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Community. The Six have not lost any of their national identities or their national institutions and points of view, nor shall we lose our national identity. They retain their own ways of life: as any tourist knows, France and the French are no less French, Holland and the Dutch are no less Dutch, after 20 years of Community life. They retain their own Monarchs and Heads of State, their own Governments, their own Parliaments, Courts and local administrations. Where the members reach common agreement to pool resources and authority, it is done because they consider it is in their interests to do it. At present the Communities' institutions are purely economic. But if the development of European policies in non-economic fields calls for new institutions, then as a member Britain will play a full and equal part in devising whatever additions to the institutional framework are required.
31. The treaties establishing the European Economic Community and Euratom are concluded for an unlimited period; that establishing the European Coal and Steel Community for fifty years. Those treaties contain no provision expressly permitting or prohibiting withdrawal. Nor do some other important treaties to which the United Kingdom is a party, for example the United Nations Charter. The Community system rests on the original consent, and ultimately on the continuing consent, of member states and hence of national Parliaments. The English and Scottish legal systems will remain intact. Certain provisions of the treaties and instruments made under them, concerned with economic, commercial and closely related matters, will be included in our law. The common law will remain the basis of our legal system, and our courts will continue to operate as they do at present. In certain cases however they would need to refer points of Community law to the European Court of Justice. All the essential features of our law will remain, including the safeguards for individual freedom such as trial by jury and habeas corpus and the principle that a man is innocent until proved guilty, as well as the law of contract and tort (and its Scottish equivalent), the law of landlord and tenant, family law, nationality law and and land law.
32. In the political, as in the economic field, the strength of the Community lies not so much in the safeguards limiting its operation, as in the common interests which member countries share. In a world where so much power is concentrated outside Europe, and where in international terms Europe has become one region among others, the differences between European neighbours are insignificant, compared with what we have in common. In history and culture, in political, legal and social framework, in social structures, in standards of living and in national interests and objectives, the countries of the Communities and the United Kingdom have a European heritage.
33. So one half of the political case for joining Europe is that it will make us and our European neighbours stronger to defend our own national interests. The other half is that it will enable us to work together for our common objectives. This was summed up by the then Prime Minister in his statement to the House of Commons on 2 May, 1967:
Together we can ensure that Europe plays in world affairs the part which the Europe of today is not at present playing. For a Europe that fails to
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