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4 Mar 2003 : Column 899W—continued
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Central America
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his United States counterpart in respect of United States involvement in the democratic process in countries of Central America. [100040]
Mr. Rammell: FCO Officials are in regular consultation with the US Administration on a wide range of issues including Central American affairs. FCO Ministers have not made direct representations to US counterparts on the subject in question.
Cote d'Ivoire
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to prevent violence between forces of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and Liberian refugees. [99295]
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Mr. Rammell: We are not aware of any confirmed reports of violence between forces of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and Liberian refugees. However, the UK is concerned that Liberians may be involved in the Cote d'lvoire conflict.
The UK fully supported UN Security Council Resolution 1464 which urged all parties including the Cote d'Ivoire Government to implement the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Agreement and to take all necessary steps to avoid further violations of human rights and international law, particularly against civilians and regardless of their origin; and called upon the neighbour states of Cote d'Ivoire, including Liberia, to prevent any action that might undermine the security of Cote d'Ivoire. UNSCR 1464 also authorised French and ECOWAS troops to ensure 'the protection of civilians immediately threatened with physical violence within their zones of operation, using the means available to them'.
We have raised our concern for Liberian refugees in Cote d'Ivoire in the UN Security Council.
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We have provided £1 million in humanitarian assistance. This has included the provision of emergency health services, water services and food supplies to civilians, internally displaced people and refugees in both government and rebel controlled areas. Many Liberian refugees have benefited from this assistance, particularly in the worst affected west of the country. We are also contributing £600,000 towards a UNHCR camp refurbishment programme for Liberian and Ivorian refugees who have crossed into Guinea.
Cyprus
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote a settlement in Cyprus. [98417]
Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the written Ministerial Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 14WS, and to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 427W.
EU Accession
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communication he has had with the governments of the EU applicant countries regarding their accession to the European Union. [99738]
Mr. MacShane: Her Majesty's Government has close relations with all the candidate countries for EU accession. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I, have met with representatives of incoming EU member states on a number of occasions both in London and on mainland Europe. I intend to visit several of the applicant countries.
EU Candidate Countries
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps remain to be taken before candidate countries become members of the EU. [100519]
Mr. MacShane: The European Commission gave a positive opinion on 19 February to the accession of the 10 new members. The draft Accession Treaty is now being considered by the European Parliament, which is expected to give its assent on 9 April. The Council of Ministers will take a formal decision on 14/15 April to admit the new members. Heads of State and Government will meet in Athens on 16 April to sign the Accession Treaty. All 25 parties to the treaty will have until 30 April 2004 to ratify it according to their respective constitutional requirements. Subject to ratification of the treaty, the new members will accede to the Union on 1 May 2004.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with European counterparts regarding the Turkish application to join the EU; and what talks he has had with (a) Greek and (b) Cypriot representatives on the issue. [100520]
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Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regularly discussed Turkey's EU candidacy at meetings of EU foreign ministers in Brussels in the General Affairs and External Relations Council and in bilateral discussions. The EU is committed to opening accession negotiations with Turkey without delay if the European Council decides that it fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria. We look forward to working with the new Cypriot government to that end.
Foreign Agreements
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many agreements were reached between the UK Government and foreign powers in 2001; and of those, how many were agreed without Parliament being informed. [99917]
Mr. Rammell: The negotiation and conclusion of international legally-binding agreements is a function of the executive. Such agreements are subsequently laid before Parliament as a Command Paper and, where the Ponsonby Rule applies, accompanied by an explanatory memorandum.
Thirty five such agreements were signed by the United Kingdom in 2001, of which nine are yet to be published.
Funding
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) environment, (b) education and (c) human resources grants funded by his Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; how much funding has been provided in the last financial year in each case; how many awards were made; and what their administrative cost was. [99963]
Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has three environment funds to which members of the public and organisations can apply. In the financial year 2001–02, The Climate Change Challenge Fund had an allocation of £800,000 and made six awards to organisations/members of the public totalling £151,650. The Environment Project Fund had an allocation of £1,750,000 in that year, and made 49 awards to organisations/members of the public totalling £295,000. The Environment Fund for Overseas Territories had an allocation of £500,000 and made 15 awards to organisations/members of the public. These funds are administered by officials in London and at overseas posts, and separate information about the administration costs specifically for these funds is not held centrally. It cannot therefore be compiled without disproportionate effort and cost.
