§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress in the EU-South Africa trade negotiations. [65659]
§ Ms QuinWe remain actively committed to finalising a Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and South Africa. We regret that the deadline agreed at the Cardiff European Council for conclusion of the negotiations by the end of 1998 was not met. The Vienna European Council in December 1998 called for the negotiations to be finalised as soon as possible, and no later than the informal Council to be held in March 1999. We will continue to press for a rapid and liberal outcome which honours the EU' s commitments to help the South African transition from apartheid, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reiterated to Deputy President Mbeki during his recent visit to South Africa.