DSR 11C
4. The Government has played a positive role in
strengthening the internal and external policies of
the European Community. Notable achievements in 1984
were the settlement at Fontainebleau of the problem
of Britain's budget contribution, producing refunds
for Britain totalling [ECD (I) to provide figures
please]; agreements on the control of Community
expenditure, particularly upon agriculture; progress
in negotiations to enable Spain and Portugal to join
the Community on terms acceptable to the United Kingdom;
and firmly focussing the Community's attention on
building a real Common Market in Europe.
5. Substantial progress has been made on two of the
three disputes affecting Britain's remaining dependent
territories. The successful negotiation with the
Chinese Government of an agreement on the future of
on excellent fangnark Hong Kong has provided (the necessary guarantees for the
future prosperity and stability of the territory. This
has been welcomed by the international Community as a
major achievement for British diplomacy. Spain has
lifted its restrictions on Gibraltar and negotiations
have commenced on all the differences between the two
governments on Gibraltar. The Government has made clear
its commitment to honour the wishes of the people of
Gibraltar. We have continued to honour our responsibilities
to the other dependent territories, including in
particular to the people of the Falkland Islands.
/6.