European Heads of Government Meeting (Hansard, 1 July 2002)

HC Deb 01 July 2002 vol 388 cc139-40W 140W

§ Sue Doughty
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the European Heads of Government Meeting in Seville on 21 and 22 June regarding trade and development. [62925]

§ Clare Short
The meeting of European Heads of Government at Seville considered trade and development in the context of the EU's preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development which will be held in Johannesburg later this year.
It was agreed that the EU should continue to seek a comprehensive and timely conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda, in order to increase the benefits of trade liberalisation as an engine for the sustainable development of developing countries, and support efforts to create regional free-trade areas between them. The EU will invite other developed countries to join its positive agenda on globalisation, trade and finance to help developing countries benefit from access to developed—country markets so that globalisation can work to the advantage of all.

§ Tony Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the European Council Meeting in Seville on 21 and 22 June regarding trade and development. [64670]

§ Clare Short
The meeting of European Heads of Government at Seville considered trade and development in the context of the EU's preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development which will be held in Johannesburg later this year.
It was agreed that the EU should continue to seek a comprehensive and timely conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda, in order to increase the benefits of trade liberalisation as an engine for the sustainable development of developing countries, and support efforts to create regional free-trade areas between them. The EU will invite other developed countries to join its positive agenda on globalisation, trade and finance, to help developing countries benefit from access to developed-country markets so that globalisation can work to the advantage of all.