§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister what initiatives he proposes to develop relations with Iran during the British Presidency of the EU; and if he proposes a Presidency visit to Tehran at political director level. [35852]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 23 March 1998]We, and our EU partners, are encouraged by positive political developments in Iran. As holders of the EU Presidency, we have initiated a review of EU policy towards Iran. At the 23 February General Affairs Council, EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the EU should increase the level of political contact with Iran and, as a first step, decided to lift the ban on official bilateral Ministerial visits which had been agreed by the April 1997 General Affairs Council. The Council also affirmed the importance of maintaining vigilance in the EU's longstanding areas of concern.
The EU is currently discussing how and at what level to enhance its political contacts with Iran, which may lead to some form of Presidency contact at senior official level.