1.
GV Demonstrators march through streets chanting slogans towards the Barberini building (2 shots)
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GV Demonstrators pushed to one side by police as ministers arrive for conference
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SV Ministers into building (Belgian delegation)
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GV Gaston Thorn, Prime Minister of Luxembourg arrives and walks to newsmen and enters
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LV Prime Minister Wilson and Callaghan arrive
1.10

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GV INT Delegates shaking hands and French President walking through
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SV ZOOM TO Wilson & Callaghan speaking
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SV French delegation with Giscard talking TO Schmidt of Germany PAN TO other delegations seated
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GV PAN Newsmen taking pictures
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Initials BB/1645 DE/AW/BB/1705



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The two-day summit meeting for European Common Market heads of government opened in the Italian capital, Rome, on Monday (1 December).

The key issue on the agenda was that of representation at the coming Paris Energy Conference. Britain argues that, as the only potential oil producer among the nine european Economic Community (EEC) countries, it has the right to a place of its own at the Energy Conference, due to open on 16 December. Britain has rejected proposals that it should take part as a member of a single EEC delegation.

Failure to resolve the deadlock could affect the timing of the Paris conference...as well as raising the whole question of the EEC's supposed cohesion. The conference has been called to discuss energy, raw materials, development aid and related questions.

Prime Minister Harold Wilson will also find himself at odds with his eight community partners over British plans to impose selective import controls.

As the ministers arrived for the conference, hundreds of demonstrators lined the approach to the Palazzo Barberini, demanding direct elections to the EEC's European Parliament. They waved the green and white flags of the European Federalist Movement. The summit is expected to discuss the possibility of electing the Parliament by universal suffrage in 197 or soon after.

But the British Labour Government has expressed reservations about the 1978 date.

Other items on the agenda include the introduction of a common Community passport, reform of the common Agricultural Policy and the tightening of controls on Community spending.

SYNOPSIS: Hundred of demonstrators greeted the heads of government of the nine European Common Market countries as they arrived for a summit meeting in Rome on Monday. The protestors were calling for direct elections to the EEC's European Parliament. They waved the green and white flags of the European Federalist Movement.

The meeting is expected to discuss the possibility of electing the Parliament by universal suffrage in 1978, or soon after. But the British Labour Government has expressed reservations about the 1978 date.

But that debate was only one of many on the agenda for the two-day conference. The leaders were expected to discuss the introduction of a common Community passport, to be in use by about 1980, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the tightening of controls on Community spending.

But the British delegation, led by Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was expected to be involved in heated debates with the other eight nations of several issues.

The most controversial discussion was expected to centre round Britain's demand for its own seat at the coming Paris Energy Conference. The conference has been called to discuss energy, raw materials, development aid and other related topics. The EEC wants to send one delegation, including Britain.

But Britain says it should have its own seat because it's the only potential oil producer among the EEC countries. Failure to resolve the deadlock could affect the timing of the Paris conference. And it also brings the EEC's supposed solidarity under question.