Following consideration of a report by the Minister for External Affairs¹ on a study being carried out by a Special Working Party established by the Council of the Organization for European Economic Co-Operation on the possible forms and methods of association, on a multilateral basis, between the proposed European Customs Union (of France, Western Germany, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg) and member countries of the Organization not taking part in the Union and, in particular, on the possibility that the method of association may take the form of the creation of a Free Trade Area which would include the Union and such member countries, it was decided that, acting under the direction of the Taoiseach, the Secretaries of the Departments of External Affairs, Industry and Commerce, Agriculture, Finance and the Taoiseach should examine the questions of

1. the probable effects on Ireland’s interests on the establishment of association, as contemplated, between the Union and other member countries of the Organization and
2. the nature of Ireland’s representation at future meetings of the Special Working Party mentioned above,

with a view to the submission of a report on these matters.