1995 International Grains Agreement: Grains Trade Convention and Food Aid Convention

This proposal for a decision related to the Community's approval of the International Grains Agreement of 1995 incorporating: - the Grains Trade Convention of 1995, which aimed to promote international cooperation and the expansion of international trade in grains in order to secure the freest possible flow of this trade and eliminate any trade barriers. It also aimed to maintain the stability of international grain markets; - the Food Aid Convention of 1995, which aimed to secure the achievement of the World Food Conference target of supplying 10 million tonnes of food aid annually to developing countries in the form of grain suitable for human consumption. Each of these two Conventions (or either of them as agreed) would be submitted for signature and ratification, acceptance or approval by the governments (including the Community) listed in the annex to the Grains Trade Convention and the governments covered by the Food Aid Convention. The participation of the three new Member States of the Community in the Grains Trade Convention was referred to but not demanded. As a result, the Community included in its decision a declaration to the effect that these countries would no longer be individual members of this Convention but would be covered by the Community's membership thereof. Accordingly, the Community undertook to perform the undertakings laid down in the Convention for these three states. The International Agreement, to be completed on 30 June 1995, differed from the 1986 Agreement (also consisting of the Wheat Trade Convention of 1986 and the Food Aid Convention of 1986) in three ways: - the Wheat Convention was extended to all grains and became the Grains Trade Convention; - the basis for calculating the votes and, hence, the contributions to the administrative budget was reviewed and would be adjusted periodically on the basis of trade patterns; - the Rules of Procedure were updated. The new International Grains Agreement would be open for the signature of governments wishing to become members of the Agreement at the United Nations headquarters (New York) between 1 May and 30 June 1995. A Conference of Governments would take place just after this date to determine whether or not all the conditions had been met to permit the entry into force of the Agreement on 1 July 1995. The Community should deposit its instrument of approval no later than 30 June 1995. The Member States were also called upon to become contracting parties to the Food Aid Convention due to the food aid measures envisaged. �