Hallstein, Walter.

English

Archive of European Integration

Proi essorPresidentI'J E.LCOME'it  A  1, T E R  H A L L S T E I:,Nof  the:Conmission  of  the  EtrropeanEcosonic  Communlty i, ::':.:t'.:1.';:'aa:,.':: to  a  group  ofIIBN]TAINvisitore  fromIN  EUROPEIT1961in  Brusselson 13 .Ianuar,y,Ladles  and Gentlemen;May I  bcgln  by  saying',, a little  b,-"Jated1-y,  vrelcome  to  Brussels r.flncl,  ,,;to  tho  Comrnieslon  of  tho  il:rropern Economic Ccnrrruntty.  I  ehould  havo::.',:.if.iked'vcry  rnuch  to  be able  to  welcome you yeeberclsy; butvrill  forgivcr  rne -  esl)eci,r.t  ly  as  I  arn eure  thelt  rny friend  MariEtiolb'.  wi,Ill  ,have  voLsor,rerl  you  a}rcariy.  Nevprtheloss,  let  rne  adcipereonal  lrlcasrrre it  is  to  rinr;  to  be abLe to  vrelcomerneet l,Brj-tain  in  Europr-.lr  j.n Europe,  so  to  speak.,  ,'  I  bolievo  I  an  ri6ht  in  thinking  that  both  our  Cornnunlty an'd,tyotlr:  organization  arose  fron  tho  printecl ,word -  in  our  o;rse the  nomc fr"uty  j' aln '..,' ....  .,,,,.  and  in  y.oltlr casa  the  publ-ication  |tBritain  and Europerr.  Novt  you  af;.e.f; :;::];:. ir:',.fi'.f,iarn  sure  yorr  ,'lr  This,  aftor  all,  is  ae it  ehoul-d be:  for  thc  Cornmunity  ancl the  ,  ,:,... t  - - ,.,  1:  ,..".t:"  ,  United  l(i.ngdorn  have very  important  interests  in  colnmon.  Both  ur", I ,,  .i*i  - ffit,n* tven  rraLe-""##*'"t*  *u"irrr;i'ott  *"r  t:i;iffiproblelts  in  the  a6ricultural  field.  Both are  involvcdn,  i"neseapab1yr''iot, , 'the rapid  evolution  of  the  African  continent,  and j-n the  need to  "itu t''that  continent  frorn  the  spread  of  the  cold  war.  Both  are  power.ful' ':',,, ,,.a11ies  i-n the  Atlanti-c  Comrnunity.  Both  recognize  the  interdependenc u'  ." '.,which  is  rtore and rnoro oharasteristic  of  all  our  problems in  tr,*  :,lc-"t;.Both  aro  engaged ln  vrhat a British  econonist  rocontly  calledrfThe  Attacon lvorrd Povertytl  .  Both otand for.peace,  freedom, and justice.I  thinlc  I  may  say  that  Great  Britain  ha,s alr'rays recognized  theimportance  of  the  European cornmunJty.  she wae trrc  first,  j-ndeed, toaccredit  a  diplornatic  representative  to  the  European Coal and Steelconmunj  by when it  v'ras  ret  up  i'n 19521 and  two  yoars  tater  ehe  concLudcdan Agrccltent  of  Aseociation  vrith  it,  in  which a  groat  deal  gf  inrporterntccn;rrltation  has  talcen place.  More recentlyl  she ooncludecl a  rather'qlmiLar agrcenent  with  Euratom.  Earlier  this  ycar:i.n  the  House of  Co1r6-on6t  mcrhing  hie  last  epcech aa Forei6n  secretary,  Mr ^gclwyn  Lloyd  unclor...-.lined  thnt  Great  llritain  welconcdtfthe  econornic etrcngth  and thc  politio-al  cbheoion  that  the  cornrirunlty  is  brin8lng  about.rrr\rroady,  r  think,  you  have heard  nbout  some of  tho  progrese  whrchour  cor:rr,runity  le  rnarcing  in  tackling  its  internal  probrems.  you knowthat  lvc nro  al-ready ahoacl  of  our  tirnetable,  even in  agricul-tural  rnattcro,which  nrc  always  the  nrost difficult  to  deaL with.  you knovr that  thereis  now r:ruch  talk  of  further  stepe  which may ca.rry our  pr,ogreee into  thomo|e cliroctly  polltlcal  field.  