The Davignon Report Report on the problems of political unification, prepared by the Davignonl Committee and adopted by the foreign ministers of the ECMember States Luxembourg, 27 October 1970 Report by the Foreign Ministers of the Member States on the Problems of Political Unification' (Davignon Report), July 19 70 Part one 1 The Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Cotnmur>ities were instructed by the Heads of State or Goverrunent meeting at The Hague on 1 and 2 December 19692 'to study the best way of achieving progress in the matter of political unification, within the context of enlargement' of the European Communities. . . . 4 United Europe, conscious of the responsibilities incumbent on it by reason of its economic development, industrial power and standard of living, intends to step up its endeavours on behalf of the developing countries with a view to setting intemational relations on a basis of trust. 5. A united Europe should be based on a common heritage of respect for the liberty and rights of man and bring together democratic States with freely elected parliaments. This united Europe remains the fundamental aim, to be attained as soon as possible, thanks to the political will of the peoples and the decisions of their Governments. 6. The Ministers therefore considered that their proposals should be based on three facts, in order to ensure consistency with the continuity and political purpose of the European design which were emphasized so forcefully by the Hague Conference. 7. The first fact is that, in line with the spirit of the Preambles to the Treaties of Paris and Rome, tangible forni should be given to the will for a political union which has always been a force for the progress of the European Communities. 8. The second fact is that implementation of the common policies being introduced or already in force requires corresponding developments in the specifically political sphere, so as to bring nearer the day when Europe can speak with one voice. Hence the importance of Europe being built by successive stages and »he gradual development of the method and instruments best calculated to allow a common political course of action. 9. The third and final fact is that Europe must prepare itself to discharge the imperative world duties entailed by its greater cohesion and increasing role. 10 Current developments in the European Communities make it necessary for the Member States to step up their political cooperation and, in the initial stage, to provide themselves with ways and means of harmonising their views in the field of intemational politics. The Ministers therefore felt that foreign-polity concertation should be the object of the first practical endeavours to demonstrate to all that Europe has a political vocation. The Ministers áre, in fact, convinced that progress here would be calculated to promote the development of the Commurùties and give Europeans a keener awareness of their common responsibility. Part two The Ministers propose that: Being concerned to achieve progress towards political unification, the Governments should decide to cooperate in the field of foreign policy. Objectives This cooperation has two objectives: (a) To ensure greater mutual understanding with respect to the major issues of international politics, by exchanging information and consulting regularly; (b) To increase their solidarity by working for a harmonization of views, concertation of attitudes and joint action when it appears feasible and desirable. Mínisterial meetings 1. (a) The Foreign Ministers will meet at least once every six months, at the initiative of the President-in-otlice. (b) A conference of Heads of State or Government may be held instead if the Foreign Ministers consider that the situation is serious enough or the subjects to be discussed are sufliciently important to warrant this. (c) In the event of a serious crisis or special urgency, an extraordinary consultation will be arranged between the Governments of the member States. The President-in-oflice will get in touch with his colleagues to determine how such consultation can best be arranged. 2. The meetings shall be chaired by the Foreign Minister of the country providing the President of the Council of the European Communities. 3. The ministerial meetings shall be prepared by a Committee of the heads of political departments. Polítical Commíttee 1. This Committee, comprising the heads of the political departments, will meet at least four times a year to do the groundwork for the ministerial meetings and to carry out any tasks entrusted to it by the Ministers. 2. The chairmanship of the Committee will be govemed by the rules laid down for the ministerial meetings. 3. The Committee may set up working parties for special tasks. It may instruct a panel of experts to assemblé data relating to a specific problem and to submit the possible solutions. 4. Any other form of consultation may be envisaged if the need arises. Matters withín the scope of the consultatíons The Governments will consult each other on all major questions of foreign policy. The member States will be free to propose any subjects they wish for political consultation. Commission of the European Communities The Commission will be consulted if the activities of the European Communities are atTected by the work of the Ministers. European Parliament Public opinion and its spokesmen must be associated with the construction of the political union, so as to ensure that it is a democratic process. The Ministers and the members of the Political Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will hold six-monthly meetings to discuss questions which are the subject of consultations in the framework of foreign policy cooperation. These meetings will be informal, to ensure that the parliamentarians and Ministers can express their views freely. General 1. The meetings will normally be held in the country of their chairman. 2. The host State will take all due steps to provide a secretarial service and for the practical organization of the meetings. 3. Each State will appoint one of its foreign affairs officials as the correspondent of his counterparts in the other countries. Part three 1. To ensure continuity in the task embarked on, the Ministers propose to pursue their work on the best way to achieve progress towards political unification and intend to submit a second report. 2. The work in question will also cover improvement of foreign policy cooperation and a search for new fields in which progress can be made. It will have to allow for any studies undertaken in the context of the European Communities, more particularly with a view to strengthening structures so as to ensure that they can, ii necessary, cope satisfactorily with the extension and growth of their tasks. 3. To this end, the Ministers shall instruct the Political Committee to arrange its work in such a way that it can discharge this task and to report back at each of their half-yearly meetings. 4. Once a year, the President-in-office of the Council will provide the European Parliament with a progress report on the work in question.