JOINING E.E.C.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29726, 20 January 1962, Page 11

JOINING E.E.C.

Farm Talks Next

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS, Jan. 18.

A general discussion on agriculture will take place at the next meeting between British and Common Market ministers to be held on February 22, it was announced after today’s meeting of the ministers—the third round of talks on Britain’s application to join the Common Market. The Associated Press said that negotiations had inched forward almost imperceptibly today. But Reuter described the decision to discuss agriculture at the next meeting as an important step forward.

Today’s meeting lasted 90 minutes. The chairman, Mr Couve de Murville, of France, told a press conference later that the next meeting between the British and Common Market ministers would be held on February 22. He said the long delay had been fixed intentionally to give the British delegation enough time to make a full study of the agricultural agreement reached by the Six. A general discussion on agriculture would take place at next month’s meeting. Mr Couve de Murville admitted that the negotiations were still in the explantory stage.

“We are not yet at the bargaining stage,” he said. "We have made progress in recognition of the various problems involved.”