Demonstrators outside conference building; delegates assembled inside; Brandt arriving; Pompidou taking seat; De Jong speaking; delegates listening.




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Background: The leaders of the six European Common Market countries - France West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg - today (1 December) began a two-day summit meeting at the Hague on the future of the European Community.

Several hundred people, many carrying banners, shouted 'We want Europe' as the leaders arrived at the ancient Hall of Knights for the meeting.

The meeting is designed to give the Community a new lease of life in the 'seventies and Britain, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden a chance to join.

The three-hour first-day session was opened by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Piet de Jong.

During the session West German Chancellor Willi Brandt urged the Market to let the entry applicants know that entry talks should be possible early next year.

French President Georges Pompidou and the Premiers of the five Market members stated their positions. Dutch Foreign Minister Dr. Joseph Luns said that so far little progress had been made but he hoped that delegates on the second day would be able to tackle problems in detail.

President Pompidou was quoted by his spokesman as telling the conference he favoured the opening of negotiations with Britain and that he hoped these would succeed.

But M. Pompidou made clear the Market must establish a joint negotiating position before entry talks could begin.

The other French demand is that there must first be agreement among the six on the definitive agricultural financing regulation before the end of this month.