General policy of the Council of Europe
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly Debate on 30th January 1968 (15th Sitting) (see Doc. 2315, report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly after amendment on 30th January 1968 (15th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that Europe's influence in the world will increase in so far as its unity can be achieved ;
2. Considering that this unity will be hastened by the accession of the present applicants to the Communities ;
3. Noting with regret the inability of the EEC Council of Ministers to reach agreement on the opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom and other applicant States for membership of the Communities ;
4. Taking note also of Britain's proposal for a European Technological Community which will reinforce the strength of Europe in face of the stimulus of competition by the United States of America and the Soviet Union ;
5. Recognising the value of the intergovernmental activities of the Council of Europe as a means of achieving both technical co-operation in Europe and of making a contribution to the détente through co-operation with East European countries ;
6. Anxious to make a contribution to the peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis ;
7. Welcoming the settlement of the Cyprus confrontation without recourse to armed conflict following the tragic events in that island ;
8. Believing that the industrialised countries should do all in their power to promote the economic growth of the developing countries,
9. Considers :
a that the enlargement of the European Communities by the accession of the present applicants and other eligible European States should be encouraged by every appropriate means ;
b that it is imperative to strengthen by every means the technological co-operation in Europe which will equip the Members of the Council of Europe to accept the American and Soviet industrial challenge in a spirit of constructive competition and to assist in promoting a European Technological Community ;
c that everything should be done to support peace-making efforts in the Middle East whether between the parties directly concerned or by the United Nations and that it should be proposed to the United Nations that a Middle East Regional Development Plan, modelled on the Marshall Plan and based on the techniques of co-operation evolved by the European Communities, be examined as a detailed project forthwith and in advance, if necessary, of a political settlement ;
d that the member Governments of the Council of Europe should take advantage of the forth coming UNCTAD Conference at New Delhi to reach agreement with the developing countries to facilitate and increase trade between the industrialised and developing countries.
