Lord Privy Seal's Speech (Press Release) (Hansard, 18 October 1961)

§ Mr. Heath

The following is the textIn his speech the Lord Privy Seal gave the Representatives of the Community Countries a full statement of the British position. 2. Mr. Heath said that the United Kingdom shared the objectives of the Community and wished to join in the bold and imaginative venture of the Six and so to help in promoting through the E.E.C. the widest possible measure of European unity. The United Kingdom's application had been made in a positive spirit, and he hoped that his statement would amply demonstrate their determination to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion. 2W 3. The United Kingdom were ready fully to subscribe to the aims and objectives of the Community and, in particular, they were ready to accept the objectives laid down in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty of Rome. The United Kingdom were also ready to play their full part in the institutions established under the Treaty and in the development of the Community generally. 4. Mr. Heath said that satisfactory solutions would, however, have to be found to the three problems of Commonwealth trade, United Kingdom agriculture and E.F.T.A. So far as he could judge at this stage, these could be dealt with by protocols and should not call for amendment to any articles of the Treaty. Some Articles would of course require adaptation consequent upon admission of new Members. 5. Mr. Heath thought that the E.E.C. countries shared the, United Kingdom view of the value of the Commonwealth's contribution to the strength and stability of the world. He stressed the importance of the Commonwealth's trade links as one of the strongest elements in maintaining the Commonwealth association, and drew attention to the heavy dependence of certain Commonwealth countries on their exports to the United Kingdom. I might be that, so far as at any rate some Members of the Commonwealth and United Kingdom Dependent Territories were concerned, a solution might be found by a suitable form of association with the Community. But it would no doubt be found that association would not be appropriate for all Commonwealth countries and other solutions would have to be found for them. 6. As regards agriculture, in addition to the need to protect essential Commonwealth interests, there were the problems of United Kingdom domestic agriculture. Mr. Heath said that the United Kingdom and the Six started from common ground. The agricultural objectives of the Treaty of Rome were similar to those of the British Government. The United Kingdom were ready to participate with the Six in a common agricultural policy But this would give rise to difficult problems The systems of support used by the Six old those used by the United Kingdom showed marked differences and the United Kingdom would have to consider with the Six how the essential interests of British farmers including horticulturalists could be effectively safeguarded The United Kingdom would also have to have an adequate period to make the necessary changes. 7. As regards the European Free Trade Association, Mr. Heath said that it had always been the British view that the present division of Western Europe into two economic groups should be brought to an end. The E.F.T.A. countries had recently concluded that each member of E.F.T.A. should examine the possibility of entering into a direct relationship with the Community. At their meeting in London during June the E.F.T.A. Council had, however, agreed that the Association 3W should be maintained in being "until satisfactory arrangements have been worked out to meet the various legitimate interests of all members of E E.T.A., and thus enable them all to participate from the same date in an integrated European market". 8. On the question of the Community's common external tariff, Mr. Heath said that, while some adjustments would no doubt be a necessary consequence of the admission of a new member, he saw no need to ask for a renegotiation item-by-item. The United Kingdom were ready to accept the structure of the present tariff as the basis of the common tariff of the enlarged Community. The lowering of tariff levels necessary to make the new common external tariff acceptable to G.A.T.T. and to third countries could be achieved by making a uniform cut, although some items would, of course, have to be singled out for special treatment. 9. Mr. Heath expressed the view that none of the non-commercial and non-agricultural provisions of the Treaty should be the cause of major difficulty although there were, of course, points relating to their application which would have to be discussed. 10. As regards the European Coal and Steel Community and Euratom, the United Kingdom would be willing to enter into negotiations it the appropriate time with the Six with a view to joining these two Communities when the United Kingdom joined the E.E.C. 11. Mr. Heath said that the United Kingdom had followed with close interest the progress of the Six towards greater unity in fields other than those covered by the E.E.C. Treaty. The Heads of State and of Government of the Six 4W had made an important Declaration on this matter at Bonn on 18th July. The British Government shared the aims and objectives of those who had drawn up the Bonn Declaration and would be anxious, once they joined the Community, to work with the Six in a positive spirit to reinforce the unity they had already achieved.