Austin Deasy
Ceist:24 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the precise trading status of countries which have some form of associated membership with the EC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Association Agreements between EC and Third Countries.
Under Article 238 of the Treaty of Rome provision is made for the establishment of association agreements between the European Community and third countries. Such agreements involve a high degree of co-operation and the taking on of reciprocal rights and obligations.
The European Community has association agreements with Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. Agreements have also been concluded in the past year with the countries of EFTA, in the European economic area agreement, as well as with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Specific trade arrangements are provided for in these agreements. In the case of Turkey, Cyprus and Malta eventual customs union involving a common external tariff is envisaged. Work is continuing towards the achievement of this goal according to varying timetables.
The recently signed European Economic Area Agreement between the EC and EFTA member states is due to come into effect on 1 January 1993, the date on which the Single Market is to be completed within the Community. It provides for free movement of goods, persons, services and capital within the 19 EC and EFTA states. Agriculture is not covered by the provisions for free movement.
The association agreements with Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia which were signed in December 1991 are also due to come into effect on 1 January 1993. They provided for the phased establishment of a free trade area between the parties, allowing for a gradual abolition of customs duties and quantitative restrictions over a ten year period. Special arrangements are to apply to coal, steel and textiles as well as to agricultural products. Similar agreements are currently being negotiated with Bulgaria and Romania.
The Minister referred to ten countries initially but in the very last paragraph he referred to two additional countries making a total of 12 countries that will trade with the EC.
Some of this trade could be extremely damaging to Ireland. Will the Minister give me some detail — although I do not expect the answer today — of the agricultural products that will be allowed into the EC from these countries from 1 January 1993, the date specifically mentioned in the reply? Will the Minister convey to me the quantity of each specific product that will be allowed into the Community?
As the Deputy is aware, this is a very complex issue and I am not certain I can deal with it case by case——
I am not asking the Minister to do that.
——at this point. Generally, the association agreements signed last December with the Eastern European countries contain special provisions on agricultural products. Complete liberalisation is not envisaged. However, greater access to the EC market by way of quota increases and tariff cuts for a range of agricultural imports was offered by the Community side. We ensured in tough negotiations that these would be subject to adequate safeguard clauses and that provisions for triangular operations would be included — this means the provision of EC financial support for the purchase of Polish and other agricultural products by the former Soviet Union. This lessens the pressure on EC markets.
The way association agreements between the European Community and Eastern Europe are structured have to be viewed in the light of overall EC commitment to assist through a variety of means the process of political and economic reform in that area.
I will ensure that any further detailed information that becomes available is supplied directly to the Deputy and I will discuss the matter with him.
The Minister of State referred to the association agreement with Czechoslovakia which will take effect from the beginning of next year. What is the status of this agreement in the light of the imminent break-up of Czechoslovakia into two states, Czechlands and Slovakia?
This is a separate issue and the Deputy should perhaps put down a separate question, as I could not make an off-the-cuff comment on it.
With the utmost respect, I suggest it is not a separate question. The Minister referred to the association agreement with Czechoslovakia so therefore he should be willing to answer questions about it.
Will the agreement have to be altered in any way to take account of the fact that, economically and politically, Czechlands and Slovakia will become sovereign entities from an early date and not one as at present?
I would not like to comment on this matter in the House and I will communicate the information directly to the Deputy. I have given the reply to the question that was asked——
As it is an easy question, the Minister of State should know the answer.
I have nothing further to add to that.
I appreciate the Minister cannot give specific detailed information of all the products coming from each of these 12 countries but will he request the Department to supply information on the agricultural products that will be allowed into the EC from these countries? In the past number of years illegal importation of agricultural commodities from these countries into the EC has caused considerable problems for the Irish agricultural sector and I believe the problem may be compounded by the legal importation of such products into the Community. Will the Minister supply information on the precise quantity of each commodity involved?
I will endeavour to get that information for the Deputy. I can tell him that I have been assured that there are mechanisms in the agreements to ensure that, in the event of a situation such as the Deputy envisages arising, we can take corrective action.
As we have not been able to deal with the illegal imports question, I have my doubts about that.