The Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its regular semiannual ministerial meeting at Ottawa on May 22–24, 1963. According to the communique released at the end of the meeting, the Ministers emphasized that the enduring character of the North Atlantic alliance, founded on the principles of interdependence and common defense, constituted a basic guarantee for the maintenance of peace.

The first part of the eighth ordinary session of the Assembly of the Western European Union (WEU) took place in Paris from June 4 to 8, 1962. Mr. Arthur Conte (French Socialist) was re-elected President. In addition to the usual reports on defense questions, the Assembly took up the question of the negotiations between the European Common Market and the United Kingdom. On the solution of the Commonwealth problem in the negotiations, the Assembly recommended that special provisions should be worked out to cover a transitional period for imported foodstuffs, especially from the temperate zone. On political union, the Assembly's recommendation proposed that it should take the form of a Community institution, with an executive independent of the member states and responsible to an elected assembly and a ministerial council voting in some cases by qualified majority.

The Council of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) held its eighteenth session on November 12–16, 1962, under the chairmanship of Mr. Peers L. Carter, United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Office of the United Nations. The Canadian ambassador informed the Council that Canada would resign its membership in ICEM, effective December 31, 1962. The Canadian delegate stressed that his government's departure from ICEM in no way diminished Canada's interest and concern for refugees. He said that the Canadian government would examine from year to year proposals to make a special voluntary grant to ICEM for the transport of refugees. The Council took note of the Canadian government's decision with deep regret.