Council of Europe

Extract

Third part of the fourteenth session: The Consultative Assembly held the third part of its fourteenth ordinary session on January 14–18, 1963, under the presidency of Mr. Per Federspiel (Danish Moderate Liberal).1 Mr. Piccioni, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a statement summarizing the activities of the Committee of Ministers since the second part of the fourteenth session. Commenting on various points of the Assembly's agenda, Mr. Piccioni noted the desire to examine ways of reactivating the Council of Europe. Although he was opposed to any structural modifications, he welcomed the proposal whereby the Committee of Ministers should inform the joint committee of the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers of its observations on recommendations which it rejected. On the general question of European integration, he emphasized the importance of Britain's negotiations for membership in the European Economic Community (EEC). He reaffirmed his country's desire to maintain the solidarity of the existing members of EEC but stressed Italy's constant efforts to seek a successful outcome to the negotiations.