§ Lord Mountevansasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the General Affairs Council on 25th March.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe A points listed in document 5975/96, which will be deposited in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available, were approved. These included a draft mandate for a free trade agreement on South Africa, on which the UK abstained.
The Council took note of the resolutions in Documents 4970/96 (PE-RE 15) and 5126/96 (PE-RE 18). Copies of these documents will be deposited in the Libraries of the House as soon as they are available.
The Council discussed the follow-up to the Barcelona Conference and progress on negotiations and exploratory talks on Euro-Mediterranean Agreements. The Council also discussed the MEDA Regulation, covering financial assistance to Mediterranean countries; and had a brief discussion of EU/Albania relations, noting the Commission's intention to make a proposal for a new EU/Albania agreement.
The Council discussed EU/Turkey relations. The Association Council with Turkey was postponed to allow the Council to consider Prime Minister Yilmaz' statement on 24th March. The Presidency stressed their determination to reinstate the Association Council shortly, in order to register real progress.
The Council gave its formal agreement to the convening of an Intergovernmental Conference. The first meeting will be in Turin on 29th March. The Council also reached agreement in principle on the mechanism for keeping the European Parliament informed about the progress of the Intergovernmental Conference.
The Council discussed Former Yugoslavia and agreed the appointment of a new EU Administrator in Mostar. The Council agreed that compliance by the Bosnian parties with Dayton would be an important condition for the April donors' conference. The Council also adopted a decision on demining in Former Yugoslavia.
The Council discussed the Middle East Peace Process. The Presidency gave a brief report on the follow-up to the recent Foreign Ministers' meeting in Palermo and the Sharm el Sheikh Summit.
The Council discussed the WTO telecoms negotiations and agreed a statement pointing to EU willingness to improve its offer in Geneva.
The Council discussed EU/Canada relations, agreeing that the Presidency and Commission should draw up an EU action plan with Canada.
The Council heard a report from Portugal on the recent all-party talks on East Timor held in Austria under UN auspices.
A Portuguese proposal for an EU-Africa summit and a Commission communication on conflict prevention in Africa were remitted to officials for further consideration.
4WAA declaration on the latest development in Chechnya was agreed.
In the margins of the Council, the EU/Belarus Interim Agreement was signed. This provides for interim application of the trade provisions of the EU/Belarus Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.
Apart from the UK's abstention on the A point on South Africa, noted above, no other votes were taken at this Council.