Economic integration of Western Europe

Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 358 | 24 June 1955

Committee

Committee on Economic Affairs and Development

Signatories:

Mr Neil MCBRIDE, United Kingdom, SOC

Thesaurus

The Assembly,

Taking note of the continued progress made towards the political and economic consolidation of the European community by the setting up of the Western European Union, by the decisions of the Council of Ministers of the E. C. S. C. taken at the Messina Conference on the 3rd June, 1955, and by the liberalisation and strengthening of Western European economy, as described in the Sixth Annual Report of the O. E. E. C,

1. Welcomes and submits for the special attention of the Governments and Parliaments of Member States the Report of the Research Directorate of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe on The Present Slate of Economic Integration in Western Europe;

Considering the desirability of taking advantage of the present favourable economic conditions in Europe to further economic integration as a lasting foundation for the political consolidation of Europe;

Considering, furthermore, that the co-ordination of the economic and financial policies of Western European States on the basis of mutual help, with particular emphasis on the provision of assistance to the least developed Member States, is essential to attain the complete elimination of artificial barriers and to realise the benefits of a common market,

2. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite the Governments of the Member States of the Council of Europe and of the O. E. E. C. to pursue with renewed vigour an active policy designed to bring about a greater degree of economic co-operation, mutual help and integration in Western Europe, with particular reference to the following considerations :

a The desirability of achieving conditions which would favour convertibility, and the necessity to plan and provide in advance for the problems which convertibility may create, in regard to full e n j o y m e n t , balance of payments and trade liberalisation;

b In the pursuit of trade liberalisation and tariff reduction, to aim at the removal of trading practices within Western Europe, such as dual pricing in the export of raw materials, dumping of manufactured goods and export subsidies, which are frequently the reason for the adoption or maintenance of protective counter-measures ;

c The setting up of a voluntary procedure whereby Member States would be invited in specific cases to examine their trading and protective policies with a view to affording assistance to other Member States whose unemployment or balance of payments position is difficult;

d The preparation of plans in advance for taking concerted action to meet possible economic difficulties due to inflationary or deflationary pressures;

e The development and utilisation of atomic and other sources of energy for peaceful purposes by the Member States on a co-operative basis and the simultaneous examination and anticipation of economic and industrial repercussions which will result from the introduction of atomic energy in industry and transport;

f The need to achieve a more efficient use of the agricultural resources of Europe by improved methods of production and by increased local specialisation, accompanied by improved methods and concerted policies of international distribution and marketing;

g The harmonisation and co-ordination of transport, particularly in the field of investments and international rates;

h Having regard to the multiplicity and heterogeneous structure of the many international organisations that deal with similar aspects of the Western European economy, the urgent need to integrate the work of these organisations, in so far as they relate to Western Europe, within the framework of the Council of Europe and the O. E. E. C;

i The development of closer cooperation between the Council of Europe and the O. E. E. C, and, in particular, the adoption of provisions to enable :

a representative of the Assembly to attend meetings of the Council of the O. E. E. C, at ministerial level;

a representative of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Europe to attend meetings of the Council of the 0. E. E. C. at the senior official level;

3. Recommends further that, in the light of the above-mentioned Report on the present state of economic integration in Western Europe, the Council of Ministers should invite each Member State of the Council of Europe to draw up in consultation with the O. E. E. C. a phased programme of measures designed to bring the economy of that State into closer harmony with the economic interests of Europe viewed as a whole, thus facilitating the integration of a truly European economy.