§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to establish on whose behalf the Portuguese presidency of the EU was speaking on 13 March when it rejected Austria's request for the normalisation of relations within the Council of Ministers. [115496]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In confirming the position of the other EU member states on 13 March in relation to their measures against Austria, the Portuguese Prime Minister was speaking in an informal capacity as a coordinator for the 14 member states.
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place between the Portuguese presidency of the EU and other EU Governments prior to their statement on 13 March rejecting Austria's request for the normalisation of relations within the Council of Ministers; and if Her Majesty's Government agreed the wording in advance. [115497]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In addressing the press on 13 March, the Portuguese Prime Minister was speaking in an informal capacity as co-ordinator for the 14 member states and reflecting the view of HMG that the measures of the 14 EU member states against Austria should continue to be implemented.