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Steps Towards Common Market

2nd March 1962, Page 55
2nd March 1962
Page 55
Page 55, 2nd March 1962 — Steps Towards Common Market
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

No Fundamental Change in Transport Likely

FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT iT is generally accepted that the British _talks with the E.E.C. really got down to brass tacks as a result of last Week's visit to 'Brussels by Ministers Heath and Soames. With the formation of guiding principles on agriculture . by all the Ministers concerned, the way was opened up for detailed talks lasting some months by their deputies,

At the same time, progress was reviewedon other aspects of the Treaty of Rome; notably those provisions known as "economic union,". under which a common transport lioliey is laid down in principle. As yet, this is only a principle, not only between ourselves and the E.E.C., but between the " six " themselves. It is hard, as yet, to visualize what will emerge and the Ministers themselves have not discussed Britain's part in any detail. A good deal of co-operation already exists however, and intensive work is going on at the Ministry of Transport to draft out the adjustments which would be needed.

It is generally understood that some revision of British laws would follow adherence to the Rome Treaty, however modified. Adjustment to allow the free flow of goods once, tariff cuts have been negotiated should not be too hard.

No fundamental change in Britain's transport system is likely to result from our entry into the E.E.C. What will ensue, it is believed, is a massive extension. of opportunities for British operators on the Continent, arid for European carriers in this country.

One oddity is that the transport provisions of the Treaty of Rome so far only apply to. roads, railways and inland waterways, since the Six are linked by land.

If Britain joins, a new element largely uncommon to the other six—the sea— intervenes. The Treaty wisely covers this aspect, along with possible. increased trading by air, by allowing for separate provisions to be adopted when necessary.

The current official talks between 'Britain and France on a Channel crossing enter the considerations, here. If a rail or road liuk.is decided—and this seems inevitable—the transport systems will have no "unnatural break."

Even so, the cross-Channel steamers will always be a force to be reckoned with, whether on a container basis or by the transportation of whole vehicles.

One important thing the Treaty powers have already done is lay down that there shall be no price discrimination on the grounds of the nationality of the customer. This is already, the general rule in Britain, and the new Transport Bill will add to this happy object by clearing away the shackles on price freedom for the state operators.

The full extent of the Common Market's effects on the British transport industry thus cannot be assessed until an E.E.C. policy is agreed, and Britain takes her special place in the overall pattern.

But one thing is certain: if the talks about our association fail, enough has already been done at the old 0.E.E.C, level—and is continuing—to make a harmonized transport policy almost inevitable.


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