§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting between his Department and the French Minister for European Affairs on 16 September. [14269]
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§ Mr. Doug HendersonOn 16 September I met Pierre Moscovici, French Minister for European Affairs, during his visit to London. We discussed a range of European issues, including employment and enlargement in particular. I outlined our approach to the Employment Agenda and in particular the need to address the real problems of competitiveness and employability facing workers in European countries and to make this agenda attractive to citizens. We discussed preparations for the British-French Summit and Luxembourg Special European Council, both of which focus on employment policies. British and French views on enlargement and handling the European conference are similar. I stressed the importance of related issues such as reform of the common agricultural policy. I also raised the urgent need for a solution to the problem of illegal immigrants arriving via Eurostar.