asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report that the EEC have made it clear that the Swedish Government cannot negotiate a treaty of association with the EEC because of its professed wish to remain neutral; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Treaties.
13.
I have seen the report in question. The Community have not as yet adopted a position on the form which Sweden's relationship with the European Communities should take.
Could I ask the Minister have we been given to understand that a nation which express a wish to retain its neutrality, as we have expressed a wish to retain our neutrality, is thereby debarred from negotiating the Treaty, either for full membership or association?
No, this has never been put to us, if that is what the Deputy means, and there is no Community philosophy about the exclusion of associate status for neutral nations.
About neutrality related to association?
No, it has never been put to us.
Could we take the point made by the Minister about association and neutrality? Is it or is it not a fact that neutrality is a bar to entry into the Community—full entry?
The Treaty of Rome, which we accept, does seek to have the countries of Europe co-operate more and more closely together and there has not been anything at any stage to conflict with our neutrality in that, nor does our neutrality conflict with our participating in this aim to participate in the close union of the countries of Europe.
Would the Minister then confirm that we can become a full member of the Community without thereby abandoning our neutrality? I would ask the Minister if he could kindly answer that with a "yes" or "no".
I do not think the Deputy could limit me to that.
There is nobody who could limit the Minister.
We are conscious of the fact that we declared ourselves neutral as between blocs, or neutral in a conflict, and there is nothing in that position which stops us from becoming a member of the Community. We have subscribed to the Treaty of Rome which seeks co-operation and closer union between the peoples of Europe but we see no conflict there.
Would the Minister say that the policy of the Government is to retain neutrality if we are accepted as a full member?
The Deputy has another question about participating in a conflict. There is no commitment to belong to any bloc or to take part in any conflict involved in negotiating membership of the Community. There is a commitment to seek the closer union of the peoples of Europe. It has not arisen in the negotiations but it has been said here and outside by me and other members of different Governments that if this union of Europe comes about and we are part of it then we will take part in the defence of Europe just as now we defend our own territory but there is absolutely no question at this time of participating on one side or another in a bloc or taking part in any conflict and the Treaty of Rome, I might point out to the Deputy, was formulated by people who wished to prevent the type of conflict again arising in Europe in which the Deputy fears we might become involved.
Can we take it then that the Minister and the Government have departed from our traditional policy, or anticipated that they must depart from our traditional policy of neutrality and that that decision has been conveyed to the Common Market countries?
No, there has been no question of departing from any policy raised at any time in the negotiations.
About our traditional policy of neutrality?
Traditional since the last war—if that is what the Deputy means by traditional. We do not belong to any bloc. We follow an independent line in foreign policy. There is an agreement by us to participate in the D'Avignon Committee which seeks to find co-operation in foreign policy but there is no question of accepting an imposed foreign policy in that. There is the overall commitment to seek and participate in the unfication or closer union of the people of Europe.
Could I ask the Minister——
Question No. 14. We cannot debate this question all evening.
Could I ask the Minister will there be any obligation on this country to contribute to a common defence policy, or any such thing?
There is no question of that at this time. I should like to tell the House that there is no guaranteed continuation of the European concept. This is something that the nations committed to closer union of the European countries will work for. We will participate in that working and so will the other nations involved. There is no question of having anything imposed on you. We will be participating in that work as a sovereign nation.
Is it not true to say that if one of the member nations of the Community is attacked by a country from outside the Community we will be under a commitment to assist in the defence of that country?
Our commitments now, and as far as I can see, are to defend our own territory.
That is at the moment but when we enter the Common Market?
There is no commitment. If such a commitment did arise it would have to be a decision by our country to participate in that. It has not arisen and is not now arising.