HC Deb 22 October 1986 vol 102 cc917-8W
Dr. Michael Clark

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will report on the outcome of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 and 16 September.

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 and 16 September.

Meeting in the framework of European political cooperation, the Foreign Ministers reviewed the policy of the Twelve towards South Africa and agreed a statement. They called for the lifting of the state of emergency and the release of all those detained without trial. They emphasised the importance of positive measures to assist the victims of apartheid. They deplored the South African Government's failure to take the steps needed for genuine national dialogue and, as a consequence, they decided to adopt certain restrictive measures towards South Africa. These are a ban on new investment and on the import of iron, steel and gold coins from South Africa. The representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the ECSC meeting in the Council agreed that the ban on the import of iron and steel would enter into force on 27 September. Further consideration would be given to the implementation on the ban on gold coins and new investment. The UK has already imposed a ban on the import of gold coins and announced after the Commonwealth Review meeting its intention to impose a volutary ban on new investment.

Foreign Ministers also issued a statement on Chile expressing deep concern about the reimposition of the state of siege and calling for it to be lifted. Foreign Ministers issued a statememt welcoming the release of political prisoners in Poland. They expressed the hope that it would be followed by other measures designed to promote dialogue and democratic reform. Copies of all three statements have been placed in the Library of the House.

Ministers reaffirmed the need for the closest possible co-operation in the fight against international terrorism in the light of the latest terrorist outrages.

The Council approved the EC/EFTA Annual Report for 1985 and 1986 and endorsed a declaration on EC/EFTA relations which reviewed the progress made since the Luxembourg Declaration of April 1984, reaffirmed the Community's commitment to the EC/EFTA relationship and set out priorities for future work.

The Council discussed a revised mandate for negotiations with the Community's Mediterranean partners on the maintenance of trade access following enlargement. Ministers also discussed the results of the negotiations between the Commission and the United States on the citrus/pasta dispute with a view to early EC endorsement of the agreement reached.

A meeting at Ministerial level of the EC/Turkey Association Council was held on 16 September.

The Council also adopted a resolution on Community energy objectives for 1995.