§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in response to the final declaration of the interparliamentary conference on the role of national parliaments on European construction, held in Brussels in May 1992, and recommendation 1193 of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe final declaration of the interparliamentary conference was debated by the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly last October, but not sent for action to the Committee of Ministers.
The Council of Europe ministerial meeting on 14 May, which was chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, agreed a number of points for discussion at the forthcoming Council of Europe summit which reflect the concerns expressed on the final declaration and include most of those items raised in recommendation 1193.
385WThe Council of Europe will continue to play a major role in the development of democracy in Europe and it is right that the summit, to be held in Vienna on 8 and 9 October, should consider its role and place in relation to other organisations and institutions, in particular the EC and Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.