§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent 128W discussions with the Icelandic Government about the future of reciprocal fishing rights between the EEC and Iceland.
§ Mr. JuddIn accordance with a decision of the EEC Council of Ministers on 5th April a joint Presidency/Commission Delegation visited Reykjavik for talks with the Icelandic Government on 8th-10th June. I represented the Presidency. Commissioner Gundelach represented the Commission. We emphasised to the Icelandic Government the importance and urgency of making satisfactory arrangements for fishing by EEC member States, not least the United Kingdom, in Icelandic waters and underlined that this was a key element in EEC relations with Iceland.
It was agreed that the Commission's negotiations with Iceland, which have been stalled for some months, would resume at an early date. This was our principal immediate objective. We hope the negotiations will open the way for a satisfactory agreement, including renewed access for British trawlers, but there are still considerable differences between the two sides on the scope of any future agreement. The Government are determined to ensure that British interests are safeguarded in future arrangements. I have had the text of the joint communiqué issued after the meeting placed in the Library of the House.