§ Mr. NichollsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development last met her EC colleagues to discuss development issues; and what was decided.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMy right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development chaired the Council of EC Development Ministers on 18 November 1992. I represented the United Kingdom. The Council adopted a declaration on aspects of development co-operation policy in the run-up to the year 2000, which sets out objectives for the Community and member states and puts in place the mechanisms to achieve a greater co-ordination between EC donors. It also adopted a resolution on family planning in developing countries which established an agreed framework for action by the Community and its member states. There were conclusions on the implementation of the 1991 resolution on human rights, democracy and development, and on co-operation with non-governmental organisations. The Community and member states reaffirmed their commitment to provide 3 billion ecu in support of "Agenda 21" and agreed to commit 600 million ecu of this over the next year. There were general discussions on aid untying and on general aspects of emergency aid including the specific case of Angola, Somalia and Mozambique.