§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the topics discussed, and conclusions reached, at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Community at Dublin castle on 21 April.
§ Mr. MaudeEC Foreign Ministers met in Dublin on 21 April to discuss preparations for the informal meeting of Community Heads of State or Government on 28 April. Ministers first considered the latest developments in Lithuania and the economic measures introduced by Moscow. The Twelve issued a statement expressing their serious concern and underlining that measures of a coercive nature could make no contribution to the search for a solution through dialogue. Ministers agreed to keep the situation and its policy implications under continuous review. An official working group will meet for this purpose this week.
Ministers discussed the implications for the Community of developments in central and eastern Europe. They welcomed the prospect of German unification and the integration of GDR territory into the Community: the meeting on 28 April will discuss how to ensure this is achieved as quickly, fully and smoothly as possible. They also discussed—as will the meeting on 28 April—how best to ensure the healthy development of the Community's relations with other countries of central and eastern Europe, and envisaged a network of association agreements, tailored to the individual circumstances, and the pace of reform, in each of the countries concerned.
Ministers also briefly discussed EC institutional reform, and the Franco-German proposal that Foreign Ministers should be asked to consider member states' ideas and report to the June and December European Councils. This issue, too, will be further discussed on 28 April.