HC Deb 06 May 1981 vol 4 c80W
Mr. Fox

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the current level of political co-operation between the member States of the European Community in the major international institutions such as the United Nations; on how many occasions in each of the last five years the Community member States voted together in the United Nations Security Council or General Assembly; and on how many occasions in the General Assembly the member State holding the Presidency of the Council has spoken on behalf of the Community in each of the past five years, and on which issues.

Sir Ian Gilmour

There is a high degree of co-operation among representatives of member States of the European Community at international organisations. In particular, the countries of the Community are recognised as one of the most cohesive and effective regional groupings at the United Nations. The high level of cooperation attained is a considerable achievement, but we and other members of the Community are always on the lookout for ways of improving it further.

The composition of the Security Council and the representation on it of Community countries vary each year. Comparison of voting records in the Security Council would therefore not give a clear picture of co-operation at the United Nations. The following figures, however, indicate the percentage of resolutions in the General Assembly, including those adopted by consensus, on which all the members of the European Community voted together over the last five years.

1976 82.3
1977 83.5
1978 84.0
1979 82.2
1980 80.9

The following figures give the number of occasions on which the Presidency has spoken on behalf of the Community over the past four years. Figures for 1976 are not available.

1977 26
1978 28
1979 26
1980 32

The Presidency has spoken on behalf of the Community countries on almost every subject considered by the United Nations. Recent statements have been made, inter alia, on Kampuchea, apartheid, Afghanistan, international development strategy and the Middle East.