TNAG-0763-FCO40-967-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-(MFA)-on-Hong-Kong-ex-1978 — Page 172

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itself to respect the agreements with the Spanish authorities and that only

after consultations have been held suspension of imports are possible.

1

Greece

The Commission representative introduced and commented upon a draft Regulation of the Commission, in which the Commission asked for urgent safeguard measures

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at a formal request from the Benelux countries. Considering the exceeding of imports in 1978 compared with the 1977 figures, the Commission has submitted a proposal to the Council for suspending imports if the consultations with the Greek delegation turned out to be unsatisfactory.

The Dutch Dolegation pointed out that in 5 months time imports had reached more than 50% of the ceiling and that therefore it was important for them that the Commission had positive results in the informal contacts with Greece.

In reply to the Commission the Belgian Delegation agreed with the Commission proposal on the condition that the proper titles of the countries were respected. The French Delegation wanted to give their approval the following day. The Irish Delegation supported the proposal but reminded the Commission that they had a problem with Category 4 where free circulation did not apply and quotas had already been exceeded by free circulation. The German Delegation only agreed with the Commission proposal if no agreement with Greece was

possible.

The Chairman pointed out that it concerned emergency measures in case no agreement with Greece could be reached and that the Commission had to follow this procedure independently of the continuing of the negotiations.