1.
TGV INT Committee seated at tables
0.10

2.
CU PAN FROM President of Council Mr. Lappas speaking to Commission President
0.26

3.
SV Delegates seated around tables (3 shots)
0.37

4.
GV Mr. Lappas continues to address committee
0.40



Initials BB/0200 FC/MR/BB/0208



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Economic and Social Committee of the EEC met for the first time since the Community's enlargement. The new members were installed and welcomed by the outgoing President, Mr. Lappas.

The number of members has risen from 101 to 144, as 24 seats were allotted to the United Kingdom, 9 to Ireland and 9 more to Denmark. As it turned out, the British needed only 16 because the 8 representatives of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TUC) declined to attend, a fact regretted by Mr. Lappas in his speech.

Mr. Ortoli was elected as the new President.

Though its function is only advisory, it is one of the two most important consultative bodies of the EEC and includes industrialists, farmers, trade unionists and members of the liberal professions from the whole range of social and economic life.

SYNOPSIS: The Economic and Social Committee of the EEC meets in Brussels for the first time since the Community's enlargement. There are now 144 members.

The outgoing President, Mr. Lappas, welcomed the new members, but they weren't all present.....the British Trade Unionists having declined to attend, a fact Mr. Lappas openly regretted. Sixteen members came from the United Kingdom, though it is allotted 24 seats. Ireland and Denmark have nine each.

Though it has only an advisory function, this Committee is one of the most important. It brings together people from the whole range of economic and social life, industrialists, farmers, trade unionists and men from different liberal professions.