lve, f  or  our  part,  wclcorne  suoh otope:for  we bollove  that  they  can consolidate  the  pro6rese  that  our  cotrmunityhas aLroady nade,  ancl lcad  on towarcie the  Itcver  cl.oscr  unionr  wh;i.ch  i-ethe  explj.cit  ain  of  thc  Rorne  Treaty.Latcr  thio  mornin6,  r  beliove  that  you are  to  hear eomething aboutour  extcrnrrr  probJ"el,"rs  -  the  problems,  that  is,  of  the  comrrrunityro forcignrelatj-ons.  Many of  thcse  problc.rns  would have exietcd,  and wouLd havefaced  al-l- our  Govr-'rnrnents  -  including  the  Brj.tieh  Gdvernrnent -  had  grc.  Cottttntinity  never  como into  being.  I  anr  thinklng  of  such problerns ae thcwor'Lclf  s  underdevelopccl regions,  the  world  liquiclity  lrroblcm,  th." '.,t.stabilizaiion  of  r.avr  naterial  markets,  the  agricultural  problems  of  -.inclustrial  nations,  the  problenis of  ernergent Africa.  rt  is  my cor-  ,,viction  that  the  creation  of  the  European community gives  us all  atnagnlficent  opportunity  to  think  out  afresh  -  ancl toBether  -  ways ofsolvin6  these  problernsr  rvays which  vroulcl have bccn  riuch lese  easywithout  the  new eleritent of  a Europearr  Economic Comrnunity.  For  thisreasonr  a very  groat  rosponsibility  rests  upon us  e111  ancl I  arn  gladto  say  that  the  eebablishment  of  the  new organization  for  EconornicCo-opcration  and Devoloprnent  rnarke  the recognition  by  the  induetrialnations  of  the  h,est that  thts  is  a  responsibility  thcy  musi  aceept.Ilut  as  rvell  ae  thcse  truly  gi6antic  world  problerns, which,  rtepeabr the  Communityre  existence  has not  created but  facilitatecl,therc  nro  othcr'morc  lirnited  probJ.erns  that  she horoolf _has to  eomoext,en+c  raieod.  ono is  the  fear,  cxpressed  by  sorne  of  our  frionde  LnG.A.T.T,1  that  fheir  exports  trtay  suff er  fron  thc  graclual eetabLishrncntof  thc  Cortnon  Market.  lnother  is  the  sinllar  fear  expresscd  by sornoof  our  frj.cnds  i-n Europe.  So far,  I  think  it  rirust be admitted,  thescfears  ltave not  in  fact  matorializcd.  Thls  ie  notl  of  couree,  to  denythat  tltcy  rnay  one day,  and in  some casea,  provo  to  havo been J.egitipatoto  a  ccrtain  degree;  and for  thie  reason,  aE my colleagucs  from  ourDivision  of  Extcrnal  Relations  wj.ll  ehort.ly  explainl  we hava alwayedone our  lcveL  best  to  provide  for  wayo of  meeting  them should  theypror/o justified:  in  G.,I\.T.T. and in  tho  commlbbee  of  21  ,  ancl  moreespecially  by  eeeking  to  pursue  poj.icies  whlch  wlLL  eneure the  con-tinuotl  oxpaneion of. thc  Conmunityts  narket  and an cver  rnore ]iberaLpolicy  tolvarcls importe; frorn tlre  rest  of  the  worId.  