Brussels, 24/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - Italy an Greece, informed in the framework of the Council of the latest formulas suggested by South Africa to settle the problem of grappa and ouzo (see EUROPE of 21 January, p.7), considered that they were unacceptable and consequently maintained their refusal to agree to the trade/development/cooperation agreement being implemented early without waiting for its ratification. "We are in a deep deadlock", the Commission spokesperson declared, stating that, without a compromise in the coming days, the regulation for its provisional implementation would have to be annulled.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives will discuss the issue on Wednesday.