EC/South Africa agreement: trade, development and cooperation

The Council discussed in detail the problems still arising with regard to the adoption of supplementary directives for negotiations with South Africa, aimed at the establishment of a free-trade area compatible with WTO rules. It had before it for the purpose a package put forward by the Presidency, which was regarded as a very sound basis on which to arrive at an overall compromise. At the end of discussions, the Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to complete drafting work on the negotiating directives in the firm resolve that they should be adopted swiftly, at the latest at the next General Affairs Council meeting, on 25 and 26 March 1996.