So far,  the  flgrrrooare  a  tostir,rony  to  our  successl  for  Ln  19601 whilc  trade  within  theCornmunity increasecl  by  28% over  the  19j9  t:,fsuret  tracle  with  the  rostof  tlre  vorld  also  increased. -  only  a little  less  rapidly  -  by  27 %.The Cor.tmunityts  irnportnl  I  may add,  were aorllewhat  hlgher  than  herexports.But  finaL1y,  apart  from  trade  problems,  and  apart  frorn  thcexprcssod. on this  score,  thcre  were aleo  sono other.,  such  feareS:.te  . t/ l.  ofearsto..:  ri  l..,:::.'  ,,:l::;l{lfi:-  ',1  :':  .:  -l:.,,:,-,  ;1t;-They:have  never :  ::':  :  : .  . I'may  r*y, been,for'to  the  strength  of  the  V'fost.  C1early,  Soviet  politicai  etrateglets  ' .,,1are not ciecciuoA,  by the fact  of lrn."ro,nrounfty,"  ;";;;  ;t;;;;;;;;  .  .tarLff.|-|as.haoGroa]t.Brita1nr&8hasAmcri.cai-,.intott1inttinethat]..￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿our erf ort' at  economic 'intofr"tion le  likely  to 'cli'viA*i'putope or  :.  .  .  ''.',::'.euch ftypothotic4].  fcnren  ,How1clivleion  when  suoh nreetlngs.aB tho.  '  :..t  :.  But I  do not  nced to  clweLl"  on:l:  :';:.  l  :indeed,  <lotJ'Lr7  orte tallc  of 'rift andp:escnt:'a.re so frarrk ancl  ,friendly?  Rathor,  let  me rcpeat  what l.,saiclFb--l--r:  .i,  :.:t  .,): '':...  :  :a:-j  ;:  ':':'jl::at  th-LL  bu6innrnfg! wc.,havo  groat  taske, to, tackior:el.cl  btr1.  sidei.r, Lot  nrcrepea't atiein:what  har  b'ecn eaid  eo often:  the  dooi  of  our  Communlty,';,,that'iarious  door tn  thc  [r.ea,ty ):is  alwayb upen.  l,loanlvhiler there  ie',  mucfr to,,  ., L1clJ,os  ancl'Gentf  oruad; l  hopo,.tfrat your  visit  to  Bruesoli':6i11' '" ,,have shovrn  you  eomethl.ng  nore  oi  *rrit  |ve  laro ;dolng  on thla':'"taa  ;r t  -that  ovoi'-narnowlng Channel,l  and I. hope that  vrc  shqLL have many  moroopportunj.tlee  in  ttre futuro  of  meetlng with  each othcr  and discuoslngtogethar.'honro!l.emethat.chaJ.}engeuea1t￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿#

Welcome by Professor Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, to a group of visitors from "Britain in Europe". Brussels, 13 January 1961

Pro i  essor
Pres ident
I'J E . L C O M E
'it A 1, T  E  R  H  A  L  L  S  T  E  I : , N
of  the :Conmiss ion  o f  the  Et r ropean
Ecoson ic  Communl ty  i ,::':.:t'.
:1. ' ; : '
aa:,.':: to  a  g roup o f
I IBN]TAIN visitore fromIN EUROPEIT
1961
in  Brussels
on 13 .Ianuar,y,
Lad les  and Gent lemen;
May I  bcg ln  by  say ing ' , ,  a  l i t t le  b , - "Ja ted1-y ,  v re lcome to  Brusse ls  r . f lnc l ,  , , ;
to  tho  Comrn ies lon  o f  tho  i l : r ropern  Economic  Ccnr r run t ty .  I  ehou ld  havo: : . ' , : . i
f . i ked 'vc ry  rnuch to  be  ab le  to  we lcome you yeeberc lsy ;  bu t
vr i l l  forgivcr rne -  esl)eci ,r . t  ly as I  arn eure thel t  rny friend MariEtiolb'. wi,Ill ,
have voLsor,rer l  you a}rcar iy.  Nevprtheloss, let  rne adci
pereona l  l r l casr r re  i t  i s  to  r in r ;  to  be  abLe to  v re lcome
rneet  l ,Br j - ta in  in  Europr - . l r  j .n  Europe,  so  to  speak .
,  , '  
I  bol ievo I  an r i6ht in thinking that both our Cornnunlty an'd,tyot l r
:  o rgan iza t ion  arose f ron  tho  pr in tec l  
,word  -  in  our  o ; rse  the  nomc f r "u ty  j
'  
a l n
' . . , '  
. . . .  
. , , , , .  
and in y.ol t l r  casa the publ- icat ion | tBr i tain and Europerr.  Novt you af; .e
. f ;
:;::];
:. ir:'
,.f i
' .
f , ia rn  sure  yor r  
,
' l r  Th is ,  a f to r  a l l ,  i s  ae  i t  ehou l -d  be :  fo r  thc  Cornmuni ty  anc l  the  ,  ,
: , . . .  
t  -  -  
, . ,  1 :  
, . . "
. t : "  ,  Un i ted  l ( i .ngdorn  have very  impor tan t  in te res ts  in  co lnmon.  Both  ur " ,  I  , ,  . i
*i - 
ffit,n* 
tven rraLe-""##*'"t* u"irrr;i'ott *"r t:i;iffi
prob le l ts  in  the  a6r icu l tu ra l  f ie ld .  Both  are  invo lvcdn,  i "neseapab1yr ' ' i o t ,  ,
' the  
rap id  evo lu t ion  o f  the  Af r i can  cont inent ,  and j -n  the  need to  " i tu  
t ' '
that cont inent frorn the spread of the cold war.  Both are power.ful '  
' : ' , , ,  
, , .
a11 ies  i -n  the  At lan t i -c  Comrnun i ty .  Both  recogn ize  the  in te rdependenc u '  . "  ' . ,
wh ich  is  r to re  and rnoro  oharas ter is t i c  o f  a l l  our  p rob lems in  t r , *  : , l c - " t ; .
Bo th  a ro  engaged ln  v rha t  a  Br i t i sh  econon is t  rocont ly  ca l ledr fThe At tac
o n  l v o r r d  P o v e r t y t l  .  B o t h  o t a n d  f o r . p e a c e ,  f r e e d o m ,  a n d  j u s t i c e .
I  thinlc I  may say that Great Bri tain ha,s alr ' rays recognized the
impor tance o f  the  European cornmunJty .  she  wae t r rc  f i rs t ,  j -ndeed,  to
accred i t  a  d ip lo rna t ic  representa t ive  to  the  European Coa l  and Stee l
conmunj by when i t  v ' ras ret up i 'n 19521 and two yoars tater ehe concLudcd
an Agrcc l ten t  o f  Aseoc ia t ion  v r i th  i t ,  in  wh ich  a  g roa t  dea l  g f  in rpor te rn t
ccn ; r r l ta t ion  has  ta lcen  p lace .  More  recent ly l  she  oonc ludec l  a  ra ther
'q lmiLar  agrcenent  w i th  Eura tom.  Ear l ie r  th is  ycar : i .n  the  House o f  Co1r6-
on6t  mcrh ing  h ie  las t  epcech aa  Fore i6n  secre tary ,  Mr  ^gc lwyn L loyd  unc lo r . . . - .
l i ned  thn t  Great  l l r i ta in  we lconcdt f the  econorn ic  e t rcngth  and thc  po l i t io -
a l  cbheo ion  tha t  the  cornr i run l ty  i s  b r in8 lng  about . r r
r \ r roady ,  r  th ink ,  you  have heard  nbout  some o f  tho  progrese whrch
our cor:rr ,runi ty le rnarcing in tackl ing i ts internal probrems. you know
that  l vc  n ro  a l - ready  ahoac l  o f  our  t i rne tab le ,  even in  agr icu l - tu ra l  rna t tc ro ,
wh ich  nrc  a lways  the  nros t  d i f f i cu l t  to  deaL w i th .  you  knovr  tha t  there
is  now r : ruch  ta lk  o f  fu r ther  s tepe wh ich  may ca . r ry  our  p r ,ogreee in to  tho
m o | e  c l i r o c t l y  p o l l t l c a l  f i e l d .  l v e ,  f  o r  o u r  p a r t ,  w c l c o r n e  s u o h  o t o p e :
fo r  we bo l love  tha t  they  can conso l ida te  the  pro6rese tha t  our  co t rmun i ty
has  aLroady  nade,  anc l  l cad  on  towarc ie  the  I tcver  c l .oscr  un ionr  wh; i . ch  i -e
the  exp l j . c i t  a in  o f  thc  Rorne Trea ty .
