Vol. 470 No. 4
63 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which the Government and the EU intend to reconcile the principles which underpin EU-ACP relations with the proposed establishment of the EU-South Africa Free Trade Agreement. [19086/96]
In June 1995 the EU Council of Ministers mandated the Commission to negotiate a long-term relationship with South Africa. This relationship is to be built on two complementary elements; a bilateral trade and co-operation agreement with South Africa and a Protocol to provide for qualified accession by South Africa to the Lomé IV Convention.
The 1995 mid-term review of the Fourth Lomé Convention introduced provisions to facilitate South Africa's accession to the convention. Under the revised convention, South Africa can formally accede to the convention, without further ratification by the states party to it, if the terms of accession are agreed prior to entry into force of the agreement amending the convention. Under the proposed terms of the qualified accession, South Africa will not benefit from the trade terms of the convention or be eligible for the use of European Development Fund resources, with the exception of refugee assistance. Separately, the Council is currently considering a draft regulation to finance development co-operation with South Africa.
The negotiating mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers provides for a comprehensive framework for trade and co-operation with South Africa. In this context, the principles of partnership and dialogue, that are the basis of the ACPEU relationship, will underpin all aspects of future EU-South Africa relations.
Ireland, both nationally and as current holder of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, fully supports the proposed free trade agreement and South Africa's qualified accession to the Lomé Convention.
