419
GRS 2752
CONFIDENTIAL
ра
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FROM UKREP BRUSSELS 19904OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
FRAME EXTERNAL
DESKBY 03938Z
HISIS 121 16160/1
2255
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 7922 OF 19TH DECEMBER 1977.
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON.
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (FOREIGN AFFAIRS): 19 DECEMBER: TEXTILES.
SUMMARY.
1. SIX MEMBER STATES ACCEPTED THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION. THE
FRENCH SHOW CLEAR SIGNS OF DOING SO WHEN DISCUSSION RESUMES TOMORROW MORNING, IN THE LIGHT OF MORE PRECISE ASSURANCES FROM THE
COMMISSION. MR DELL EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR OUR RESERVE. THE COMMISSION, THE PRESIDENCY AND MOST MEMBER STATES ARE INSISTING ON
THE NEED FOR A DEFINITIVE DECISION TOMORROW.
DISCUSSION.
9. COMMISSIONER DAVIGNON, INTRODUCING THE DISCUSSION, SAID THAT THE
NEGOTIATIONS HAD BEEN CONCLUDED ONLY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN
ABLE TO GIVE PROOF OF ITS GREAT FIRMNESS. THE AGREEMENTS COVERED
MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF LOW COST IMPORTS. IN THE CASE OF CERTAIN
PRODUCTS THE COMMISSION HAD BEEN FORCED TO EXCEED THE FIGURES IN
THEIR DIRECTIVES BUT IN OTHER CASES THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO SETTLE
FOR LESS: THE RESULT WAS THEREFORE REASONABLY BALANCED. IN THE CASE OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, EGYPT AND BRAZIL THERE WERE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAD MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AGREEMENT WITHIN THE MANDATE.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD IN PARTICULAR BE AWARE THAT BRAZIL'S CONCURRENCE
TO AN ACCEPTABLE DRAFT OF THE PROTOCOL EXTENDING THE MFA WAS
ESSENTIAL: BRAZIL HAD INITIALLY BEEN IN THE CAMP OF THOSE AT GENEVA
WHO WERE WORKING AGAINST US.
CONFIDENTIAL
13. WITH