HC Deb 22 February 1989 vol 147 c620W
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 20 February.

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 20 February. Much of the day was taken up with discussion in the framework of political co-operation of relations with Iran in the light of the threats against Mr. Salman Rushdie. My right hon. and learned Friend has already reported to the House on this.

The Council again discussed the dispute with the United States over the EC directive banning imports of meat from animals treated with hormones. The Commission reported agreement with the United States Administration of the establishment of a high-level group to find ways of resolving the dispute within 75 days. To the extent that United States suppliers send hormone-free meat to the EC, United States retaliatory measures would meanwhile be reduced. In view of this progress the Council took no decision to implement counter-retaliation. The Council adopted a regulation requiring national controls on the export of eight key chemical weapons precursors. This followed agreement at the EPC ministerial meeting on 14 February on the case for such a regulation. Though we already have strict controls on these and other CW precursors, the Government welcome this action.

The Presidency reported on the outcome of the first substantive EC/ACP ministerial negotiating meeting on the renewal of the Lomé convention, which was held in Brazzaville on 16/17 February, and attended by my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development.

The Council adopted negotiating mandates for trade and co-operation agreements with Poland and Bulgaria, discussed the Community's relations with Eastern Europe; and agreed a Community position for the San Jose V meeting on 27/28 February with the Central American states in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The Council discussed proposals introduced by the Netherlands Foreign Minister for improving coordination between the Community and the Council of Europe. This will be further discussed at the March Foreign Affairs Council.

An EC/Tunisia Cooperation Council was held in the margins of the Council.