§ Sir Michael ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 20–21 June. [30864]
§ Mr. HowardI, together with the Minister of State, Scottish Office, Lord Fraser, represented the United Kingdom at the Council which was held in Luxembourg.
Before the Council began, the Ministers of the member states met their counterparts from the central and eastern European states and from the Baltic states to continue the structured dialogue with them on interior and justice affairs. The troika held a meeting after the Council to brief the USA, Canada, Malta and Cyprus on the Council's discussions.
406WThe Council agreed as "A" points, among other things, a statistical report on crimes and offences linked to racism and xenophobia, a report on terrorism, a report on aspects of customs co-operation, a recommendation on means of combating illegal immigration and illegal employment and a resolution on the protection of witnesses in the fight against international organised crime.
The Council had a full discussion on the points outstanding on three important conventions, which are close to completion. These are the conventions on Europol, on the protection of the financial interests of the European Communities and on the Customs information system. The Council was able to resolve most of these points and to make progress in defining the remaining issues which relate mainly to resolving disputes on the interpretation of the conventions. These will be discussed by the European Council at Cannes.
The Council considered progress reports on work on the draft convention on controls on persons crossing external frontiers and on the draft convention on extradition. It also considered a draft convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters, and agreed that work would continue on this under the incoming Spanish presidency.
It agreed in principle a resolution on burden sharing with regard to the admission and residence of temporarily displaced persons which is not legally binding and is in terms acceptable to the United Kingdom.
The Council considered the draft Council regulation on third countries whose nationals must have a visa when crossing the external borders of the member states. It failed to reach final agreement due to a difference of opinion on the inclusion in the list of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia-Montenegro.
I raised with my colleagues the question of football hooliganism. The Council agreed with my proposal that work should be done to increase the effectiveness of the arrangements between member states for preventing and dealing with disorder arising at football matches.