- Date:
- 1962
- Summary:
- In mid-December 1961, the Council of Ministers, the highest authority in the Common Market, gathered in Brussels for the most momentous of its periodic meetings. Four years had elapsed since the activation of the Common Market treaty, January 1, 1958. According to the treaty, midnight of December 31, 1961, was the deadline for the end of the first and passage into the second of three transitional phases in Europe's economic unification process. Passage into this second phase required a unanimous Council statement that the first stage had been completed in accordance with the Treaty provisions. When it became evident that no final agreement could be reached by the deadline, the Ministers decided that, for them, 1961 would continue to the bitter end of the session. Although it took the entire first half of January, 1962 to reach an agreement, all minutes and official documents were dated December, 1961. This program outlines the salient problems that confronted the Council, and presents statements on one impact of the Common Market in various areas of commerce and politics. Animated graphics illustrate the present organization of the European Communities.