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If he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 20th January. - Inc ref to documents 12065/96,12629/96 and 5282/97, the text of which will be placed in the House as soon as it is available, and a note from the presidency CONF/3802/97 (in...

Asked by

David Nicholson (Conservative)

Answering body

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

23 January 1997

Answered on

23 January 1997

Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 20 January. [12335] Mr. David Davis: The eight A points in document 5282/97, the text of which will be placed in the House as soon as it is available, were approved. The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament listed in documents 12065/96 and 12629/96. Copies of these documents will also be placed in the House as soon as they are available. The Council began with a public debate on the Dutch presidency programme for the first half of 1997. The presidency identified economic and monetary union and the successful conclusion of the intergovernmental conference as their two main priorities. I said that, internally, the main task was job creation, while externally enlargement was the key challenge. The outgoing presidency reported on the successful EU-US summit on 16 December 1996 and the Commission and current presidency set out priorities for future work on the EU-US relationship. The Council took note and agreed on the particular importance it attached to the early and successful conclusion of a mutual recognition agreement. The Council also discussed President Clinton's further waiver of title III the Helms-Burton Act which was welcome. but did not yet fully meet the EU's concerns. The outgoing presidency also reported on the EU-Canada summit on 17 January. The Council welcomed the joint declaration and action plan that were agreed there. The Council, on the basis of a report by the Commission took note with satisfaction of the outcome of the first World Trade Organisation ministerial conference--Singapore, 9 to 13 December 1996. The Council concluded that the Commission should continue to work for the effective implementation of the results of the Singapore conference, placing particular importance on the timely completion of negotiations on basic telecommunications services and reiterated the importance it attaches to the integration of the least developed countries in the global trading system. The Council noted the presidency's report on the preparation of the EU-Association of South-East Asian Nations ministerial meeting in Singapore on 13 and 14 February 1997 and asked the Committee of Permanent Representatives to continue its work on the Commission's communication on EU-ASEAN relations. The Council noted the presidency's report on the preparations for the ASEM--Asia Europe meeting-- ministerial meeting in Singapore on 15 February 1997. The Council heard a report from the Commission on negotiations on new association agreements with a number of the European Union's Mediterranean partners. The Council reiterated its commitment to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and its determination to conclude negotiations with Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan before Barcelona II on 15 and 16 April. The Council also welcomed the recent conclusion of negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organisation on an interim association agreement, and invited the Commission to submit a formal proposal for signature as soon as possible. The Council discussed the middle east peace process in the light of a report by special EU envoy Moratinos. It welcomed the recent signing of the protocol on implementation of Israeli redeployment in Hebron as an important step towards full implementation of the interim agreement and the start of the final status negotiations. The Council stated it would continue its active role in promoting and strengthening the peace process. On the former Yugoslavia, Council discussion focused mainly on the need to maintain pressure on Belgrade for rapid and firm implementation of the Gonzales report on the November 1996 election results and enter into a dialogue with the opposition on democratization. The Council expressed concern at the worsening situation in Kosovo and urged a settlement providing for Kosovo to be granted a large degree of autonomy with the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The Council called on the Republika Srpska authorities to co-operate fully with the international war crimes tribunal; and expressed the hope that the UN Security Council would endorse the approach on eastern Slovenia set out in the Croatian Government's letter of intent of 13 January. In its conclusions on the great lakes, the Council expressed concern at the deterioration in the situation in eastern Zaire, called on all parties to declare and maintain a ceasefire and urged the Government of Zaire to restore citizenship to the Banyamulenge and others entitled to it. The Council welcomed the Zaire authorities confirmation that elections will be held in July 1997, and agreed on the need for rapid establishment of the EU electoral unit and for the early appointment of the UN special representative for the elections. In light of the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Zaire, the Council called on all parties to allow rapid and free access of humanitarian aid to refugees and displaced persons. The Council expressed its shock at the killing of three Spanish aid workers in Rwanda and declared its dismay at the sharp deterioration of the political climate in Burundi. The Council called for preparations for an international conference on peace, security and stability in the great lakes region under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity to begin without delay. The Council agreed the mandate for a fact-finding mission to Belarus. The mission will report back to the General Affairs Council on 24 February 1997. Under any other business, I raised the imposition of safeguard measures by the Commission against other countries territories' rice, in particular the effect this has had on British dependent territories, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The following discussion was noted by the Council and the presidency concluded that this issue should be taken forward at working level. The ninth ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference was held in the afternoon. The meeting was preceded by an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament. Discussion focused on the subject of flexibility and was based on a note from the presidency--CONF/3802/97--which has been placed in the House Libraries.

