HC Deb 15 July 1985 vol 83 cc49-50W
Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those subjects on which the European Economic Community adopted a common foreign policy prior to 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

The Nine/Ten have issued joint statements on the following topics between 1977, when the political co-operation archives began, and 1983:

  1. 1. East/West relations (including arms control matters).
  2. 2. The Arab/Israel conflict and the situation in Lebanon.
  3. 3. The CSCE process including CDE.
  4. 4. The Iran/Iraq conflict.
  5. 5. South Africa (apartheid, the EC Code of Conduct and the homelands).
  6. 6. The internal situation in Poland.
  7. 7. The Argentine invasion of the Falklands.
  8. 8. The Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
  9. 9. The American hostages in Tehran.
  10. 10. The progress of the Euro/Arab dialogue.
  11. 11. Human rights matters in Eastern Europe.
  12. 12. The UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.
  13. 13. The situation in Namibia.
  14. 14. The situation in Cyprus.
  15. 15. Abuse and violation of diplomatic privilege.
  16. 16. Chemical and bacteriological weapons.
  17. 17. UN matters (including UNEP, UNCTAD and UNWRA).
  18. 18. The situation in South East Asia (including Cambodia, Vietnam and refugee problems).
  19. 19. Human rights in Chile.
  20. 20. The situation in Nicaragua.
  21. 21. Majority rule and independence in Zimbabwe.
  22. 22. Civil Aviation security
  1. 23. The situation in Zaire.
  2. 24. Human rights in Surinam.
  3. 25. The re-establishment of democracy in Turkey.

The Ten have in addition taken joint positions on a wide variety of issues at the UN, and made their joint views known to a large number of third countries on topics of common interest ranging across the whole spectrum of Foreign Affairs. Copies of the statements were placed in the Library of the House when they were issued.