Afghanistan (Hansard, 22 October 2001)

§ The Prime Minister

I attended the informal meeting of EU Heads of Government in Belgium on 19 October.

The meeting was originally called to have an informal discussion about the future institutional development of the European Union. In the light of 11 September we, the Presidency and all our partners, wanted to use the meeting to focus on developments in Afghanistan.

The continuing and wholehearted solidarity of the European Union in the face of the 11 September attacks was confirmed in the discussion in Ghent on Friday and in the statement which was issued, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. The statement emphasises the crucial need to relaunch the middle east peace process without preconditions.

The European Union's solidarity with the United States has been shown in action as well as in words, not just by our own contribution but by those of other EU partners.

Since the beginning of this crisis, we and our EU partners have placed as much importance on the humanitarian as on the military aspects of our campaign. So far this year, aid amounting to over 310 million euros has been mobilised by the European Union to relieve the suffering of the Afghan people. That includes emergency aid and food aid released through the world food programme.

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The EU has also been looking to the protection of our own citizens. The Commission has proposed uniform EU-wide security and safety standards in aviation, standards which have already been significantly tightened across the EU since 11 September. The co-operation between civil protection authorities across the EU has been stepped up and we are developing an EU system for surveillance and control of communicable diseases, including an early warning and response system to help us deal with threats from biological or chemical agents. EU-wide legislation is being negotiated on common penalties for terrorist offences and a European arrest warrant.

I have also placed in the Library statements on the economic situation in the European Union and on preparations for the euro. At the meeting, I stressed the importance of sticking to the economic reform agenda we outlined at the Lisbon Summit 18 months ago. The essential requirement in the present economic climate is to create jobs and that will happen if, at EU level and beyond, we can open up markets in energy, financial services, transport and other sectors. We also have to be steadfast for free trade. I welcome the commitment of Prime Minister Aznar to pursue that economic reform agenda vigorously under the Spanish Presidency.