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4. In paragraph 9 of TUR you asked about the possibility of offering the Austrians an arrangement similar to that which we have with the Benelux countries. We are exploring this idea with Home Office officials but you should know that their initial reaction was not encouraging.
5.
Austria plans to accede to the Treaty of Rome in 1995. The situation within the EC on visa regimes is extremely complicated and harmonisation is still some way in the future. Parkinson explained to you the current position. It is far from clear what decisions will be taken about visa requirements for BDTCs and BN (0)s and when this will happen. It will be important to lobby the Commission and member countries and to gauge carefully the right time to do this: kicking off too early could be counter-productive. We should prefer therefore to see first what progress you can make with direct bilateral negotiations and then review the situation.
6. For your information, MVD issue regular circulars (latest ref. 3/93 of 31 December 1992 - all copied to the Director of Immigration) on developments in the European Community. These circulars give guidance on a range of issues including the EC's common list of visa national countries which will pass to Community competence with the coming into force of the Maastricht Treaty. We will consider what further background material would be helpful to you but if you have any queries arising from the circular perhaps you would contact MVD direct.
7. On Mauritius: we have just received notice that the Mauritian government have decided that BN (0) passport holders should be free of Mauritian visa requirements until 31 December 1996, (we understand that the Mauritians planned to relay this decision to you via their Honorary Consul). This is good news as far as it goes. We (and no doubt you) will wish to reflect about how best to return to the charge with the Mauritians in due course.
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