EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

HC Deb 08 November 1961 vol 648 cc56-7W

61. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on the negotiations with the European Economic Community.

Mr. P. Thomas

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal said on 2nd November in the debate on the Address.

64. Mr. Turton

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in the course of his negotiations on the Common Market, he has yet received a copy of the French draft for creating a political and military federation of the Six, submitted to the Commission of Experts of the European Economic Community; and whether this falls within the political aims outlined in the Rome Treaty.

Mr. P. Thomas

We have been kept informed by the European Economic Community Governments of the work of the Committee of Officials of the Six which has been instructed to prepare proposals on political co-operation among the European Economic Community powers. We do not, however, take part in the work of the Committee since we are not members of the European Economic Community. We would not, therefore, expect to receive copies of the working documents which are still at a preliminary stage of consideration by the Committee and which have not yet been submitted for consideration by the Governments directly concerned.

As regards the second part of the Question, there is no provision in the Rome Treaty for a political organisation, but one of its expressed objectives is to establish closer union among the European peoples.