THE 58TH SESSION OF THE COMMON MARKET MINISTERIAL COUNCIL OPENED IN BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 4, UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF MR ALFRED MUELLER - ARMACK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS IN WEST GERMANY. THE HIGH COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY WAS REPRESENTED BY PROFESSOR HALLSTEIN OF WEST GERMANY.

REPRESENTATIVES OF BELGIUM, WEST GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, LUXEMBOURG, AND THE NETHERLANDS, EXAMINED POINTS RAISED ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FAILED AT THE SESSION TO REACH A DECISION ON THE RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY WHICH HAS APPLIED FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMON MARKET. THE MINISTERS DID NOT AGREE ON THE AMOUNT AND NATURE OF FINANCIAL AID TO BE GIVEN TO TURKEY IN THE FIVE-YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD WHICH HAS BEEN PROPOSED BEFORE TURKEY CAN BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMON MARKET.

AT THE SAME TIME, SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMON MARKET WERE ENGAGED IN A "VERY EARNEST DISCUSSION" ON DIFFERENCES ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. AN OUTLINE REPORT, DEFINING PRECISELY THE NATURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN A BRITISH LINK-UP WITH THE SIX, WAS DRAFTED JOINTLY BY THE SEVEN DELEGATIONS. THE REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED TO BRITAIN'S LORD PRIVY SEAL, MR HEATH, AND THE MINISTERS OF THE SIX ON DEC. 8.