Vol. 396 No. 9
12 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received representations from the Presidency of the EFTA countries in respect of that European grouping of states to develop agreed closer economic ties with the EC; and if, having regard to Ireland's Presidency of the EC and his own specific responsibilities, he will outline the position of the Irish Government in relation to such proposal(s); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
41 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the discussions which he has had in his capacity as President of the EC Council of Ministers with his counterpart the Swedish Minister/President of the EFTA countries regarding the negotiations concerning the creation of a common European Economic Space; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 41 together.
The process of developing a closer relationship between the EC and EFTA has been under way for some time and is an important agenda item for the Irish Presidency. During preparations for the Presidency I visited Sweden — which is the current EFTA Presidency — in October and had talks in Dublin in December with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade. As the House will know, the Taoiseach met Prime Minister Carlsson yesterday. We are also maintaining close contact with the other EFTA States: indeed, I have just come from a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Dr. Mock.
The relationship between the Community and the EFTA countries, which are so close politically economically and culturally, is a co-operative and harmonious one. Each of the two groups is the other's largest trading partner and co-operation already extends over a number of sectors. What is in question now is the further enhancement of relations through the creation of a European Economic Space with common rules on a range of matters and in which there would be free movement of goods, services, capital and persons.
Exploratory talks have been taking place between the Commission and EFTA officials on the possible scope of a new agreement between the EC and EFTA and on the legal and institutional aspects. There is acceptance of the need for each side to retain full autonomy of decision making in any new arrangement. A joint meeting of EC and EFTA Foreign Ministers on 19 December expressed satisfaction with the preparatory work carried out so far and agreed that formal negotiations should begin as soon as possible in the first half of 1990 with the aim of concluding them as rapidly as possible. It will be necessary for the Council of Ministers to approve a mandate for the Commission to enter into these negotiations. Before the Council can act it requires a proposal from the Commission. It is my hope that the Council, under our Presidency, will act expeditiously on such a proposal once it has been received from the Commission.
