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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,
Washington, D.C., June 22, 1976.

Hon. THOMAS E. MORGAN,

Chairman, Committee on International Relations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We are submitting for consideration by the Committee on International Relations a report on the meetings held in Dublin on April 21-23, 1976, by members of the committee, and other Members of the House with an official delegation of the European Parliament.

We hope that the report will be useful to the committee in its consideration of legislation relating to U.S. relations with Europe.

DONALD M. FRASER,
BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL.

(V)

PREFACE

This ninth meeting of the delegations of the House of Representatives and of the European Parliament was, in the judgment of the participants, the most successful to date. Partly this was due to the well-balanced and well-prepared delegations on both sides and partly to the good blend of experienced members and those participating for the first time.

The American delegation of 15 members was the largest ever to participate in one of these programs; it was composed of five members of our committee, an equal number from the Committee on Ways and Means with the remaining five from three other House committees. This combination brought a wide range of interests and experience to the provocative papers and presentations made by both delegations.

Our practice of meeting in different countries of the European Community's nine members has been extremely useful for both the American and the European participants. The exceptional graciousness of our Irish hosts helped both delegations to gain an excellent understanding of both the diversity and character of Ireland and of that country's strong commitment to a united Europe.

The important decisions which the European Community will soon make on direct elections to the European Parliament may mark the start of a new and more vital stage of development for this assembly. Direct elections, now tentatively scheduled for May 1978, will also stimulate the growth of European political parties with broad implications both within and without the Parliament. We feel fortunate in having developed a close and fruitful working relationship with our parliamentary colleagues in Europe as they take these steps toward unification which may be the most important political development in this entire century.

(IX)

DONALD M. FRASER.
BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL.

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