§ Mr. CarringtonTo 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 15 June.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 15 June.
The Council discussed the Commission's future financing proposals. As at the Economic and Finance Council on 9 June, a large number of member states expressed serious doubts about the Commission package. The Council had a brief discussion on the administrative arrangements for the proposed new Committee of the Regions established under the treaty on European union. Ministers also discussed preparations for the European Council in Lisbon on 26 and 27 June.
The Council considerd a communication on Community relations with Japan and adopted conclusions outlining the Community's approach. Ministers issued a declaration on Yugoslavia supporting the United Nations initiative to re-open Sarajevo airport to allow humanitarian help into Bosnia-Herzegovina. They also endorsed Lord Carrington's continuing peace efforts in Bosnia and urged restraint on Serbs, Albanians and Kosovars to defuse the situation in Kosovo.
The Council discussed the development of the Community's relations with the Maghreb and agreed that permanent representatives should examine the question further. The Council considered the Swiss application to join the Community and agreed to refer the application to the Commission for its opinion.