Political consequences of the enlargement of the European Community
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 7 and 8 October 1971 (14th and 15th Sittings) (see Doc. 3003, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 8 October 1971 (15th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Welcoming the fact that, after many years of deadlock, it has now become possible to proceed to the enlargement of the European Community, which it has always considered as being in the interest of the democratic countries of Europe as a whole ;
2. Considering that this important political event opens up new prospects for the development of an ever closer European unity ;
3. Considering that the decision on enlargement now rests with the applicant countries,
4. Expresses the firm hope that the countries concerned will seize this historic opportunity ;
5. Considers that enlargement must go hand in hand with a considerable strengthening of the Community and that, in this context, it is essential to make substantial progress towards economic, monetary and political integration and to strengthen the Community institutions ;
6. Affirms that the mechanisms for political co-operation, provided for in the "Davignon Report", will have to be developed in order to enable Western Europe to play in world affairs a role corresponding to its moral and economic weight ;
7. Holds the view that enlargement should give an impetus to closer defence co-operation among the European Members of the North Atlantic Alliance ;
8. Considers it indispensable to strengthen the democratic character of the present institutions of the Community, in particular by giving the European Parliament progressively more responsibility and a greater say in the work of the Council of Ministers and of the Commission, and considers that the Council of Ministers should deal without delay with the problem of direct elections to the European Parliament ;
9. Considers that the enlargement and further development of the Community will increase Western Europe's independence and offer at the same time a more promising basis for closer co-operation between Western and Eastern Europe ;
10. Expresses the hope that the agreements which are to be concluded between the Community and the EFTA countries which have not applied for membership will make it possible to safeguard the system of free trade achieved within EFTA and enter into force at the same time as the treaties concerning accession ;
11. Further expresses the hope that the progressive nature of these agreements will give the countries concerned, and in particular the neutrals, an opportunity to intensify their co-operation with the enlarged Community, in the light of their initial experience and of progress towards economic integration in Europe ;
12. Reaffirms its intention to do everything in its power to contribute to the further progress of Western European integration, to serve as a link between the enlarged Community and those Western European countries which do not yet adhere to it, and also to foster peaceful co-operation between Western and Eastern Europe.
