§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the sanctions imposed by EU member states against the Austrian Government. [129813]
§ Mr. VazMeasures were implemented by the 14 member states to limit the bilateral relationship as an expression of our concern at the inclusion of a far right party in the Austrian Government. Chancellor Schuessel has now accepted the EU 14's proposal that a group of "three wise persons", appointed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights, should report on the Austrian Government's commitment to common European values and on the evolution of the Freedom 649W Party. We fully support this initiative, and will, together with our other EU partners, consider the report and its implications when it is submitted.