HC Deb 24 July 1985 vol 83 cc595-6W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position regarding the negotiations within the European Community relating to Israeli agricultural exports to Europe after the accession of Spain to the Community.

Mr. Luce

Following the Foreign Affairs Council declaration of 30 March on the European Community's Mediterranean policy, the Commission have recently made proposals on maintaining agricultural trade access for the Community's Mediterranean partners after enlargement. These proposals have now to be considered within the Community before the Council can decide on a mandate for negotiations. We hope the process will be complete in time for the Community to begin negotiations with the Mediterranean partners before the end of the year.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been made by the Warsaw pact powers to the working documents tabled in working groups A and B at the fifth session of the Stockholm conference on confidence and security-building measures.

Mr. Luce

During the fifth session, we and our allies circulated six working documents amplifying our original proposals, as part of our effort to keep such practical measures at the heart of the conference's discussions. To that end we were successful, though the Warsaw Pact has yet to show a willingness to move towards agreement on that basis.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent discussions with European Economic Community Foreign Ministers concerning relations with central America.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I last discussed this subject with my colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 July. We dealt in particular with the negotiating mandate for the European Community/Central America cooperation agreement.