General policy of the Council of Europe
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 7th and 8th May 1963 (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sittings) (see Doc. 1581Doc. 1581, report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 8th May 1963 (5th Sitting) after amendment.
1. The Assembly,
2. Considering the difficulties to which the cause of European unification is exposed as a result of the suspension of the Brussels negotiations;
3. Taking note of the concordant declarations stating that the Franco-German Treaty of co-operation, which in itself consecrates the welcome reconciliation of the two countries shall in no case be liable to be interpreted or applied in a sense which would be contrary to the spirit which must be at the root of the action and development of the European Communities ;
4. Considering that it is highly desirable that the negotiations with the United Kingdom and other countries wishing to become members of or associated with the European Economic Community should be resumed in the shortest possible time so as to consolidate the progress of European unity and avoid any risk of division in Europe and in the world ;
5. Considering also that to increase the chances of successful negotiations it is necessary to take account of the close connection between purely European problems and Atlantic and even world problems which was revealed by the Brussels talks ;
6. Considering that the success of the tariff negotiations proposed by President Kennedy, while it cannot be a complete solution for the trade problems of the United Kingdom and other countries having asked to participate in the European Economic Community, should ease the difficulties caused by their having to remain outside the European customs union and by establishing the commercial foundation of the Atlantic partnership, should also assist in removing one of the major obstacles which now prevents the resumption of the negotiations between the EEC and the United Kingdom ;
7. Considering that an agreement in principle was reached at the Brussels Conference on the need for concluding world agreements on certain agricultural products which can greatly facilitate the solution of certain problems, in particular those of produce from the Commonwealth ;
8. Considering that the partnership which it is desirable to bring about between Europe and the United States of America should be applied to all decisions affecting the future of Europe, including defence questions,
9. Expresses the hope that the Heads of State and the Governments will examine, at meetings at the highest levels, all the problems that confront Europe, and also the question of the relations between Europe and the United States, in order to arrive at a common policy with the following objectives :
a to ensure the success of the tariff negotiations proposed by President Kennedy, while respecting agreements concluded by European countries either in the European Economic Community or in the European Free Trade Association ;
b to achieve, through taking up the proposal accepted by the Brussels Conference, world agreements on certain agricultural products ;
c to set up in all political fields, including defence, a genuine partnership on a footing of equality between Europe and the United States of America.
