Ministerial Communiqué Paris 31st Mar - 1st Apr 1960

Final Communiqué Chairman : Mr P. H. Spaak. Synopsis Defence Ministers examine ways to meet defence requirements. In accordance with the decision taken at the Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council in December, 1959, the Ministers of Defence of NATO member countries met at NATO Headquarters on 31st March and 1st April, 1960, to examine proposals designed to increase the effectiveness of NATO Defence. The meetings were held under the chairmanship of the Secretary General, Mr. Paul-Henri Spaak. The Ministers discussed various ways of obtaining the best use of the resources devoted to defence in the light of the improvement in the economic situation in most member countries and technical progress achieved. They considered among others proposals for increasing co-operation and avoiding duplication in research, development and production of armaments, for improving the logistic system of the allied forces and their training facilities, and for meeting defence requirements. A wide range of suggestions was presented and led to a valuable and extensive exchange of ideas, which are to be studied in detail. The present status of equipment in modern weapons was also examined.