Progress of European integration
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 27 and 28 January 1971 (29th and 30th Sittings) (see Doc. 2890Doc. 2890, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 January 1971 (30th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that progress is being made in the negotiations between the European Communities and the States which have applied for full membership, although a number of difficult problems remain to be solved ;
2. Considering that the Communities have opened exploratory talks with other European States, and in particular Austria, Sweden and Switzerland,
3. Expresses the hope that negotiations with all the countries concerned will soon lead to positive results, and considers it desirable that the different agreements to be concluded enter into force at the same time ;
4. Welcomes the decision of the governments of the Six to establish regular consultations on matters of foreign policy, and expresses the wish that the institutional mechanisms set up for this purpose will be strengthened ;
5. Considers that the present form of intergovernmental co-operation in the political field can hardly overcome disunities in foreign policy and allow the countries of Western Europe to speak with one voice ;
6. Notes with interest the "Werner Report" on economic and monetary union, and considers that the implementation of its principles, which have considerable political significance, would be an important step forward on the way towards European unity and would ferment the development of European political union ;
7. Hopes therefore that the difficulties which have arisen in this respect will soon be overcome ;
8. Affirms that the enlargement of the Communities and their progress towards political, economic and monetary union will require a strengthening of the Community institutions and will have to be accompanied by increased parliamentary influence and control.
