BRITAIN'S APPLICATION Six Try To Settle Order Of Problems

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32354, 21 July 1970, Page 15

BRITAIN'S APPLICATION Six Try To Settle Order Of Problems

(NZ.PA.-Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS, July 20. Foreign Ministers of the six Common Market countries will meet in Brussels today to settle conflicting viewpoints before their first across-the-table confrontation with Britain on Tuesday.

Although the Six are negotiating as one community. thev are not yet agreed on the agenda for the talks to present to Britain.

Agreement on the issue with Britain would clear the way for the next round of negotiations.

Britain made it clear at the formal opening of her entry negotiations in Luxemburg at the end of June that her prime concern is the cost to her of financing the community’s common farm policy According to informed sources, only the Dutch among the Six are ready at this stage to go along with Britain and tackle the complete issue of farm financing first

France —the main beneficiary of the E.E.C.’s protective agriculture system of

unlimited production, guaranteed prices and subsidised exports, is also ready to discuss farming from the outset. France’s Preference

But the French would like Britain first to give an unequivocal commitment to the tenets of the Common Agriculture Policy (C.A.P.) before entering negotiations on financing. Britain has consistently said that she accepts the Treaty of Rome setting up the community, including the agricultural policy. She has also stated her belief that, as the world’s largest food importer, she would be raying an unacceptable share of the costs of the agricultural policy unless the present automatic system of financial contributions applied by the Six was modified. -

Such is France’s Insistence on looking after her vital farming interests first that she is trying to postpone

negotiations with Britain on the industrial sector. In this, she has run into strong opposition from her community partners, particularly West Germany. For the Germans the main benefits of the E.E.C. have been industrial, with the opening up pf lucrative new export markets for their industrial goods.

They therefore want their vital interests taken care of by early negotiations on Britain’s industrial integration with the Six, including tariff dismantling.

According to the sources, the six foreign ministers today will strive for a compromise to accommodate divergen* national positions. They are expected to agree that farming will be a priority topic, but with equal emphasis on the organisation of markets under the agricultural policy and on financial contributions.

At the same time, the other five are likely to persuade France that there should be parallel negotiations on industrial Integration from an early stage. Barber’s Position

The ministers are also expected to agree on what clarification to seek from the British negotiator, Mr Anthony Barber, regarding his Luxemburg statement which listed farm financing. New Zealand exports. Commonwealth sugar and other Commonwealth issues as major problems. They will also complete proposals for the timetable for the negotiations to be put to Britain. These envisage two ministerial level meetings every quarter, with one twoday session of deputies every fortnight. Before their formal session, the six foreign ministers are meeting to complete six months work on how to approach political integration inside the community. One of the points still unsettled is how Britain and other candidates for E.E.C. membership Ireland, Denmark and Norway—should be associated with discussions on political union during their entry negotiations.