§ Mr. Jayasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether members of the EEC are at liberty to negotiate national commercial agreements with non-member countries; and whether the recent commercial agreement between France and the USSR requires the approval of the EEC.
§ Mr. DeakinsUnder the common commercial policy, authority to negotiate commercial agreements with non-member States is vested solely in the Commission, which acts on a mandate given by member States in the Council. The recent 415W agreement between France and the USSR was an economic co-operation agreement, not a commercial agreement. Member States can negotiate economic cooperation agreements, which fall outside the common commercial policy, but there is consultation on their terms to ensure that they do not conflict with the policy.