HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 cc682-3W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the document, "UK Presidency of the EU Half Way Mark", if he will list the agreements reached on millennium compliance by the close of the UK presidency. [53782]

Mr. Fatchett

Our aim to raise awareness of this issue across Europe and work together on responses to it was a high priority during the UK Presidency. We contributed to the preparation of a European Commission information paper on the Millennium Bug, which was presented at various Councils to encourage early and vigorous action by Member States. We hosted a workshop in May, involving senior representatives from each Member State to promote Millennium compliance throughout the EU. We secured an important statement in the Conclusions of the Cardiff European Council, highlighting the urgency of action by all Members. This helped to promote a sense of common purpose within the EU on the Millennium problem. We expect there to be further discussions in the Council of Ministers and in other EU contexts under the Austrian Presidency.

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