§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many instruments of ratification are required to bring the Lomé Convention into effect; and whether ratification by all 46 signatories is essential;
(2) by what date it is expected that the necessary instruments of ratification will have been deposited to bring into effect the Lomé Convention.
§ Mr. HattersleyIn accordance with the terms of Article 87 the convention will enter into force following the deposit of instruments of ratification by the member States of the EEC and by two-thirds of the African, Caribbean and Pacific signatory countries, together with the Act of Notification of the conclusion of the convention by the Community. The trade provisions of the convention, to which the ACP countries attach considerable importance, will, however, be brought into effect on 1st July 1975. It is impossible to give a firm date by which the necessary constitutional processes in the other signatory States will have been completed.