asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the form of membership or associate membership, if any, which the following islands have with the EEC: (a) Greenland, (b) the Faroe Islands, (c) the Isle of Man, (d) Cyprus, (e) Malta and (f) the Channel Islands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Islands Association with EEC.
21.
The position regarding Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands is governed by the Act concerning the conditions of accession and the adjustments to the treaties, which was adopted at the time of accession to the European Communities of Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom. Cyprus and Malta have no form of membership or associate membership with the Community but their relationship with the Community is governed by "association agreements", which are largely concerned with trade.
The details of all these cases are as follows: Greenland is part of Denmark and as such is part of the European Economic Community. A Protocol — Protocol No. 4 — to the Treaty of Accession deals with matters of interest to Greenland. In 1979, Greenland was granted a form of home rule and it decided to hold a consultative referendum on 23 February 1982 on whether it should remain with the Community. The result of that referendum showed a small majority in favour of withdrawal. While this must be confirmed by the Greenland Parliament it now appears more than likely that Greenland will leave the Community.
The Faroe Islands were granted a form of home rule by Denmark before that State joined the Community. The EEC Treaty is not applicable in the islands and they have no formal relationship with the Community.
In accordance with the Act of Accession and Protocol No. 3 to that Act, the EEC Treaty is applicable to a limited extent in the Isle of Man. In particular the EEC Common Customs Tariff and levies applicable in the United Kingdom in respect of agricultural produce from third countries must be applied. Persons from the Isle of Man do not, however, benefit from the right to freedom of movement of persons and services within the Community. The position of the Channel Islands is similar.
Relations between the EEC and Cyprus are governed by the 1972 association agreement which provides for two successive stages of association, the first providing for development projects and tariff concessions was to last until July 1977. In view of the political situation on the island in the mid-seventies it was not possible to introduce the second stage of the agreement providing for transition to a customs union and consequently the first stage was extended by protocols, first until 31 December 1979 and then until 1980 and 1981. In November 1980 the EEC-Cyprus Association Council, as a result of improvements in the political situation on the islands, adopted a decision "on the process into the second stage of the Association Agreement".
In 1982 both parties will begin negotiations on the conditions and procedures leading to the customs union. Negotiations are now taking place to work out the trade arrangements to apply from July 1982 up to and including 1983.
Relations between the EEC and Malta are governed by the 1970 Association Agreement which provides for the gradual introduction of a customs union in two stages. The first stage for reduced duty is 70 per cent of the full rate for Malta's exports and 35 per cent for its imports. In 1976 two protocols were signed with a threefold purpose: (1) to adapt the agreement to take into account the Community's enlargement, (2) to extend the old agreement to include co-operation in the field of agriculture; and (3) to provide financial assistance of 25 million EUA for Malta's economic and social development. In 1977 another protocol extended the first stage of the agreement until 1980 and gave improvements in tariff concessions to Maltese industrial goods covered by the agreement. In December 1980 the Council decided unilaterally to extend the first stage of the agreement until June 1981. The Community is presently suggesting a three year extension of the first stage of the agreement.
It is all very confused but it is not the Minister's fault. Is it correct that Greenland has not yet left the EEC?
That is correct. As the Deputy knows, they had a referendum on whether they should remain in the EEC and by a margin of 52 per cent against 48 per cent they decided to leave. But I understand that a wave of goodwill is coming towards the surface in Greenland and they may have another referendum.
I would like the Minister to bear in mind that it is the general feeling in this country that places like Greenland should not have the best of both worlds. They are either in the Common Market or they are not. There is talk of associate membership which to me would mean that their trading would continue as usual. In particular it seems that the fishing industry in this country is being affected adversely by the trading conditions which are being allowed——
Deputy Deasy, you cannot make speeches. You will have to put it in the way of a question.
I am asking the Minister——
That is better.
——about the trading conditions which are being allowed to Greenland and the Faroe Islands which seems to be against the interests of our fishing industry.
As I have already said to the Deputy, Greenland at present is part of Denmark and, as such, is part of the EEC. If Greenland decide to leave the Community and if they leave the Community, then the question of any association they might have with the Community would have to be discussed and debated.
What about the Faroe Islands?
They were granted a form of home rule by Denmark before the state joined the Community. It is not applicable in the islands and they have no formal relationship with the Community.
No formal relationship?
No formal relationship.