§ Mr. Couchmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 12–13 November.
§ Mr. RifkindA special Foreign Affairs Council on enlargement was held on 12–13 November to help prepare the Community's position for the negotiating conferences to be held with Spain and Portugal on 26–27 November. Discussion concentrated on Spanish and Portuguese fisheries and agriculture. The Council also made progress in discussion of the outstanding issues in the renegotiations of the Lomê convention. Ministers will meet again on 20 November.
Council endorsed the text on budget discipline on which a common position had been reached at the ECOFIN council. The text incorporates the measures necessary to guarantee the effective application of the principles agreed by Heads of Government. It will be discussed with the European Parliament later this month prior to its formal adoption by the Council.