schemes in Europe; and sincerely hopes that such overall European co-operation will enable Europe - like the USA and the USSR - to launch a ship driven by nuclear energy;
9. Notes with satisfaction that the Commission hopes to provide the developing countries with the help they desire, in particular by accepting trainees, and urges the Commission to do everything possible to expedite such projects;
10. Congratulates the Euratom Commission that on its initiative the three Executives of the European Communities have proposed to the Council of Ministers the creation of a "Research Institute on Development Problems"; wishes the Commission success in this initiative, requests the Six Governments to accept this important proposal and to invite other European countries to participate in the creation of the Institute on the basis of equal rights and obligations;
11. Welcomes the Commission's view that it would highly appreciate having as a partner in Euratom, the United Kingdom, with its progress in the nuclear field, and agrees fully with the Commission that a geographical extension of Euratom must not imply a diminution of reciprocal obligations;
12. Welcomes the progress made in establishing a European University at Florence, but calls the attention of the Euratom Commission and the Six Governments to Recommendation 242 of the Consultative Assembly and to the Opinion thereon of the Committee of Ministers which states that : "The Committee of Ministers hope that all member countries of the Council of Europe, together with others which have acceded to the European Cultural Convention, shall have the option of acceding to the conventions on the European University which it is proposed to found at Florence, and to the conventions relating to scientific and academic co-operation";
13. Congratulates the Euratom Commission on the successful establishment of the "European schools" throughout the Community - important as they are in the fostering of a true European spirit - and wishes the Commission continued success in this field.