§ Lord Maclennan of Rogartasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their position in discussions about the future relations of the European Union with Togo, following the recent presidential election in that country. [HL4108]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe remain deeply worried about poor governance in Togo and have been active in ensuring that EU policy takes full account of this. We supported the most recent EU 19WA statement issued on 4 July, which highlighted serious concerns about events during the run-up to the 1 June elections, their conduct and subsequent events. The statement also called on the Togolese Government to commit themselves to an effective inter-Togolese dialogue.
EU aid to Togo has been suspended since 1993. We believe that the Togolese authorities need to take positive action to promote democratic principles before EU aid is resumed.