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GRS 710
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FRAME EXTERNAL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 2755 OF 11 MAY.
Акк
121
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1214
*Y XO. 51
14 MAY 1978
INDEX
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No
TEXTILES: ARTICLE 113 COMMITTEE, WEDNESDAY 10 MAY 1978
A. RELATIONS WITH PREFERENTIAL COUNTRIES
1. GREECE.
en
1. SPEAKING OFF THE RECORD, TRAN (COMMISSION) OUTLINED WHAT HE NOW INTENDS TO DO TO DEAL WITH THE GREEK PROBLEM. AT THE SAME TIME, HE EMPHASISED THAT IF MEMBER STATES EXPECTED THE COMMISSION TO INVENT A LEGAL BASIS FOR ACTION AGAINST GREECE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME. YET WITHOUT SOME SORT OF LEGAL BASIS, THE GREEK PROBLEM WOULD BE DIFFICULT IF NOT INSOLUBLE. WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS, THE COMMISSION INTENDS TO PUT UP A PROPOSAL TO THE COUNCIL FOR A MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE A SAFEGUARD CLAUSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PREFERENTIAL AGREEMENT. IF THIS PROPOSAL IS AGREED, THE GREEKS WILL THEN BE ASKED TO COME TO CONSULTATIONS. DURING THESE CONSULTATIONS, THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE FIGURES FOR GLOBAL CEILINGS AND THE BREAKDOWN FOR MEMBER STATES FOR THE SENSITIVE PRODUCTS, CONCERNED. THE GREEKS ARE UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFEGUARD CLAUSE AND THERE WILL BE A LONG PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS, TRAN HINTED THAT DURING THIS TIME IF GREEK IMPORTS WERE EXCEEDING THE LEVELS CONCERNED IN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES, IT WOULD THEN BE UP TO EACH MEMBER STATE TO TAKE INFORMAL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES PENDING THE CUTCOME OF NEGOTIATIONS. HE CONTENDED THAT SUCH ACTION WOULD BE DEFENSIBLE IN THE EUROPEAN COURT.
2. FEW MEMBER STATES COMMENTED ON THIS PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION. THE GERMANS WELCOMED THE IDEA OF OBTAINING A MANDATE FROM THE COUNCIL TO NEGOTIATE A SAFEGUARD CLAUSE. THEY FELT SURE THAT TRAN WOULD BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE A SAFEGUARD CLAUSE OUT OF THE GREEKS. WE SAID THAT THE IDEA OF TRYING TO CLOAK ACTION AGAINST THE GREEKS
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