REGRETS IN E.E.C.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30091, 27 March 1963, Page 13

REGRETS IN E.E.C.

Italian Call For Unity (N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) STRASBOURG, Mar. 25. A “ditch” created between Common Market members by Britain’s failure to gain entry had widened, Mr Laetano Martino, of Italy, said today. Mr Martino was speaking at the opening of a six-day session of the European Parliament. The meeting will discuss a report on the abortive Brussels negotiations for Britian’s membership. Among the first business of today’s session was Mr Martino’s re-election as the Parliament’s president. He said in his opening speech the “ditch,” between members should have been “filled in, not widened, as was unhappily the case.” He was referring to Italy’s and Holland’s postponement of signing an association agreement between the Common Market and 18 African States.

Italy and Holland refused to set a definite date for signature of the agreement, initialled last December, at a recent meeting of the E.E.C. Council of Ministers. Mir Martino appealed to the six member Governments to reject everything which could divide them, and look for every possible means towards unity.