§ Mr. William PowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 24–25 May.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 May. There was a useful discussion of outstanding points on detailed follow-up to the European Council. Some were resolved: others were referred for further discussion and resolution at the June Foreign Affairs Council.
The Council agreed to establish a 15 million ecu programme to support Community-wide exchanges involving young people between the ages of 15 and 25. The programme will run for three years from 1 January 1989: the Commission also has authority to spend up to 3.55 mecu this year on such exchanges.
The Council endorsed the text of the EC/CMEA joint declaration which, when signed later this month, will open the way for improved co-operation in various fields between the Community and CMEA member states.
The Council discussed dates for the 1989 European Parliament elections, and the Foreign Ministers, meeting as a Committee of Representatives of the Member States, discussed nominations to the European Court of Justice; they will return to both topics.
The sixth EC/Israel Co-operation Council, held in the margins of the FAC, reviewed the working of the EC/Israel co-operation agreement, and considered outstanding trade and tax difficulties. The Community also stressed its concern that agreed measures giving preferential access to EC markets to Palestinian producers in the occupied territories should be implemented without further delay. Prospects for the middle east peace process were discussed separately.