EU Working Group on South East Europe

HC Deb 28 October 2003 vol 412 c193W

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the EU Working Group on South East Europe last met; where it met; what issues were on the agenda; and if he will make a statement. [134427]

Mr. MacShane

The Working Group last met in Brussels on 8 October. Topics discussed included the state of the Cyprus settlement process, political developments in the north of Cyprus, the EU's trade and aid package for the north of Cyprus, education for Greek Cypriots in the north of Cyprus, Turkey's internal situation, Turkey's EU accession course and the Loizidou case.

The Government are determined to do all they can to achieve peace, prosperity and security in south-east Europe. We believe that a Cyprus settlement on the basis of the Annan plan and Turkey's fulfilment of the requirements for EU membership, followed by Turkish accession to the EU, are fundament al to that goal.