Appointments to European Commission vital to N.Z.

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 7

Appointments to European Commission vital to N.Z.

i By

DAVID BARBER,

NZPA Correspondent London The appointment of Mr Roy Jenkins, a personal friend of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) to the top Public Service post in the European Common Market, is undoubtedly good news for New Zealand. But the choice of men for two more jobs in the European Commission, which Mr Jenkins will, head, will be of equally vita! importance to New Zealand in the negotiations on its meat and | dairy exports to Europe. The need for continued access for butter shipments after 1980 is likely to eclipse all previous efforts, and New Zealand needs all the friends it can get in Brussels. If it cannot get friends, at least it will hope that people not hostile to its interests get the jobs when a new 13man commission takes over on January 1 for a four-year term. The commission wields enormous power. It is the I only E.E.C. institution I with the right of initiating policy, and it provides a constant flow of proposals I on all matters to the ' Council of Ministers, which makes final decisions on behalf of the Governments of the nine i member nations.

Apart from Mr Jenkins — Britain’s Home Secretary — is president, his commission colleagues responsible for external relations and agriculture will be the key men when negotiations on New Zealand’s post-1980 situation begin towards the end of this decade.

Britain’s Sir Christopher Soames and the Dutchman, Mr Petrus Lardinois, have filled these positions for the last four years. Both have proved effective campaigners in getting their fellow members of the 13-man commission and Ministers of the ninenation community to accept their political commitment to safeguard New Zealand’s interests. While Mr Lardinois was president, the Netherlands emerged as New Zealand's biggest single competitor on the British butter market. But even as a former Minister of Agriculture in his country, he did not waver in his sworn acceptance of responsibility to the entire Community and disavowal of national allegiance. This oath is made before the European Court of Justice by all top Eurocrats. It means, of course, that Mr Jenkins will not allow his friendship with Mr Muldoon to influence him in discussions on the New Zealand question. But, as Mr Muldoon

said in London earlier this year, “I’m sure he understands New Zealand’s position very clearly indeed.” Mr. Jenkins’s appointment would be “very, very satisfactory in terms of New Zealand’s problems,” he said. Despite the oath, the E.E C. clearly recognises that national interests could, in some situations, override the “communitaire” attitude necessary in all its top officials. For this reason, there is an unwritten rule that countries with strong vested interests do not get some of the jobs. This would presumably rule out the Irish Republic, heavily dependent on agricultural exports, from getting Mr Lardinois's job. The 13 commissioners’ positions are divided up between the member nations — two each to Britain, France, Germany, and Italy and one from each of the other five. In the past, the Dutch have had the monopoly on the agriculture portfolio, but there are signs that they want to take over energy next time. it is believed that agriculture would then go to either Denmark. Belgium (though it has few people with enough experience in the field) or to Luxemburg, whose Agriculture Minister (Mr Jean Hamilius) has impressed many. At present, the Dane,

Mr Finn-Olav Gundelach, is the favourite, switching from his existing role in charge ot internal market and customs union affairs. The successor to Sir Christopher Soames as tfie Common Market “Foreign Minister” may be harder to find. With Mr Jenkins in the top job, this will not go to Britain again, and there will be keen competition from the other "bjg three.” France’s Mr FrancoisXav'ei Ortoli, who Mr Jenkins will replace as presiff-nt. wants to stay on in the commission and could weL bid for the external relations post.

Mr Ortoli has not been noted for his sympathy for New Zealand as president anil his appointment would not be greeted with cries of joy in Wellington. An appointment from West Germany, which has taken a very understanding attitude towards New Zealand throughout past negotiations, would probably be more welcome, but Bonn — more and more the E.E.C.’s paymastei — may not be willing to give up its grip on the economic and financial affairs post and would not get both.

The names of Mr Jenkins’t 12 new colleagues will be put up by member Governments in the next few months and they will not b- approved until late in tne year.