HC Deb 13 January 1992 vol 201 cc436-7W
Mr. Lester

To 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 on 23 December.

Mr. Hurd

My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 December. The Council underlined its commitment to a successful conclusion of the Uruguay round and stressed the importance of opening up world trade, particularly for those countries introducing market-oriented economic reforms. In a discussion of the draft agreement put forward by Mr. Dunkel, the GATT Director General, the Council decided that the paper contained positive elements, but that its proposals on agriculture required modification. The Council asked the Commission to negotiate the necessary improvements.

The Council also agreed to provide 35 mecu of emergency food aid to Albania. The Commission undertook to put forward proposals on the possible supply of raw materials to Albania.