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April 1973, a Community monetary
cooperation fund, aimed at main–
taining currency exchange rates
within narrow limits. This should
enable the Common Market, as a
whole, to stand up stronger against
the dollar.
In return, Britain and ltaly,
both saddled with pockets of hard–
core unemployment, won a firm
commitment for the creation of a
Community fund for developing de–
pressed regions of mem ber
countries.
In answer to the charge that the
Community was "not humanitarian
enough," it was agreed to develop a
new series of programs to assist de–
veloping countries. In the same at–
tempt to win back the affection of
the continent's young voters, ma–
chinery was put in motion to de–
velop common policies on energy,
the environment and social
progress.
" ...
And Now for the
Bad
News"
Yet , hidden beneath the veneer of
decisions - or what one observer
pessimistically labeled "decisions to
take decisions" - a whole range of
programs were quietly dropped or
pigeonholed for future discussion.
It was quite clear that Market
members are still poles apart on sev–
era! key issues.
In the biggest defeat of all ,
France was able to detour a deter–
mined move on the part of the
Netherlands for implementing di–
rect election to the European Parlia–
ment in Strasbourg. Such direct
popular election is explicitly called
for in the Treaty of Rome - the
Common Market's founding docu–
ment. The Parliament presently
consists of members appointed by
the parliaments of the member na–
tions. It has no political power, act–
ing only in an advisory capacity.
In an attempt to appear con–
ciliatory, the French agreed that the
Parliament issue could be brought
up again
in
the "near future. " But
PlAIN TRUTH February 1973
HEADSOF STATE
ot the Europeon Community's summit conference in Paris in Octo–
ber 1972. Beginning third from left, they are Giulio Andreotti, ltoly; Pierre Werner,
Luxembourg; Jack Lynch, Republic of lrelond; Borend Biesheuvel, the Netherlands;
Georges Pompidou, Fronce; Willy Brandt, Federal Republic of Germany¡ Anker
Joergensen, Denmark; Gaston Eyskens, Belgium; ond, far right, Edward Heoth,
Greot Britoin.
Mr. Pompidou made the present
French position perfectly clear in
his opening address of the Sumrnit
when he stated in no uncertain
terms that "political control must re–
main in the hands of national par–
liaments."
In
other matters too, the Nine
showed their interna] divisions and
stubborn adherence to partisan na–
tionalistic viewpoints. For exa:mple,
they could not agree on what Eu–
rope's relationship to the United
States should be. A West German
idea, supported by severa! of the
smaller countries, to "institutional–
ize" trans-Atlantic relations was
dropped, and the communiqué
spoke only of a "constructive dia–
logue."
A reference to a "common posi–
tion" on the up-coming GATT
(General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade) negotiations was also
dropped from the final version of
the communiqué - this, despite the
cry from many EC quaners that
"Europe must speak with one
voice."
Severa! other smaller projects
were abandoned during the many
hours of head-to-head negotiations.
They too showed that the spirit of
nationalism still remains supreme
with the Community.
A Belgian idea, for example, for
encouraging travel by young per–
sons througb universal recognition
of diplomas was shelved.
An even more ambitious Italian
proposal was squelched, but then,
no one thought it had much of a
chance in the first place. The Ital–
ians, wbo bave hundreds of thou–
sands of tbeir countrymen working
in West Germany and other na–
tions, proposed that foreign workers
be allowed citizenship and voting
privileges in whatever country and
community they happen to be work–
ing.
But as one political pundit re–
marked, "The Germans are not
about to see an Italian become the
mayor ofKützenbühl, or whatever."
Tbus, on both big and small is–
sues, the divergent opinions of the
Nine were aptly displayed. Nation–
alism still reigns supreme. Only
begrudgingly have the independent
member states allowed minute por–
tions of their jealously guarded sov–
ereignty to gravitate into the hands
of the Commission in Brussels. As
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