HC Deb 08 February 1979 vol 962 cc260-2W
Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Communities held on 5 and 6 February 1979.

Mr. Judd

The formal opening of the negotiations for entry by Spain into the Community which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I attended took place on 5 February. The French Foreign Minister, M. Francois-Poncet and the President of the Commission, Mr. Jenkins, made prepared statements. Sr. Calvo Sotelo, the Spanish Minister for Relations with the EEC, replied for Spain.

At the Foreign Affairs Council on 6 February the United Kingdom was represented by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and myself.

Questions relating to the status of the 1979 Budget and future budgetary procedure were discussed. I urged the Council to reach an early decision on this important matter. However, no final conclusions were reached and officials were instructed to continue their examination of the issues. The Presidency left open the possibility of holding a further meeting to discuss the Budget before the next Foreign Affairs Council on 6 March.

The Commission reported on developments in the GATT multilateral trade negotiations. The Council will consider a further report and will take any necessary decisions at its next meeting on 6 March.

A mandate for negotiations with Yugoslavia on a co-operation agreement was approved.

The Council also approved the general basis for negotiation with Romania on arrangements covering trade in industrial products and the establishment of a mixed commission.

The Commission reported on the present state of the negotiations for a successor to the Lome Convention. The question will be considered again at the next meeting of the Council on 6 March.

The Council noted that discussion with the Assembly on the regional fund regulation had been concluded. There was further discussion at the Council of the position to be adopted over regulations governing aid to non-Associates. No decision was reached and the qusetion was remitted to officials for further consideration.

A mandate for the Commission to negotiate Community participation in a draft IAEA physical protection convention was considered. The Council agreed on interim arrangements on Commission participation in meetings on the convention now taking place in Vienna and instructed officials to work out a mandate urgently.

The Council resumed its discussion of a draft mandate for the Commission to negotiate a safeguard agreement between Euraton and Australia. It asked officials to do further work on this with a view to a resumed discussion in next month's Council.

Under other business, the United Kingdom representative emphasised the urgent need for the adoption of the proposed concession for Cyprus new potatoes in 1979.