EEC relations with oil producing countries of Middle East

This file concerns relations between the European Economic Community (EEC) and the oil producing countries of the Middle East, and a cut-back in the supply of oil. It contains correspondence and records of meetings relating to:

• German policy and discussions
• EEC discussions about the embargo on oil shipments to the Netherlands because of its support for Israel, and the need to maintain the flow of crude oil to Western Europe
• Algeria's lead role in proposing the Netherlands embargo
• The insistence by President Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou that the UK and France not allow themselves to be squeezed out of a Middle East settlement by the super powers
• Parliamentary questions by Trevor Skeet, Tam Dalyell, and Peter Rost on oil and EEC cooperation and energy policy
• Denmark's solidarity with the Netherlands
• A meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with representatives from Shell and BP
• Canada's need for an exemption for Portland/Montreal shipments
• The question of activating the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Oil Apportionment Scheme, which would mean European partners sharing oil products
• A parliamentary question by Wyn Roberts enquiring if Prime Minister Edward Heath plans to meet Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's representative Dr Al Zayyat
• A proposed EEC demarche to Arab governments and the question of replying to Israel's approach suggesting a dialogue between Israel and the nine EEC members
• The nationalisation of Royal Dutch Shell interests in the Basrah Petroleum Company Limited