HC Deb 21 May 1979 vol 967 cc57-8W
Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Communities held on 8 May.

Sir Ian Gilmour

My right hon. and noble Friend and I were unable to attend this Council and the United Kingdom was represented by Sir Donald Maitland, the United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Communities.

In the course of a lengthy discussion, the Council covered a large number of subjects relating to the current negotiations for a successor to the Lomé Convention, in preparation for the EEC-ACP Ministerial negotiating conference due to take place in Brussels on 24–25 May.

A brief oral report on the GATT multilateral trade negotiations was given by the Commission following the successful conclusion of negotiations in Geneva on the greater part of the MTN package.

The 1979 programmes of Community food aid were approved. The Council also discussed the provision of urgent aid to Uganda and emphasised the importance of Community aid being co-ordinated with that of other donors.

Guidelines were approved for the Community's position at the United Nations conference on trade and development (UNCTAD V), at present under way in Manila.

The Commission's mandate for negotiations with Turkey on the re-launching of the Association Agreement was agreed. Negotiations with the Turks are now expected to begin in the near future.

The Italian representative drew attention to the expiry on 18 June of the Italy-Tunisia fisheries agreement. The Commission reported that the Tunisians have now agreed that negotiations with the Community should begin.

The Council invited the Presidency to discuss further with the European Parliament the latter's supplementary estimates for 1979.

A regulation providing for Community support for a hydrocarbons exploration project off Greenland was adopted.

The Council also considered matters arising out of the proposed new textiles regime under the Community's generalised scheme of preferences, the negotiations with Romania and the arrangements for Greece's representation in the European Parliament.

The next Foreign Affairs Council is to be held on 12 June.