CRUCIAL E.E.C. TALKS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 11

CRUCIAL E.E.C. TALKS

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) LUXEMBOURG, Jan. 17.

Ministers of the European Common Market gathered for a meeting today that could spell life or death for the influential six-nation trading bloc, United Press International reported.

Failure of the meeting, being held in little Luxem-

bottrg's tiny city hall, could kill the economic union which has given Europe the richest years of its history. The crucial issue is State rights—how much each member country will have to say about the policies of the market as a whole. The conflict has set France against the rest of its partners —West Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries. International Government President de Gaulle began boycotting market meetings six months ago because of what he considered a trend toward international government.

The other five partners arranged today’s meeting in an attempt to end the boycott, which has paralysed the trading bloc. Subjects to be discussed included President de Gaulle’s determination to retain veto power for Common Market members (according to the charter, decisions are supposed to be made on a majority basis beginning this year) and his desire to strip the Market’s Executive Commission of its semiindependent powers, such as the authority to propose new legislation for the trading bloc and to receive ambassadors in the manner of a sovereign government. France’s partners must avoid taking too tough a stand against the French President’s demands. This could drive France out of the trading bloc and in turn kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. But informed sources said that France’s partners were tired of bowing to President de Gaulle’s will. The last great crisis in the

Common Market occurred three years ago when President de Gaulle, to the horror of his partners, vetoed a British bid for membership. That time, the partners gave in because they felt the economic value of the trading bloc was too great to sacrifice. Position Weaker In London, the “Guardian” newspaper said today that President de Gaulle’s position over the European Common Market was weaker than it seemed. In an editorial the Liberal daily said the conflict behind today's meeting in Luxembourg was between a supranational concept of European unity and the Gaullist philosophy of the nation-state exercising unfettered national sovereignty.