§ Mr. Dennis TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the European Union Development Council Meeting on 5 June. [4140]
§ Clare ShortMinisters held further discussions on the future of EC trade and development relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The Council adopted two Resolutions. The first establishes mechanisms to improve coherence between development and other EC policies. The second sets out plans to create a more coherent framework for research activities. The Council also adopted two sets of Conclusions, relating to co-ordination between the programmes of the Community and Member States and the needs of indigenous peoples. It also agreed a Common Position on a draft Regulation covering co-financing with Non-Governmental Organisations. Useful discussions were held on a number of other topics, including the 1996 DAC report on EC Development Assistance, preparations for the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) to review progress since the Rio Summit, and UN Reform. The Commission made presentations on two further topics: proposed Community involvement in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and Democratisation, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the ACP states.