| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
China
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to have with hon. Members over the future of the EU/China human rights dialogue. [135765]
Mr. Battle: The Government take an active role in the EU in determining the direction and strategy for the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue. The UK proposed a review into strengthening the dialogue procedures at a joint COHOM/COASI meeting on 9 February. This was
8 Nov 2000 : Column: 276W
supplemented by the GAC conclusions of 20 March which, at the Foreign Secretary's initiative, included a call for the setting of objectives. The Presidency envisage concluding the review by the GAC meeting on 4 December. The Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the bilateral relationship with China, to which the Foreign Secretary gave evidence.
European Union (Qualified Majority Voting)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy he will adopt at Nice on the extension of qualified majority voting. [136396]
8 Nov 2000 : Column: 277W
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the balance of responsibilities between the United Kingdom Government and the European Union and proposals to change the method of voting in Brussels on (a) the approval of the rules of procedure of the Court of Auditors, (b) the appointment of the Court of Auditors, (c) the rules of procedure of the European Court of First Instance, (d) the rules of procedure of the European Court of Justice, (e) the appointment of the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, (f) the appointment of the Secretary-General, (g) the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories and (h) the powers of the Court of Justice in Title IV. [136672]
Mr. Vaz: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood), on 30 October 2000 Official Report, column 238W.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times, and on what issues, Her Majesty's Government have used their veto in the EU in each of the last 10 years; and how many times vetoes were used in total in each of those years. [136773]
Mr. Vaz: The Council Secretariat does not hold figures on the number of times proposals for legislation are vetoed, and the figures sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The use of the veto on legislative proposals is comparatively rare. But the requirement for unanimity in the most sensitive areas of policy acts as an important discipline, helping to ensure that member states tend to develop proposals which all can support.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the expansion of the aquis communautaire. [136393]
Mr. Vaz: The Government are clear about the benefits for the UK of co-operating with our European partners. But they are also clear that the Community should act only where the objectives cannot be better carried out by member states.
Middle East
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will pass on to the UN Human Rights Commission inquiry information on human rights abuses collected by British consular staff in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. [136453]
Mr. Hain: We remain concerned about human rights abuses in the Occupied Territories, and if the special session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to be convened in New York passes the UNHRC resolution convening the Commission of Inquiry, we will co-operate fully.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Palestinian Authority about the use of children during the clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. [137103]
Mr. Hain: I deplore the fact that children have been caught up in recent violence in the Occupied Territories,
8 Nov 2000 : Column: 278W
which has led to tragic loss of life and casualties among children. I appeal to both sides to ensure that every effort is made to protect children.
Fishery Concessions (Tristan da Cuhna)
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the companies and vessels that hold the fisheries concessions in the area of Tristan da Cuhna. [136808]
Mr. Hain: Two companies hold fisheries concessions in Tristan da Cunha's waters. They are:
- Eurex Limited of St. Peter Port Guernsey, which has exclusive rights to fish for lobster with a by-catch of finfish and octopus up to twelve miles from the coast. The concession is for five years with an option to renew for a further five years when it runs out in 2002. It operates the fishing vessels Kelso and Edinburgh.
- San Libatore, the offshore fishing company of Cook Strait Seafoods of Wellington, New Zealand, which has exclusive rights for trawling from 50 to 200 miles. This concession began on 1 September 2000 and runs for two years with an option to renew for a further three years when it runs out. It operates the fishing vessel San Libatore.
Trade (EU Market Access)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact the EC's Everything but Arms initiative will have on the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. [136830]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I have been asked to reply.
None. The European Commission's proposal on improved market access for the 1 per cent. of products from the 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) which do not yet have tariff and quota free access to the EU will be implemented by adjustments to the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme. The Cotonou Partnership Agreement and the preferences it enshrines for the participating countries will be unchanged. However, the 39 Cotonou countries which are also LDCs would be able to gain some additional benefits if they export to the EU products covered by the proposed new GSP arrangements.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when sanctions against Yugoslavia will be lifted. [136968]
Mr. Vaz: The EU oil embargo and flight ban have already been lifted with effect from 9 October. The remaining EU sanctions, with the exception of the arms embargo and the ban on the export of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism, are being revised to ensure that only those measures aimed directly at Milosevic and those persons directly associated with him remain in place: this process should be complete by the end of November.
The UN arms embargo and ban on arming and training for terrorist activities there, imposed by UNSCR 1160 (1998), will remain in place.
8 Nov 2000 : Column: 279W
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that all the EU's economic sanctions against Yugoslavia should be lifted. [136967]
Mr. Vaz: The EU oil embargo and flight ban against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were lifted on 9 October following the election of Vojislav Kostunica as President of the FRY. The remaining EU sanctions, with the exceptions of the arms embargo and ban on equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism, are being revised to target only Milosevic and those individuals associated with him.
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the European Union to provide finance to reconstruct the civilian infrastructure damaged by NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia. [136966]
Mr. Vaz: The European Union has already responded quickly to support the new government in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and repair the damage brought on by the Milosevic regime. At the Biarritz European Council on 13 October, the EU announced a 200 meuro emergency assistance package. This package will focus on support for the energy sector, food, health, education and heating. The EU has also allocated 22 meuro for the clearance of the Danube.
European Security and Defence
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the US Administration on the further development of (a) European Security and Defence Identity and (b) European Security and Defence Policy. [137201]
Mr. Vaz: President Clinton welcomed the outcome of the Feira European Council regarding the European Security and Defence Policy in a statement on 20 June 2000. Speaking at the NATO Informal Defence Ministerial at Birmingham on 10 October 2000, Defence Secretary Cohen said that the US agrees with the Helsinki Headline Goal
- not grudgingly, not with resignation, but with whole-hearted conviction.
Mr. Vaz: Non-EU European allies and candidates for accession to the EU have been encouraged to make additional contributions to the Headline Goal target. The European Council at Feira welcomed initial declarations of intent to contribute. Defence Ministers of those countries will have the opportunity to announce offers to make forces available to EU-led crisis management operations in meetings with Defence Ministers of EU member states on 21 November. These offers will be additional to the Headline Goal, which is for EU member states alone to achieve.
8 Nov 2000 : Column: 280W
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the scope of the (a) European Security and Defence Identity, (b) Common European Security and Defence Policy and (c) European Security and Defence Policy. [137073]
Mr. Vaz: The European Security and Defence Identity refers to the arrangements established within NATO for the Alliance to support European-led crisis management operations.
The Common European Security and Defence Policy (also known as the European Security and Defence Policy) refers to the arrangements established within the EU for the EU to have the capacity to undertake conflict prevention and crisis management tasks. ESDP is being developed in close co-operation with NATO.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) role and (b) composition is of the European Military Committee; and what representation it has within (a) NATO and (b) other EU bodies. [137109]
Mr. Vaz: The Nice European Council is likely to take decisions on establishing permanent political and military bodies including an EU Military Committee. The EU Military Committee will give military advice on questions relating to crisis management operations. It will be composed of Chiefs of Defence Staff of the member states. Day-to-day business will be carried out by national military representatives, who may be double hatted with military representatives at NATO. The Chairman of the Military Committee will attend the Political and Security Committee and meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made in setting up co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms involving non-EU NATO members in the ESDI/P framework. [137075]
Mr. Vaz: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 25 October 2000, Official Report, column 148W.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if (a) ESDI and (b) ESDP actions will be subject to a veto by any NATO member state. [137074]
Mr. Vaz: All decisions on ESDI in NATO and on ESDP in the EU are taken by consensus. EU decisions are taken by EU member states only.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |