§ Mr. Michael Shawasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on achievements made during Britain's presidency of the European Community.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe achievements of the Community under the British presidency include:
Agreement on cuts in milk production of 9.5 million tonnes over two years and a 13 per cent. reduction in the intervention price of beef, representing the single most important measure of CAP reform ever negotiated.
Agreement on 37 internal market measures, a significantly higher total than ever previously achieved.
Agreement on a joint action programme on employment and job creation.
Agreement on the further liberalisation of capital movements.
Agreement of a £1.1 billion loan scheme for small businesses.
The opening up of shipping trade in the EC and progress towards lower air fares.
The intensification of co-operation between the member states in tackling illegal immigration, crime, drug abuse, cancer prevention and AIDS.
The adoption of common measures against terrorism, including joint action vis-a-vis Syria.
Important agreements in external trade relations including the successful launch of the new GATT round to preserve and strengthen the open world trading system.
Negotiation of a new and more liberal multi-fibre arrangement for the next five years.
Concerted action to achieve a more balanced trading relationship with Japan.
Resolution of the long running steel and pasta/citrus disputes with the United States and development of relations with EFTA.
A fair deal for new Zealand allowing continued access for its butter.
An agreed response to approaches from COMECON which is now seeking the establishment of official relations with the Community and in the bilateral negotiations with Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania.
Normalisation of relations with Turkey.
Reform of the Community food aid regulation to make it a real instrument of development policy.
Agreement on fisheries catches and quotas for 1987 and on a new structures programme for Community fleets.
Agreed common measures on South Africa.
At the end of the year a detailed list of agreements reached during the British presidency will be placed in the Library of the House.