Crucial point in E.E.C. trade talks

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 9

Crucial point in E.E.C. trade talks

NZPA-Reuter Brussels | The European Economic I Community and its 57 part-j ners in the developing world ( had reached a critical point; yesterday in negotiations on! a new trade-and-aid pact. | Foreign Ministers of the nine E.E.C. States worked! I long hours in secrecy to, reach a compromise on the size of the aid package they will offer the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. | It is widely expected to be only about half the $13,800M the A.C r. States are aiming for in the successor agreenient to the 1975 Lome Con- ! vention, which will expire next March. I But if they cannot accept a figure near the E.E.C. I offer, the A.C.P. countries have little alternative but to refuse to complete the negotiations.

i The French Foreign Minister (Mr Jean Francois-Pon-icet) has made it clear that he wants to conclude the (new pact before his six|in<<nth presidency of the (E.E.C. Council of Ministers i ends next month. I Diplomatic sources said he II could not fit more talks into ■I his calendar in the next five ' weeks, so he had to ensure ■ success before he flew to Athens >. There had been no serious hint yesterday that, the ; A.C.P. countries would break off the talks. By contrast, French-speak- ! ing African countries signed a joint communique with t France after this week’s ■ summit meeting in Rwanda ’ which emphasised their poli- . tical will to complete nego-