§ 56. Mr. Pageasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement upon the inaugural meeting of the Council of the Association of the European Coal and Steel Community which he has recently attended.
§ Mr. LowMy right hon. Friend has asked me to say that the first meeting of the Council was of necessity largely concerned with setting up the machinery for continuing consultations. It was, however, regarded by both sides as a successful first meeting. The following is the text of the Communiqué issued at its conclusion.
The Council of Association between the United Kingdom Government and the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community held its first meeting today under the chairmanship of M. René Mayer, President of the High Authority.After the opening speech of welcome by the President of the High Authority, and the reply made by Mr. Peter Thorneycroft, President of the Board of Trade and leader of the British delegation, the Council laid down its rules of Procedure.The Council decided to establish three standing committees: a trade relations committee, a steel committee and a coal committee.The Council held a lengthy discussion on the coal situation and instructed the coal committee to review that situation in the widest terms. The committee was instructed to study, in particular, the short term difficulties, in regard to coal supplies both in the Community and the United Kingdom and to make any recommendations to the Council. The Committee will meet for its inaugural session on 18th November and will hold in London on 7th December a meeting under the provisions of Article 7 of the Agreement.94WThe Council also had an exchange of views on the steel situation. The Steel Committee will hold its first session in Luxembourg on 15th December.The Trade Relations Committee will meet in London on 9th January, 1956.17th November, 1955