asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in EEC negotiations regarding the import of Yugoslav beef to the EEC since his reply to parliamentary Question No. 22 of 8 March 1979.
Written Answers. - Yugoslavia-EEC Beef Negotiations.
367.
In the context of negotiations toward a new EEC-Yugoslavia Co-operation Agreement the Irish Government had given their agreement to Community access—conditional upon the state of the internal Community beef market—for 28,800 tonnes annually of Yugoslav baby beef. In the course of Community consideration of the final terms of the Agreement the Government did not agree to import levels in excess of this figure or more favourable conditions of importation.
The negotiations concluded on 23 February. In the agricultural section of the agreement there is provision for Community access for 34,800 tonnes of baby beef annually, this access to be conditional upon the internal state of the Community beef market.
On the Community side the agreement will be submitted for formal approval to the Council of Foreign Ministers on 17/18 March, and it is expected that signature of the agreement will take place shortly after that.