HC Deb 22 February 1984 vol 54 cc815-6
60. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to accelerate the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Community.

Mr. Rifkind

We are already working for rapid progress, with a view to completion of the negotiations during 1984 so that Spain and Portugal can accede to the Community by 1 January 1986, as they wish.

Mr. Foulkes

How does it help to speed accession by putting forward transitional agricultural proposals that enrage the Spanish Foreign Minister and threaten supplies of cheap fruit and vegetables to the British consumer? Does the Minister accept that Portugal's potential position as the poorest member, yet one of the net contributors to the budget, makes long-term budgetary reform even more urgent?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman is correct in that the present negotiations on budgetary reform have importance not only for the present members of the Community but also in the context of enlargement. The Spanish Government were anxious that there should be a declaration at the Foreign Affairs Council at the beginning of the week. My right hon. and learned Friend will be reporting on the various aspects of that in the context of the statement that he will make later.

Mr. McQuarrie

Will my hon. Friend give a firm undertaking that before there is any question of Spain's accession to the Community all restrictions against Gibraltar will be removed?

Mr. Rifkind

I assure my hon. Friend that the Government have always made it clear that when Spain joins the Community access between Spain and Gibraltar cannot be different from that between Spain and other parts of the Community. Agreement has already been reached between the Community and Spain on the external affairs chapter in respect of the accession negotiations, and we hope for an early, successful conclusion of the final aspect—the social affairs chapter.

Mr. Johnston

Is it not contradictory on the one hand to call for the speedy accession of Spain and Portugal and on the other totally to oppose any increase in own resources, as without the latter we can do nothing for Portugal, the poorest country in Europe?

Mr. Rifkind

It is not correct to imply that the negotiations with Spain are of a short duration. Spain originally applied seven years ago. Therefore, we are looking for a speedy conclusion to the negotiations rather than speedy negotiations as such. As to own resources, it is widely agreed within the Community that when Spain and Portugal become members their position in terms of their economies and agriculture industries is likely to make them net beneficiaries.