European Leaders Back ‘Step-by-Step Progress’ on Arms Control

Heads of government of the European Communities ended a two-day summit meeting here Saturday with a carefully worded call for “step-by-step progress” toward a verifiable arms agreement “given the need for a stable overall balance at all times.”

The statement stressed that reductions in nuclear weapons “would increase the importance of eliminating disparities in conventional weapons and securing a worldwide ban on chemical weapons.” It added that the heads of government “underline the importance of solidarity on these issues among all members of the Western alliance.”

In the continuing post-Reykjavik uncertainty over the outlook for any superpower arms control agreement, the European statement was also designed to show support for the United States by deliberately downgrading any pressure from this side of the Atlantic right now for faster progress in the Geneva negotiations.

No Mention of Iran

“The United States has certain problems right now, and it is important that Europe be seen as stable, constructive, forward-looking and getting on with the work we have to do,” said Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who presided over the summit meeting under the current British presidency of the 12-nation organization.

Thatcher acknowledged that the situation in Washington had been discussed briefly and informally, but she made no specific mention of Iran and cut off further questions at her news conference with the comment: “Our great hope is that things will soon return to normal, and there is no need to take the matter further. Whatever the problems, we all hope that a forward and constructive approach will soon take hold.”

The summit results, Thatcher said, were “very constructive, very practical and not very dramatic.”

These twice-yearly heads-of-government meetings of what is known in European Communities parlance as the European Council usually focus on broad policy objectives for internal progress within Europe, with the hope that they can be translated into action in the coming six months.

Statement on Terrorism

This time the heads of government concentrated in particular on pushing ahead with decisions to promote freer movement of capital throughout the European Communities, reduce business regulations and prepare measures to help set up small businesses and an action program for employment growth.

In a statement on terrorism, the government heads reasserted a common policy of “no concessions under duress to terrorists or their sponsors,” and again pledged “pooling resources to maximize the ability to prevent terrorist acts and bring those responsible to justice.”

Border Controls

Among new measures to be coordinated across Europe will be the problem of theft and forgery of passports, a tightening of external frontier controls and measures to prevent illegal emigration into the European Communities. Since citizens of all 12 countries are free to travel anywhere in Europe without visas or restrictions, the problem of spotting potential terrorists entering and leaving in such mass movements every day is complex.

It was also agreed to step up concerted action on drug abuse, including a harmonization of criminal legislation on drug offenses throughout Europe.

A brief statement on the rising problem of AIDS stressed “the importance of coordinating national campaigns to improve awareness and information about the disease and prevent its spread.”