HL Deb 15 June 1981 vol 421 cc524-5WA
Lord Brockway

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cause of the delay in honouring the terms of the commercial co-operation agreement entered into by the EEC and Yugoslavia last year, and whether they will seek its early implementation.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade (Lord Trefgarne)

There is no delay in implementing the commercial provisions of the agreement; they took effect on 1st July 1980, under the terms of an interim agreement which did not require ratification.

Implementation of the full provisions of the co-operation agreement must however await its ratification by all the Community member states and by Yugoslavia. Ratification by several parties is still outstanding; in the United Kingdom the Government hope that it will be completed shortly.