Heath Reports On E.E.C. Negotiations

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29896, 9 August 1962, Page 8

Heath Reports On E.E.C. Negotiations

(N Copyright) LONDON, August 8. A “good deal of work” remained to be done between Britain and the Common Market on the key problem of Commonwealth agricultural exports, Britain’s chief negotiator (Mr Heath) said in a 3000*word official report published today.

The report which reviews the negotiations— adjourned last week-end on Britain’s bid to join the trade bloc, is to be

presented to Parliament as a White Paper as soon as possible.

“There was a prolonged discussion on arrangements for trade in temperate agricultural products from Canada. Australia and New Zealand and much common ground was established,” Mr Heath said. “A good deal of work remained to be done, however, both as regards individual commodities and in order to give greater precision to some of the proposed arrangements.” Mr Heath's report. is to be presented to Parliament as a .White Paper as soon as possible. , Publication of the report follows Mr Heath's return on Sunday from Brussels, where, after a 14%-hour negotiating session, he was

unable to get full agreement on the terms of Britain’s possible entry to the Common Market The British Government had originally hoped to have this agreement in time for the meeting of the Common, weal th Prime Ministers in London on September 10. The Ministers agreed they should next meet in Brussels early in October for a renewed effort to solve the complex problems. Survey of Progress

Mr Heath’s reiport took the form of a general survey of the progress already achieved in Brussels. It also outlined some of the important issues yet to be solved. Under the heading. “Future Programme, of Work,” the report said: “At earlier meetings Ministers had worked out arrangements covering other sections of the negotiations, including the treatment of manufactured goods of the developed Commonwealth countries and some aspects of domestic agriculture. . . .

“At the meeting which has

just concluded a great deal of progress was made on major questions affecting the Commonwealth association of part 4 of the Treaty of Rome, toe particular interests of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, and temperate agricultural production from Canada. Australia, and New Zealand. "In addition to toe work which remains to be done on some of these questions, Ministers have to take decisions on the proposals which the British Government have put forward for nil tariffs on some industrial raw materials and arrangements have to be agreed on processed foodstuffs. Domestic Issues

“There are also important matters to be settled in the field of domestic agriculture and horticulture, particularly those concerning individual commodities.” The report referred to the financial regulations of the Common Market's agricultural policy. The French Foreign Minister (Mr Couve de Murville)

introduced a new document on this issue at last weekend's talks. The report said the British Government would accept the regulation in full if Britain joined the Common Market. The British delegation at the talks had indicated it would be prepared to examine' jointly with other members of the community how this regulation affected the financing of Common Market expenditure ip the period from 1965 to 1970, and after 1970. French View “The French delegation took the view that it was not possible for it to give its agreement to arrangements for temperate agricultural products from the Commonwealth until further consideration had been given to the question of the financial regulations," the report said. Other sections of the report dealt with the arrangements agreed, if Britain joins the market, for associating more than 30 colonial and dependent territories, and independent Commonwealth nations in Africa and the Caribbean, with the enlarged European Economic Community. It also reviewed the special arrangements agreed in Brussels last week to meet particular trading problems of India, Pakistan, and Ceylon. This included the agreement to sign comprehensive trading agreements with these countries by the end of 1966. World Agreements

On Commonwealth agriculture, the report listed the agreement to take early initiative to secure world-wide agreements for the main agricultural products. On the key issue of the community's future farm price policy the report said: “An explicit statement was also agreed that the policy which the enlarged community intended to pursue would offer reasonable opportunities in its. markets for exports of temperate foodstuffs. “It was confirmed that the agricultural regulations adopted by the community required the abolition of quantitative restrictions both between member States and on imports from third countries, subject to exceptional provision in the event of grave disturbance,’’ it said. Position of New Zealand

On New Zealand the report said: “The Ministers of the community said they had given special consideration to toe position of New Zealand. “They recognised the particular difficulties affecting New Zealand because of its high degree of dependence on the British market and expressed their readiness to consider special provisions to deal with these difficulties.” it said.