§ 16. Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of membership of the European Union on the implementation of the policies set out in "Free Trade and Foreign Policy: a Global Vision", Cm. 3437; and if he will make a statement. [4601]
§ Mr. RifkindThe European Union has the capacity to make a decisive contribution to global trade liberalisation. 332 It did so in the general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round, and we shall do all we can to ensure that it continues to do so in the future.
§ Mr. FabricantI thank my right hon. and learned Friend for his answer. Do I take it from that answer that the publication of the "Global Vision" document does not mark a shift in Government policy? Would it not be a good thing for the nation if we recognised even more that growth areas are in North America and the far east, and that, sadly, economic decline still exists in continental Europe?
§ Mr. RifkindOne of the most important priorities for the European Union is to achieve competitiveness, and not to initiate policies that are likely to retard economic growth. The fact that the United Kingdom is doing so relatively well in comparison with other continental countries indicates what we believe to be the priorities that the European Union should follow.