asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intend to support efforts to renew and extend the Yaounde Convention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Yaounde Convention.
40.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, in the Accession Treaty the enlarged Community declared its readiness to pursue the policy of association with regard to the Associated African and Malagasy States which are parties to the Yaounde Convention. The Community at the same time offered to 20 independent Commonwealth countries the possibility of ordering their relations with the Community according to one of three formulae, namely participation in the Yaounde Convention, which falls to be renewed as from 1st February, 1975, or, secondly, association of the Arusha type under Article 238 of the Rome Treaty, or, thirdly, a trade agreement.
It is, of course, for these States to decide for themselves which formula they would prefer. Negotiations with a view to concluding the necessary agreements will commence next August. Ireland will, of course, take part in the drafting of mandates for the Commission to undertake such negotiations and will be closely associated, under Article 113 of the Rome Treaty, with the conduct thereof.
Naturally, our own historical experience gives us some insight into the concerns of the countries involved and will guide us in the views we put to our fellow members of the Community when the Commission's mandates are being decided.