John Ellis
Question:68 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, which has been made on the proposed liberal trade agreement with South Africa during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. [21979/96]
Written Answers. - Trade with South Africa.
On March 25 1996, the General Affairs Council approved a negotiating mandate in relation to a free trade agreement with South Africa. This was formally presented to the South African authorities on 29 March 1996. A first meeting between the two sides took place in June 1996 and some progress was made on non-trade aspects such as economic and industrial co-operation, education, research, and technology. The South African delegation indicated that it was not in a position at that stage to decide on the trade aspects of the proposed agreement.
The position at the beginning of Ireland's Presidency was that the South African authorities were examining whether they could accept the trade aspects of the proposed free trade agreement with the EU. Further contacts have taken place since June 1996 at both political and official levels and Vice-President Mbeki of South Africa is currently on a tour of EU capitals. Mr. Mbeki met Mr. Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, on November 14 last and the Tánaiste in Dublin on Monday, 18 November last. Mr. Mbeki indicated that a South African response to the EU negotiating mandate will be available soon.