L a t c r  t h i o  m o r n i n 6 ,  r  b e l i o v e  t h a t  y o u  a r e  t o  h e a r  e o m e t h i n g  a b o u t
our  ex tc rnr r r  p robJ"e l , " rs  -  the  prob lems,  tha t  i s ,  o f  the  comrr run i ty ro  fo rc ign
re la t j -ons .  Many o f  thcse  prob lc . rns  wou ld  have ex ie tcd ,  and wouLd have
faced al- l -  our Govr- ' rnrnents -  including the Brj . t ieh Gdvernrnent -  had grc
.  
Cot t t tn t in i t y  never  como in to  be ing .  I  anr  th ink lng  o f  such prob le rns  ae  thc
wor 'Lc l f  s  underdeve lopcc l  reg ions ,  the  wor ld  l iqu ic l i t y  l r rob lcm,  th . "
' . , t .
stabi l izai ion of r .avr nater ial  markets, the agricul tural  problems of - .
inc lus t r ia l  na t ions ,  the  prob len is  o f  e rnergent  A f r i ca .  r t  i s  my cor -  , ,
v ic t ion  tha t  the  c rea t ion  o f  the  European communi ty  g ives  us  a l l  a
tnagn l f i cen t  oppor tun i ty  to  th ink  ou t  a f resh  -  anc l  toBether  -  ways  o f
solvin6 these problernsr rvays which vroulcl  have bccn r iuch lese easy
wi thout  the  new e le r i ten t  o f  a  Europear r  Economic  Comrnun i ty .  For  th is
reasonr  a  very  g roa t  rospons ib i l i t y  res ts  upon us  e111 anc l  I  a rn  g lad
to  say  tha t  the  eebab l ishment  o f  the  new organ iza t ion  fo r  Econorn ic
Co-opcra t ion  and Devo loprnent  rnarke  the  recogn i t ion  by  the  induet r ia l
na t ions  o f  the  h ,es t  tha t  th ts  i s  a  respons ib i l i t y  thcy  mus i  aceept .
I lu t  as  rve l l  ae  thcse  t ru ly  g i6ant ic  wor ld  p rob le rns ,  wh ich ,  r
t e p e a b r  t h e  C o m m u n i t y r e  e x i s t e n c e  h a s  n o t  c r e a t e d  b u t  f a c i l i t a t e c l ,
t h e r c  n r o  o t h c r ' m o r c  l i r n i t e d  p r o b J . e r n s  t h a t  s h e  h o r o o l f  
_ h a s  t o  e o m o
ext ,en+c  ra ieod.  ono is  the  fear ,  cxpressed by  sorne  o f  our  f r ionde Ln
G . A . T . T , 1  t h a t  f h e i r  e x p o r t s  t r t a y  s u f f  e r  f r o n  t h c  g r a c l u a l  e e t a b L i s h r n c n t
o f  thc  Cor tnon Marke t .  lno ther  i s  the  s in l la r  fear  expresscd by  sorno
of  our  f r j . cnds  i -n  Europe.  So fa r ,  I  th ink  i t  r i rus t  be  admi t ted ,  thesc
f e a r s  l t a v e  n o t  i n  f a c t  m a t o r i a l i z c d .  T h l s  i e  n o t l  o f  c o u r e e ,  t o  d e n y
tha t  t l t cy  rnay  one day ,  and in  some casea,  p rovo  to  havo been J .eg i t ipa to
to  a  ccr ta in  degree;  and fo r  th ie  reason,  aE my co l leagucs  f rom our
D iv is ion  o f  Ex tc rna l  Re la t ions  w j . l l  ehor t . l y  exp la in l  we hava a lwaye
done our  l cveL bes t  to  p rov ide  fo r  wayo o f  meet ing  them shou ld  they
p r o r / o  j u s t i f i e d :  i n  G . , I \ . T . T .  a n d  i n  t h o  c o m m l b b e e  o f  2 1  ,  a n c l  m o r e
espec ia l l y  by  eeek ing  to  pursue po j . i c ies  wh lch  w lLL  eneure  the  con-
t inuot l  oxpane ion  o f .  thc  Conmuni ty ts  narke t  and an  cver  rnore  ] iberaL
po l icy  to lvarc ls  impor te ;  f ro rn  t l re  res t  o f  the  wor Id .  So fa r ,  the  f lg r r roo
are  a  tos t i r , rony  to  our  success l  fo r  Ln  19601 wh i lc  t rade w i th in  the
Cornmunity increasecl by 28% over the 19j9 t : , fsuret t racle with the rost
o f  t l re  vor ld  a lso  inc reased.  -  on ly  a  l i t t le  less  rap id ly  -  by  27  %.
