23. As on the previous occasions, two fellow members of EFTA, Norway and Denmark, and the Irish Republic, applied to join the Communities at the same time as we did. Negotiations for their entry are also well advanced. Discussions have also been started between the Community and the other members of EFTA who for either political or economic reasons feel unable to seek full membership of the Community. The decisions of the other European applicants about their negotiations for membership of or some other relationship with the Communities depend to a large extent on those of the United Kingdom. The agreements now reached between the United Kingdom Government and the Community on virtually all major issues of substance mean that our negotiations have reached the stage where it is both necessary and possible for us to take a decision of principle whether to enter the Communities. The procedure the Government proposes to follow was announced in Parliament on 17 June, 1971 (see Annex C).
The Case for British Membership of the European Communities
24. The European Communities have been established because the member countries have far more interests in common than differences. Western Europe is one of the great centres of world events, but individually none of its countries is now powerful enough to exert a decisive influence. They have a mutual interest in each other's security; they are determined never again to go to war with each other, and recognise that a threat to any of them threatens all. They have similar economic and social interests and standards of life. Their industries cannot operate efficiently with different policies and standards. No single member country can afford more than a limited part in the full range of modern technological and industrial advance, upon which both security and prosperity greatly depend. In all these respects our position is similar to that of our neighbours.
25. The Six countries have recognised these facts. They have already shown in the years in which they have built up their Communities that by harmonising their economic policies and developing their economic resources in common they have been able to increase their prosperity, to provide a stronger base for their security, and to exert a major influence in world economic affairs. The contrast between their experience in recent years, as members of the Communities, and ours outside, when our resources have not been growing sufficiently to do all we should like to do at home and abroad, suggests that they chose the right road. The Six are certainly convinced of this; and they now plan to develop common policies and common action not only in economic affairs, but also in matters of foreign policy. They recognise that we have similar interests and they wish us to join them.
THE POLITICAL CASE
26. Our geographical, military, political, economic and social circumstances are so similar to those of the Six, and our objectives so much in common, that it is in our best interest to join forces with them in the creation of a wider European Community of free nations, whose joint strength and influence on the world can be so much greater than that of its individual members. If we remained outside the Communities, we should
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