§ Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the foreign policy achievements of the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community; and what further achievements he foresees before the year-end.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe London conference convened in August established a new framework for a negotiated settlement for the former Yugoslavia. We have ensured a substantial EC input to the middle east peace process and on humanitarian aid for Somalia. We have strengthened EC links with the countries of eastern and central Europe, notably through holding a successful EC summit in London last month with the leaders of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. We have put EC relations with Japan and with the countries of the Association of South East Asian nations on a more constructive footing through the EC/Japan summit in London in July and the EC/ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Manila last month. We have put in place arrangements for an enhanced political dialogue between the EC and Turkey. On GATT, the Presidency's contacts with the negotiating parties served as a catalyst to obtain the recent EC/US deal on agriculture. We are now working for early agreement in Geneva on the Uruguay Round. Before the end of the year, the Presidency will hold EC summits with the United States and Canada which will enhance joint co-operation with both countries. We expect further to strengthen EC relations with central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and to make further744W progress towards opening accession negotiations with applicant countries from the European Free Trade Association. At the Edinburgh European Council we also aim to bring to fruition other priorities for the United Kingdom Presidency which I outlined to the House on 24 November.