11972B/AFI/DCL/11

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AT THE 8TH MINISTERIAL MEETING IN THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM , HELD ON 21 , 22 AND 23 JUNE 1971 MR . G . RIPPON , CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER , ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION , MADE THE STATEMENT APPEARING UNDER I BELOW .

MR . M . SCHUMANN , MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC , ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY DELEGATION , REPLIED WITH THE STATEMENT APPEARING UNDER II BELOW .

I . STATEMENT MADE BY MR . G . RIPPON , CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER , ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION

IN HIS OPENING STATEMENT TO THE CONFERENCE OF 30 JUNE 1970 MR . BARBER REFERRED , AMONGST OTHER AGRICULTURAL ISSUES , TO THE PROBLEMS OF HILL FARMING AREAS . PARTS OF SCOTLAND , WALES , NORTHERN IRELAND AND OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH-WEST OF ENGLAND CONSIST OF HILL REGIONS , WHICH BECAUSE OF CLIMATE , SOIL STRUCTURE AND GEOGRAPHY ARE SUITABLE ONLY FOR EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK REARING .

FARMING ENTERPRISES IN THESE AREAS ARE LIMITED IN SCOPE AND ARE BOUND TO BE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO MARKET CONDITIONS , SO THAT HIGH END-PRICES ALONE WILL NOT ENABLE THEM TO REMAIN VIABLE . UNDER OUR PRESENT SYSTEM , THEY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE , THEREFORE , BOTH AS A PART OF OUR GENERAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES AND AS PART OF OUR AGRICULTURAL POLICIES . MANY OF THE EXISTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CERTAINLY HAVE AREAS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WE SHALL OF COURSE DEAL WITH THEM , AS YOU YOURSELVES ALREADY DO , IN CONFORMITY WITH THE TREATY AND THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY . I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY'S CONFIRMATION OF MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE ENLARGED COMMUNITY WHO FACE SITUATIONS OF THIS KIND TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING REASONABLE INCOMES OF FARMERS IN SUCH AREAS .

II . STATEMENT MADE BY MR . M . SCHUMANN , MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC , ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY DELEGATION

THE COMMUNITY DELEGATION HAS TAKEN CAREFUL NOTE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION'S STATEMENT ON HILL FARMING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND MEASURES TAKEN TO SUPPORT IT .

IN REPLY TO THIS STATEMENT , THE COMMUNITY DELEGATION IS IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION .

THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS OBTAINING TO HILL FARMING AREAS AS COMPARED WITH OTHER AREAS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM , AS IT IS , MOREOVER , OF THE DIFFERENCES , AT TIMES VERY MARKED , BETWEEN AREAS IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE PRESENT COMMUNITY .

THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS OBTAINING IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ENLARGED COMMUNITY MAY INDEED REQUIRE ACTION WITH A VIEW TO ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS RAISED BY THESE SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND , IN PARTICULAR , TO PRESERVE REASONABLE INCOMES FOR FARMERS IN SUCH AREAS .

SUCH ACTION MUST , OF COURSE , AS YOU HAVE JUST SAID , BE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY AND THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY .