Vol. 470 No. 1
129 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Ireland South Africa Association in relation to the Irish Presidency of the EU; and the Government's and the EU's opinion in relation to these concerns. [18339/96]
My colleague the Minister of State Deputy Burton, had a meeting with the secretariat of the European Network for Information and Action on South Africa — ENIASA — on 25 September 1996. Representatives of the Ireland South Africa Association, which is one of the organisation's constituent members, were present at the meeting. The secretariat of ENIASA presented the Minister of State with a report which it had prepared on South Africa, Ireland and the European Union with special reference to the proposed EU-South Africa trade and co-operation agreement.
The Minister of State, Deputy Burton, outlined the current position in relation to the negotiation of an EU-South Africa trade and co-operation agreement. The European Union presented its negotiating mandate to the South African authorities on 29 March. A meeting took place between Commission and South African negotiators in Brussels on 21/22 June at which the non-trade aspects of the agreement were discussed. The South African authorities continue to study the trade aspects of the mandate, and until their reaction is forthcoming, negotiations in this field cannot start. We have encouraged the South African authorities to finalise their process of internal reflection as soon as possible so that negotiations on an agreement can resume.
Ireland supports the conclusion of a trade and co-operation agreement with South Africa and looks forward to the successful completion of negotiations to that end.
