VI
28
Page 54
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
As a result of preliminary studies we see no great advantage in the Assembly's proposal to establish a European Search Office, from which the United Kingdom incidentally is unlikely to derive any benefit. Moreover, the Consultative Assembly's draft is inadequate. Nevertheless, we ought to be co-operative in this
matter.
It is therefore recommended that the Foreign Secretary should suggest that this matter be referred for consideration to a body of technical experts, who should try to produce a workable and economical scheme, and that this study could best take place in O.E.E.C., since it is important that Germany should. participate in it.
VII
RECOMMENDATION REGARDING A EUROPEAN PASSPORT, AND RESOLUTION REGARDING EUROPEAN NATIONALITY
1.
Recommendation that the question of a European passport should be studied by each Member State's appropriate department.
It may be that, if this recommendation is seriously pressed, we shall have to agree to it, but it is, however, clear that the problem is largely an abstract one until progress has been made towards a common European nationality.
2. Resolution that the Standing Committee or any other Committee should consider the question of a common European nationality.
This is an Assembly matter and can be noted. Since we wish to restrict Assembly Committees between Sessions, the Standing Committee should be told hat no extra finance would be provided for any Committee to study this matter ther than the Standing Committee itself. Alternatively, since progress on this question must be made before much progress can be made about a European passport, the Committee of Ministers might like to set up a Working Party to consider on a governmental level what progress can be made on this question of nationality laws, the Standing Committee of the Assembly being told that there is therefore no need for them to undertake the task.
VIII
ASSEMBLY'S RESOLUTION THAT THE SECRETARY-GENERAL BE ASKED TO STUDY AND REPORT ON THE PROBLEM OF REFUGEES
This is an Assembly matter and the Committee of Ministers need perhaps do no more than take note of the resolution. But, on the other hand, the problem is being handled with great competence by the International Refugee Organisation, and it would seem to be a waste of time, and perhaps of money, for the Assembly to cause the Secretariat to undertake the study proposed.
Page 54
Page 54
88