HL Deb 20 May 1991 vol 529 cc2-3WA
Lord Skelmersdale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 13th and 14th May.

The Earl of Caithness

A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Brussels on 13th and 14th May. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs represented the United Kingdom.

The Council agreed on a 60 mecu package of emergency assistance to help those suffering in Bangladesh. The aid will be financed by bilateral contributions from member states.

At the request of the United Kingdom, the Council discussed proposals for strengthening EC/Turkey relations. It instructed the Committee of Permanent Representatives to examine the proposals in more detail and to report to the Foreign Affairs Council in July.

The Council discussed the situation in Yugoslavia. It decided that the visit by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the President of the Commission, which was agreed by the Informal European Council in Luxembourg, should take place soon.

After a brief discussion by the Council, the Commission agreed to continue funding for the International Fund for Ireland.

EC and EFTA Ministers met on 13th May to review progress in the negotiations for a European Economic Area, which will extend the Single Market to the EFTA countries. My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry represented the United Kingdom. Substantial progress was made on the outstanding issues, and EC and EFTA Ministers confirmed their commitment to conclude the negotiations before the summer. They agreed a comprehensive joint declaration setting out the main elements of the European Economic Area. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

The Ninth EC/Israel Cooperation Council on 14th May reviewed economic cooperation between the European Community and Israel. EC Ministers raised the appointment of a Commission representative in the Occupied Territories and the question of EC participation in a peace conference.