Date

23 January 1997

Reference

12335; 288 c725-7W

House

House of Commons

Chesham, Lord

Statement on the outcome of the General Affairs Council on 20th January in Brussels.

Asked by

Lord Brabazon of Tara (Conservative)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 January 1997

Reference

577 c61-3WA

House

House of Lords

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Statement on the agenda and outcome of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 28 October in Luxembourg.

Asked by

Baroness Quin (Labour)

Answering body

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

31 October 1996

Answered on

31 October 1996

Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agenda and outcome of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 28 October in Luxembourg. [1533] Mr. David Davis: The A points in document 10968/96, the texts of which will be placed in the House as soon as they are available, were approved. They include draft conclusions on the EU regional approach to developing relations with the countries of the former Yugoslavia and a common position introducing a ban on visas for senior members of the Burmese regime and on high-level bilateral visits to Burma. The Council noted the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament in document 9600/96. A copy of the document will be placed in the House as soon as it is available. The Council reached political agreement on a regulation and joint action to counter unacceptable extra- territorial effects of US trade legislation affecting European companies trading with Cuba, Iran and Libya. After discussion, the Council agreed conclusions on preparations for the world trade ministerial meeting in Singapore in December. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade emphasised that the Singapore meeting should give a boost to trade liberalisation. Commissioner Marin, Vice-President of the European Commission--gave a short report to the GAC on the state of play in the association agreement negotiations with Egypt and how the Commission hoped to take negotiations forward. This was subsequently discussed at a meeting of the EC-Egypt co-operation council. After discussion, the Council agreed conclusions announcing the mandate and appointment of Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos as the European Union's special envoy to the middle east peace process. The presidency gave a progress report to the GAC on the European Union observatory to discuss racism and xenophobia. The presidency will produce a draft statute to clarify discussion of the legal base. The Council agreed that a joint action should be prepared for adoption at or before the 25 November General Affairs Council on support for the democratic process in Zaire, covering establishment of an EU electoral unit and a contribution to the UN trust fund. The Council also issued a statement reiterating the Union's grave concern at the escalation of fighting in eastern Zaire and its potential to worsen further the already serious humanitarian situation existing in the region, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and restating its view that a regional conference on peace, security and stability in the great lakes region under the auspices of the UN and the Organisation and African Unity, has a central role to play in the establishment of a settlement. The Council had an exchange of views on the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit to be held in Lisbon on 2-3 December, in the perspective of which it adopted "EU Guidelines". On the morning of 28 October, I signed the EC-Korea trade and co-operation agreement on behalf of the UK. In the margins, there were discussions on the location of the plant variety office and Turkey, both of which will be discussed at the November General Affairs Council, and under any other business there was a brief discussion on the results of the recent EU-southern Africa development community ministerial in Windhoek, and a request from Greece for the Commission to consider humanitarian aid to Bulgaria. In addition, the presidency, on behalf of the Union, published a declaration on the situation in Afghanistan. At a ministerial session of the Intergovernmental Conference Ministers discussed the external action of the EU, focusing on Common Foreign and Security policy-- CFSP--issues, security and defence, and external economic relations. On CFSP, Ministers exchanged views on a number of practical and institutional questions. On security and defence, Ministers discussed a range of institutional issues. On external economic relations, Ministers considered options designed to ensure that the EU is able to act decisively to promote its interests in external economic forums. The Ministerial was preceded by an exchange of views with the presidency and representatives of the European Parliament.

Date

31 October 1996

Reference

1533; 284 c225-6W

House

House of Commons

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