§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcome of the Development Council held on 30 May was; and if she will make a statement. [62896]
§ Clare ShortAt its meeting on 30 May, the Development Council, by consensus
agreed conclusions on the external dimension of EU Sustainable Development Strategy and preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development;agreed procedural conclusions welcoming a proposal to define a common EU approach to democracy and governance in developing countries;debated the reform of EC Development Assistance and the Programme of Action 2002;agreed a declaration reaffirming its support for the work of UNFPA; andagreed joint resolutions with member states on education and training in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries, and on health and poverty reduction in developing countries; a resolution on water management in developing countries; conclusions on improving EU development response towards ACP crisis and conflict affected countries, and on information and communication technologies in development; and declarations on the World Food Summit, and on the food crisis in southern Africa.There were also informal discussions of recent developments in Afghanistan and Sudan.