HC Deb 28 June 2001 vol 370 cc167-8W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had since his appointment with(a) the President of the European Commission and (b) representatives of the forthcoming Belgian EU Presidency, and if he will make a statement. [859]

Peter Hain

At the General Affairs Council of 11–12 June and the Gothenburg European Council of 15–16 June, the Secretary of State had useful discussions with the President of the Commission and with the Belgian Foreign Minister. The Secretary of State also held a bilateral meeting with the Belgian Foreign Minister in London on 26 June: they discussed a range of issues likely to feature during the forthcoming Belgian Presidency of the European Union. I have also held bilateral talks with my Belgian counterpart to discuss Presidency issues.