EU-Africa Summit (Hansard, 12 April 2000)

§ Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her European counterparts concerning the agenda of the EU-Africa Summit. [118048]

§ Clare Short
As Presidency of the EU, Portugal was responsible for co-ordinating preparations for the EU-Africa Summit. I discussed the Summit with the Portuguese Minister for Development when I met him on 11 January. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development also attended an informal meeting of EU Development Ministers on 28-29 January where discussion focused on the role of Europe in promoting peace, security, democracy and development in Africa.

§ Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement concerning her engagements at the time of the EU-Africa Summit in Cairo. [118051]

§ Clare Short
During the Africa-Europe Summit in Cairo on 3-4 April 2000, I was engaged in Government business. The UK Government were represented by the Foreign Secretary.

§ Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made on development at the EU-Africa Summit. [118049]
150W

§ Clare Short
The Africa-Europe Summit, Cairo 3-4 April 2000, was the first of its kind. African and European Heads of State and Government sat together to discuss key issues of mutual concern, including development issues.
The major issues brought to the table were debt, integrating Africa into the world economy, conflict prevention, human rights and democracy, and poverty eradication. Discussions were frank and constructive.
Follow-up procedures have been agreed including another summit in Europe in 2003. Meetings of Ministers in between the summits and the establishment of a bi-regional group at the senior official level, to meet regularly, will continue work on the issues discussed. In particular, the bi-regional groups of officials will report to Ministers on Africa's debt and the return of cultural property to its country of origin before the next Summit.

§ Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development why she did not attend the EU-Africa summit in Cairo. [118052]

§ Clare Short
The Foreign Secretary led the UK delegation at the Africa-Europe Summit. He was fully briefed by my Department and supported at senior official level. I did not consider it appropriate or necessary for me to attend the summit. The same view was taken by many of my development Minister colleagues.

§ Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what briefing her Department provided for the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs concerning the development aspects of the EU-Africa Summit. [118050]

§ Clare Short
My Department provided comprehensive briefing on development issues discussed at the Africa-Europe Summit, including regional integration within Africa, transfer of technology, debt, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, health and the environment. MID and other Government Departments worked together to prepare briefs on trade, conflict prevention and human rights. In addition, DFID produced and circulated a press briefing on UK Support to Africa for the Summit, covering key aspects of the UK development programme.