Gulf Co-operation Council (Hansard, 17 July 1990)

§ Mr. McCartney
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council; and what matters he will discuss.
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§ Mr. Waldegrave
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects to meet representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. He last met such representatives at an EC/GCC ministerial meeting in Muscat on 17 March 1990. Among the matters discussed were the implementation of the EC/GCC first-stage agreement and forthcoming negotiations for a second-stage agreement, as well as regional and international issues.

§ Mr. McCartney
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has seen the text of the European Parliament's resolution on a possible free trade agreement between the European Community and the states of the Gulf Co-operation Council; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Maude
We have seen the text of a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 13 July concerning a possible free trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The Commission will shortly begin negotiations with the GCC for a second-stage EC/GCC agreement, based on a free trade arrangement. We have consulted widely with United Kingdom industries interested in these negotiations and believe that the Commission's negotiating mandate takes into account essential United Kingdom interests.