§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Prime Minister if he will report on the outcome of the informal meeting of the EU Heads of State and Government in Petersberg, Germany on 26 February. [74131]
§ The Prime MinisterThe meeting at Petersberg was an informal meeting in preparation for the full European Council in Berlin on 24–25 March, at which a broad range of issues were discussed. No formal decisions were taken. The meeting reviewed progress on the "Agenda 2000" package of negotiations on European Union finances and expenditure, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Structural and Cohesion Funds. I set out the Government's objectives: control and stabilisation of expenditure, genuine and affordable reform of the CAP, a fair outcome for United Kingdom recipients of the structural funds, and a fair deal for taxpayers. I made it clear that the Government will maintain the United Kingdom abatement.
531WNegotiations will continue in the Agriculture Council, which reconvenes on 2 March, and the ECOFIN and General Affairs councils, in preparation for the European Council meeting later this month, when the Presidency hopes to bring the negotiation to a conclusion.
Heads of State and Government also discussed duty free sales, negotiations between the EU and South Africa, relations between the EU and Russia, and the situation in Kosovo and the Middle East.