§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report that part of the Dublin summit communiqué or decision which related to the pledge to provide 1.2 million tonnes of famine relief for Africa; and whether the relief concerned was designed to be in addition to the aid provided bilaterally by individual member states.
§ Mr. RaisonThe full conclusions of the European Council of 3–4 December 1984 are available in the Library of the House. The relevant extract is as follows
In the face of the serious difficulties currently being experienced by many countries of Africa, especially those, like 499W Ethiopia or the Sahel countries, which are suffering the effects of an unprecedented drought and the ravages of malnutrition and famine, the European Council stresses the urgency of taking concerted international action.The European Council believes that the total to be provided by the Community and its member states between now and the next harvest should be 1.2 million tonnes.The Commission, after consultation with member states to establish the amount of grain that will be provided by member states, will make a proposal to the Council with respect to any additional Community effort that may be needed to attain the figure of 1.2 million tonnes and the European Council invites the Council of Ministers to take any necessary decisions on the basis of such a Commission proposal in order to secure the achievement of the 1.2 million total. The European Council appeals to other donor countries to match this effort by the Community and its member states in order that the total need of those states, currently estimated at 2 million tonnes, will be met.As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 5 December 1984, at column 352, it was the intention of the European Council that 1.2 million tonnes of cereals should be provided by the Community and member states together.