§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a 7W statement on the achievements of the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Community Council of Ministers in respect of foreign affairs.
§ Mr. EggarI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Mr. Shaw) on 19 December 1986.
A detailed list of United Kingdom Presidency achievements will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the achievements of the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Community Council of Ministers in respect of anti-terrorism measures.
§ Mr. EggarI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 20 November 1986, to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) on 3 December 1986 and to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made on 8 December following the European Council.
During our United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community we have given high priority to measures to combat terrorism. Ministers met in the TREVI group on 25 September and 9 December and there was an informal meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers on 20 October. The subject was also discussed by Foreign Ministers meeting in political co-operation and the European Council.
These meetings have resulted in enhanced practical co-operation between member states on counter-terrorism measures including the setting up of a secure communications link between police forces of the member states; intensification of liaison between counter-terrorism experts and mutual exchanges of information about people excluded from the territory of any one member state. A working group was set up to recommend ways of tightening the Community's external frontiers. Common measures were also taken against Syria following the Hindawi trial and the European Council agreed the principles which will govern the fight against terrorism for the future. EC heads of Government will examine progress made at their next meeting. The Government will play their full part in ensuring that solidarity among the Twelve in the face of terrorist threat is put into practice at every level of co-operation.