The Cor . tmun i ty ts  i rnpor tn l  I  may add,  were  aor l lewhat  h lgher  than her
e x p o r t s .
But f inaL1y, apart  f rom trade problems, and apart  f rorn thc
exprcssod.  on  th is  score ,  thc re  were  a leo  sono o ther . ,  such feareS
:
. t
e  .  t /  l .  o
f ea rs
t o .
. :  r i  l
. . , : : : . '  , , : l : : ; l { l f i
: -  ' ,1  :
' :  
. :  - l :
. , , : , - ,  ;1 t ; -
T h e y : h a v e  n e v e r:  : : ' :  :  :  .  . I ' m a y  r * y ,b e e n ,
for '
to  the s t rength of  the V ' fost .  C1ear ly ,  Soviet  po l i t ica i  e t rateglets  '  
. , ,1
are not c iecciuoA, by the fact  of  l rn."ro,nrounfty,"  ; " ; ; ;  ; t ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  .  .
t a r L f f . | - | a s . h a o G r o a ] t . B r i t a 1 n r & 8 h a s A m c r i . c a i - , . i n t o t t 1 i n t t i n e t h a t ] . .                                
our erf ort ' at economic 
' intofr"tion 
le l ikely to 
'cl i 'viA*i 'putope 
or :. . . ' ' . ' , :: ' .
euch f typothot ic4] .  fcnren ,How1
cl iv le ion when suoh nreet lngs.aB tho
.  
'  
: . . t  :
. But I do not nced to clweLl" on
: l :  : ' ; : .  l  :
indeed, <lotJ'Lr7 orte tal lc of 'r i f t  and
p:escnt : 'a . re  so f rar rk  anc l  , f r iendly? Rathor ,  le t  me rcpeat  what  l . ,sa ic l
F b - - l - - r
:  
. i ,  : . : t  . ,
) :  ' ' : .
. .  :  : a : - j  ;
:  ' : ' : ' j l : :
at  th-LL bu6innrnfg!  wc. ,havo groat  taske,  to ,  tack ior :e l .c l  b t r1 .  s ide i . r ,  Lot  nrc
repea't at iein:what har b'ecn eaid eo often: the dooi of our Communlty, ' ;
, , that ' iar ious door  tn  thc [ r .ea, ty  ) : is  a lwayb upen.  l , loanlvh i ler  there ie '
, mucfr to
,, . ,  
L1clJ,os ancl 'Gentf oruad; l  hopo,.tfrat your visit  to Bruesoli ' :6i11' 
'"  
, ,
have shovrn you eomethl.ng nore oi *rr i t  |ve laro ;dolng on thla': '" taa ;r 
t  
-
that  ovoi ' -narnowlng Channel , l  and I .  hope that  vrc  shqLL have many moro
oppor tunj . t lee in  t t re  fu turo of  meet lng wi th  each othcr  and d iscuoslng
t o g e t h a r . ' h o n r o ! l . e m e t h a t . c h a J . } e n g e u e a 1 t                                                                                                                                    
#


Welcome by Professor Walter Hallstein, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, to a group of visitors from "Britain in Europe". Brussels, 13 January 1961

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Archive of European Integration

Archive of European Integration