§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the terms agreed between the EU and Norway on the latters proposed accession to the Community with particular reference to their effect on the common fisheries policy and access by EU members to the North sea.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryNorway agreed its terms of accession with the European Union at the 15–16 March Foreign Affairs Council. On the details of the terms, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) on 21 March at col.11. The agreement reached on Norwegian accession does not change the existing rules of the common fisheries policy. European Union countries' access to waters, including the North sea, is unaffected. Reciprocal arrangements for access to resources fully respect the principle known as relative stability, that is, the agreed allocation of fishing opportunities according to historical patterns.