asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what preparatory work is being undertaken for the follow-up conference for the Helsinki Final Act which is due to be held in Madrid and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Helsinki Final Act.
22.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what action it is proposed to take to foster economic co-operation between eastern and western Europe as defined within the context of the Helsinki Final Act and what specific contribution Ireland can make towards such co-operation in the six months of our Presidency of the EEC.
As these two question both relate to the Government's preparations for the Madrid CSCE meeting, propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Question Nos. 22 and 23 together.
The meeting planned for Madrid in late 1980 will be the second follow-up meeting to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, the CSCE. As in the case of the first such meeting which closed in Belgrade in March 1978 its purpose will be twofold. The participating states will take stock of the degree of progress they have made in carrying out their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and they will discuss possibilities for further improving their co-operation.
The Final Act contains a chapter of measures relating inter alia to economic co-operation. This has the aim of fostering co-operation in the economic sphere between all the states of Europe with due account being taken of their different economic systems.
Work on the implementation of many of these measures which have multilateral implications is being carried on in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, within the framework of which it is proposed to hold a high-level conference on the environment in November this year. The recent opening of negotiations between the Community and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, CMEA towards the conclusion of a framework agreement which would include economic co-operation is an important step towards an improvement in the implementation of the economic chapter measures of the Helsinki Final Act. Ireland has sought to develop further its economic relations with the countries of Eastern Europe, since the signing of the Final Act, most notably by the signing in December 1976 and June 1977 respectively of agreements on the development of economic, industrial, scientific and technological co-operation with the USSR and Poland.
Central to the CSCE process is, of course, the full implementation of all aspects of the Final Act which envisages improved co-operation in the fields of military security, economic relations, science and technology and contains provisions governing a number of humanitarian issues such as family reunifications as well as those relating to co-operation in the information, education and cultural fields. In preparation for Madrid we consult regularly with our EEC partners on developments relating to the CSCE process and monitor implementation of the Final Act by all the participating states. We are also considering the question of a joint over-all approach to the meeting and of the identification of realistic objectives we would hope to attain there. In addition, we are using the opportunities provided by our bilateral contacts with representatives of other CSCE states both to stress our interest in the continued and progressive implementation of the Final Act and to discuss the prospects for Madrid. I had a useful exchange of views on this question during the recent visits of the Foreign Ministers of Austria and Yugoslavia and will also discuss the issues in the near future with the Foreign Minister of Finland.
As regards Ireland's specific contribution in the economic area during our Presidency, the Deputy will be aware that many of the economic chapter matters fall within the competence of the Community and there is consequently little room for initiatives by individual member states in these matters. Nevertheless as President Ireland will seek to further as far as possible Community preparations for the Madrid Review Meeting, bearing in mind the totality of the Final Act. We will also make a contribution within the Community to the negotiations with CMEA, which are complex and difficult.
It is too early at this stage to define our approach to the Madrid meeting in concrete terms. I can, however, assure the Deputy that it will be guided by our concern to promote the peaceful development of co-operation in Europe for the benefit of all our peoples.
Can the Minister say whether he has any expectation that the results of the Madrid conference will be more satisfactory than the results of the Belgrade conference which, from the point of view of the West, appeared to be unsatisfactory?
I agree with the Deputy's view of the last conference and I share his hope that the Madrid conference will be more fruitful.
I hope we will do our best to achieve that.
Yes.