§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 25 and 26 January.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 25 January.
The Council discussed the financial situation in the European Community. My right hon. and learned Friend and I made it clear that there could be no overall agreement in the current negotiations without effective control on agricultural production and spending. We drew attention to the dangers in any approach which did not build on the package of measures which Heads of Government had discussed at Copenhagen. These issues will be discussed again at a special meeting of EC Foreign Ministers on 1 and 2 February.
241WThe Council also discussed preparation for the EC/EFTA ministerial meeting on 2 February; and, meeting in political co-operation, Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the middle east, Afghanistan and East-West relations.