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4. THE COMMISSION'S REVISED REPORT
THE COMMISSION CIRCULATED A REVISED DRAFT OF THEIR REPORT ON THE
CONCLUSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. WE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE
COUNCIL OUGHT NOT HAVE SEEN THE TEXTS OF ALL AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED
BEFORE MAKING THEIR DECISION ON THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
WE SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD GIVE A CLEAR COMMITMENT
TO TRY IN FUTURE TO STICK TO THE MODEL AGREEMENT AND PARTICULARLY
TO THE BASKET EXTRACTOR AND FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS. SINCE AGREEMENTS
WITH PREFERENTIAL COUNTRIES WILL ONLY COVER 1978, WE ALSO ASKED
FOR A COMMITMENT THAT WHEN EXTENDING THESE AGREEMENTS THE COMMISS-
ION WOULD KEEP WITHIN THEIR MANDATE. FINALLY WE SUGGESTED THAT THE
COMMISSION SHOULD GIVE GREATER PRECISION TO ITS COMMITMENT TO DEAL
WITH NEW SUPPLIERS WHO SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ON A COMPARABLE BASIS
TO THOSE WITH WHOM WE HAD SIGNED AGREEMENTS. THESE COMMENTS WERE
ECHOED BY THE FRENCH. CASPARI (COMMISSION) AGREED TO CONSIDER THEM
CAREFULLY. THE ITALIANS SAID THAT THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE
'' PACKAGE'' WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY THE SATISFACTORY OUTCOME OF
THE DISCUSSION ON CHANGES IN THE RULES OF ORIGIN. THE FRENCH
EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR SPEED IN MAKING THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT
TO THE STRICT APPLICATION OF THE BURDEN SHARING FORMULA IN
DIVIDING UP COMMUNITY QUOTAS.
5. PORTUGAL
THE COMMISSION REPORTED ON THE LACK OF PROGRESS WITH PORTUGAL. THE
PORTUGESE HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE FIGURES AND THEIR PROPOSED
QUOTA COVERAGE. BUT THEY WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
DIVISION OF COMMUNITY QUOTAS AMONG MEMBER STATES. THEY WERE
PREPARED TO ACCEPT REGIONAL LIMITATIONS ON SOME PRODUCTS NOTABLY
FOR THE U.K. AND DENMARK. SEVERAL DELEGATIONS STRESSED THAT IT
WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS WITH PORTUGAL FOR 1978.
THE COMMISSION SAID THAT IF AGREEMENT COULD NOT BE REACHED WITH
PORTUGAL, THE MANDATE PROVIDED FOR AUTONOMOUS MEASURES. HOWEVER
THE COMMISSION NEGOTIATORS WILL CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO
PERSUADE THE PORTUGESE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF REACHING AGREEMENT
WITH THE COMMUNITY.
6. THE NEXT ARTICLE 113 COMMITTEE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON
WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER.
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