§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the United Kingdom's approach to the negotiations on a successor to the fourth Asian, Caribbean, Pacific/European Union Convention of Lomé. [6144]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Lomé Convention is the main cooperation agreement between the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, covering political dialogue, development assistance and preferential trade access for ACP goods to the EU. It is one of the mainstays of the UK's relations with the ACP states. We will play a leading role in formulating the EU's mandate for a successor to Lomé IV, especially during our Presidency in 1998. We will work for a coherent outcome which increases poverty focus and improves effectiveness, promotes an outward-looking EU and strengthen links with the Commonwealth, 38 of whose members belong to the ACP group.