CRS 630
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL MST 622 (2
FM LISBON 0111582 OCT 82
TO PRIORITY F C O
HIRIL
027/1
TELEGRAM NUMBER 167 OF 1 OCTOBER
AND TO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS MADRID 1
AND SAVING TO PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND OTHER EC CAPITALS
PORTUGUESE ACCESSION
1.
I
During
Plm 13/10
MKDG
HANNAY AND EVANS HELD TALKS WITH PORTUGUESE FINANCE MINISTER, JOAC SALGUEIRO, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION COMMISSION, ANTONIO MARTA, AT LISBON ON 30 SEPTEMBER. THIS PROVED A
FULFILMENT
VALUABLE OF AGREEMENT DURING YOUR VISIT IN JUNE TO
HOLD OFFICIAL TALKS WITH THE PORTUGUESE.
2. MAIN NEW ELEMENT THAT EMERGED WAS A SHIFT IN PORTUGUESE APPROACH TO TIMING OF THEIR NEGOTIATIONS AND ACCESSION. THEY CONTINUE TO INSIST VERY FIRMLY ON NEED TO PRESS AHEAD AS FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH NEGOTIATIONS AND TO CONCLUSION AT EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT. MUCH EMPHASIS WAS GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR CONCLUSION TO BE ACHIEVED IN FIRST HALF OF 1983, IF POSSIBLE IN FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THAT YEAR, BUT THEY ARE NOT NOW TALKING ABOUT ACCESSION IN ADVANCE OF SPAIN UNLESS SOME REALLY CATACLYSMIC EVENT WERE TO MAKE THIS DESIRABLE. ON THE CONTRARY SALGUEIRO SAID THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE TWO COUNTRIES TO JOIN ON SAME DAY.
3. BOTH SALGUEIRO AND MARTA EXPLAINED INCREASING DIFFICULTIES WHICH THEY SAW ARISING FROM SEPARATE ACCESSION, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF CURRENT PROBLEMS BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN OVER APPLICATION OF SPAIN'S AGREEMENT WITH EFTA AND POSSIBILITY THAT PORTUGAL, IF IT JOINED THE COMMUNITY FIRST, WOULD HAVE TO APPLY THE COMMUNITY 'S 1970 TRADE AGREEMENT WITH SPAIN TO THEIR GREAT DISADVANTAGE. SALGUEIRO MADE IT CLEAR THAT WHAT COUNTED FOR PORTUGAL WAS EARLY CONCLUSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT IF GAP BETWEEN CONCLUSION AND ACCESSION HAD TO BE RATHER LONGER (HE SPOKE OF A FEW MONTHS) TO ENABLE SPAIN TO CATCH UP, THIS SHOULD BE POLITICALLY PRESENTABLE. 4. THE OTHER NEW ELEMENT THAT CAME THROUGH CLEARLY WAS INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT THE SPANISH DIMENSION TO PORTUGUESE ACCESSION. NOT ONLY ARE TRADE PROBLEMS LOOMING LARGE BUT THERE IS GROWING PREOCCUPATION OVER PROSPECTIVE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT FISHERIES AND A PROBABLE SHARP DISAGREEMENT, WITH THE PORTUGUESE RESISTING SPANISH CLAIMS FOR HISTORIC RIGHTS IN THEIR COASTAL WATERS. 5. TALKS CONCENTRATED ON MAIN CHAPTERS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS REMAINING TO BE SETTLED IN BRUSSELS (FULL RECORD WILL BE CIRCULATED BY ECD(E)) AND CONTAINED NO SURPRISES. ON FINANCE PORTUGUESE SAID THEY WOULD CONCENTRATE ON GETTING SUBSTANTIAL ALLEVIATION OF THEIR GROSS CONTRIBUTION RATHER THAN ON BOOSTING THEIR RECEIPTS UNDER STRUCTURAL FUNDS WHICH THEY DOUBTED THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE UP RAPIDLY AND CO-FINANCE. IN AGRICULTURE THEY EMPHASISED THEIR PROBLEMS OVER CEREALS (AND A PROSPECTIVE 300 M.E.C.U. BILL) AND SUGAR.
CONFIDENTIAL
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