147 



tion of a single external tariff. By the close of 1961, internal tariffs 

 among members had been reduced by 40 percent on industrial goods 

 and by 30 percent on farm products. Quotas on industrial goods had 

 been abolished, and the EEC was working toward a common external 

 tariff intended to be 20 percent below the average of The national 

 tariffs. Complete internal free trade was to be established on July 1, 

 1907. Quotas on trade were removed and national tariffs toward non- 

 member countries were aligned toward the common external tariff, 

 effective July 1968. 



The second community originating at the Messina conference was 

 the European Atomic Community (Euratom). This multinational 

 supranational organization of six nations to foster use of nuclear 

 energy is treated in detail in sections VII and VIII. 



COMMON ORGANS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 



The parallel membership and organization of the Coal and Steel 

 Community, the Economic Community, and Euratom led to an agree- 

 ment in 1965 to combine them under a single system of executive, 

 legislative, and judicial bodies. This agreement took effect on July 1, 

 l'.MlT. and the three communities now share in common a Commission 

 of Member States, a Council of Ministers, a European Parliament, 

 an Economic and Social Committee, and a Court of Justice. 



The Commission of the European Communities: The Commission 

 consists of nine members : two each from the Federal Republic of Ger- 

 many, France, and Italy, and one each from the Netherlands, Belgium, 

 and Luxembourg. It implements, administers, and enforces the Treaties 

 of Paris and Rome. The Commission works on the principle of col- 

 legiate responsibility for respective sectors. Energy is identified as 

 one such sector, which in 1970 was the responsibility of the member 

 from the Federal Republic of Germany. 26 



The Council of Ministers: A Council of Ministers represents the 

 interests of member states, with one representative from each member. 

 Usually the representative is the minister concerned with the subject 

 before the Council, but the foreign affairs ministers participate in 

 the most important sessions. The work of the Council is prepared by 

 a Committee of Permanent Representatives of the member states. 



The European Parliament : The legislative arm of the common or- 

 ganization is the European Parliament, which supervises the execu- 

 tive organs of the communities and debates their annual reports. It 

 has the power by vote of censure of a two-thirds majority to dismiss 

 the executives of the communities. The Parliament maintains 12 stand- 

 ing committees to follow the work of the three communities. One of 

 these committees deals with energy, research, and atomic affairs. While 

 the Commission need not defer to the Parliament, in practice it tries 

 to shape its proposals to attain approval by a majority. 27 



The Economic and Social Committee: An Economic and Social Com- 

 mittee of 101 members represents employers, trade unions, and the gen- 

 eral interest. Its function is advisory. 



:G The 13 sectors which have been identified are: external relations, external trade, eco- 

 nomic and financial affairs, industry, internal market and regional policy, competition, 

 budget and information, agriculture, energy, social affairs, transport, research and tech- 

 nology, and development aid. 



» The U.S. Department of State Fact Book of the Countries of the World (New York: 

 Crown Publishers, Inc., 1970), p. 785. 



