TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKREP BRUSSELS

TO DESKBY 23100OZ FCO

TELNO 1737

OF 2309O2Z MAY 86

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YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 205: COREPER (AMBASSADORS) 23 MAY: EC FOOD BAN.

1. I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND WHY THE NEED TO PRODUCE INSTRUCTIONS URGENTLY HAS GIVEN US THE FEELING THAT WE ARE BEING BOUNCED AND THAT

THERE IS THEREFORE DESIRE TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY.

2. BUT I AM RATHER CONCERNED BY SOME INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND THOSE IN FCO TELNO 190 WHICH ISSUED BEFORE COREPER ON 22 MAY ON WHICH I ACTED EXTENSIVELY. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO WORK FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE EXCLUSION FROM THE IMPORT BAN ON JUSTIFIABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA OF HUNGARY, YUGOSLAVIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA

AND BULGARIA. FAR FROM IT BEING THE CASE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS LOST PATIENCE WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE EXPERTS' MEETING (PARAGRAPH 5 OF FCO TELNO 205), THE REAL SITUATION IS THAT THE MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVELY IN COREPER YESTERDAY LOST PATIENCE WITH THE COMMISSION'S DITHERING ABOUT PROPOSALS TO LIFT A BAN, WHICH OTHER MEMBER STATES, LIKE US, NO LONGER CONSIDER JUSTIFIED ON SCIENTIFIC GROUNDS, AND PROPELLED THE COMMISSION INTO ACTION. SINCE THAT WAS WHAT I WAS INSTRUCTED TO ACHIEVE, I CANNOT TODAY COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SO PROPELLED. ON TIMING THEREFORE, I RECOMMEND THAT I SHOULD NOT USE THE TWO LAST INDENTS OF THE INSTRUCTIONS IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF FCO TELNO 205. (THE REFERENCE TO THE AGRICULTURE COUNCIL ON 26 MAY IS A MISUNDERSTANDING. THE INTENTION IS THAT THE

REGULATION SHOULD GO TO IT FOR APPROVAL AS AN ''A'' POINT 1.E. IF IT IS AGREED. BUT IF NOT AGREED I WILL ARGUE, AND WOULD EXPECT OTHERS TO ARGUE THAT FURTHER DISCUSSION AT OFFICIAL LEVEL IS REQUIRED).

3. ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE DRAFT REGULATION, THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEM ABOUT PUTTING FORWARD THE POINTED QUESTIONS IN THE

INSTRUCTIONS AND ARGUING THAT THE LEVELS ARE SET TOO LOW. THE PROBLEM WILL ARISE IF, DESPITE THAT, THERE IS A LARGE MAJORITY FOR ACCEPTING THEM. IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES I WILL CONSULT BY TELEPHONE.

4. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OUR MAIN CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH THE SETTING OF OVER-STRICT STANDARDS FOR IMPORTS, BUT THE RISK THAT THESE LEVELS WILL IN TIME BECOME STANDARDS FOR INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE. I WOULD EXPECT A NUMBER OF OTHER MEMBER STATES TO BE EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ASPECT. THERE WAS A STRONG FEELING IN COREPER ON 22 MAY THAT THE ISSUE OF INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE MUST NOT BE RAISED ON 23 MAY, NOR MUST THE INEVITABLE SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION OF IT BE PRE-JUDGED. AT THE VERY LEAST, THEREFORE, I THINK WE SHALL NEED NOT ONLY A CONVENTIONAL 'NO .PRECEDENT FOR INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE'' STATEMENT TO BE AGREED, BUT ALSO FOR IT TO BE CLEARLY STATED THAT, IN THE EVENT

CONFIDENTIAL

/OF.