§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Prime Minister if the will make a statement on progress made at EU level on(a) the Joint British-German statement on EU taxation, (b) the Joint British-Swedish statement on social inclusion and opportunity in Europe and (c) the Joint Anglo-Spanish statement on employment; and for what reasons each country was selected as the partner for a joint statement in this field. [80046]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government seek actively to build alliances with other Member States on a range of issues under discussion in the EU. The European Defence initiative with France, and our joint statements with Germany on tax, Sweden on social inclusion and opportunity, and Spain on employment and economic reform are recent examples. This approach both deepens our bilateral relations with EU partners, and influences the wider EU debate.