TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 191

very bad for the Community's reputation, at home and

abroad. Things have got to change. The Government have

proposed a strict financial guideline to impose an

external budgetary constraint on the CAP which will

force hard decisions (on price and less open-ended

support) to be taken and to be sustained over time.

Our second condition is a lasting solution to the

problem of budgetary imbalances. Quite simply, the

present arrangements result in an unfair distribution

of burdens and benefits in Europe. The Government want

to place an upper limit on the net budgetary burden

which each partner should be expected to bear,

according to their relative prosperity. This time we

are determined to settle the issue for good.

Solutions to these problems would open the way for a

host of important developments, for building a true

community of Europe. Enlargement to include Spain and

Portugal; the completion of the internal market;

greater industrial cooperation across national

frontiers; greater political cooperation and influence

in the world. These are the issues on which Europe

should be concentrating, for its future, and for the

future of Britain.

But time is short. There are European Councils in

March and June which also sees the election of a new

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