The Foreign and Commonwealth office holds funds for educational scholarships for which non-British members of the public can apply. In the financial year 2001–02 there were 2,366 Chevening Scholarship awards, the total cost of which was £40.1 million. Of this the FCO paid £31.5 million, other government departments £1.8 million, UK universities £2 million and the private sector £4.7 million. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also funded 85 Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan scholarships at a cost of £2 million and 87 Marshall Scholarships at a cost of £1,800,186. The British Council's management fee for
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administering the Chevening scheme was £4.25 million. The cost of the British Council's, the Association of Commonwealth Universities' and Commonwealth Scholarships Commission's administration of the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan scholarships was approximately £200,000. The Marshalls Commission administered the Marshall scholarships at a cost of £181,519. Additionally, all these schemes were administered in co-operation with a large number of officials in London and at overseas posts, but separate information on the time spent by these staff on this particular work is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate effort and cost.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides financial assistance to educational institutions to fund joint seminars, conferences and workshops of FCO interest. These are not formal grants; the funding usually covers speakers' travel and accommodation expenses. In the financial year 2001–02 seven such events took place at a cost of £18,850. Administrative costs (mainly staff time) associated with these events are estimated to total 450.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no human resource grants for which members of the public and organisations can apply.
General Affairs and External Relations Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 24–25 February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [100141]
Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 24 and 25 February. No formal votes were taken. Conclusions were agreed by consensus.
Wider Europe: New Neighbourhood
The Council continued its discussion of the 'Wider Europe; New neighbourhood' initiative, originally proposed by the UK. A Commission Communication on 'Wider Europe' would be available for the next GAERC meeting. There would be further discussion at the enlarged meeting of the European Conference in Athens on 17 April. In discussion, Ministers noted the need to develop new policy instruments in addition to EU membership to influence its relations with other countries.
The Presidency, High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten gave presentations to the Council on the morning's political dialogue meetings with Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Ministers noted Croatia's application to join the EU, for which some member states expressed their support, and noted the process for its consideration.
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The Council agreed conclusions on Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia and return of refugees and internally displaced persons. In a brief discussion, Ministers urged Belgrade and Pristina to refrain from any unilateral initiatives which were incompatible with the objectives of a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo.
Ministers discussed the Middle East and Iraq in the presence of the President of the Arab League, Mr. Hammoud, and of the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Moussa.
The Foreign Secretary explained in general terms plans for tabling a second resolution on Iraq, and stressed the need for a tough and clear message to Saddam that Iraq had to comply with relevant UNSCRs, in particular 1441. The Arab League representatives argued for more time for inspections. Ministers reaffirmed that full co-operation by Iraq on disarmament in accordance with UNSCR 1441 was an urgent objective shared by all.
Ministers reaffirmed the importance of reinvigorating the Middle East Peace Process and supported early publication of the roadmap endorsed by the Quartet.
High Representative Solana gave a presentation to the Council, including on the envisaged EU take-over of the international military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The UK Permanent Representative commended joint proposals tabled by France and the UK on this subject, emphasising the need for careful and thorough planning. Other Ministers joined the UK in stressing the importance of a robust mandate and close co-operation with NATO.
The Council took stock of implementation of the 'Berlin plus' permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO. It noted that the three main elements (assured access to NATO planning, presumption of availability of pre-identified NATO common assets and capabilities, and European command options including the role of DSACEUR) had been concluded. The Council also noted progress achieved in preparations for the EU's take-over of military operations in Macedonia.
EU-Russia relations were discussed ahead of the EU-Russia Summit on 31 May, in St. Petersburg, and in the context of the EU Common Strategy on Russia, which is coming up for review next June. The Presidency underlined the importance of making EU-Russia relations more effective and results-orientated and the need to focus on this at the Summit. The upcoming entry into force of the PCA (partnership and Co-operation Agreement)'s dispute settlement mechanism, was a step in the right direction.
The Presidency underlined the importance it attached to EU-OSCE co-operation and referred to the EU-OSCE Ministerial meeting held in the morning.
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General Affairs Session
Progress of work in the Convention
Jean-Luc Dehaene, Vice Chairman of the European Convention, gave a progress report on work in the Convention on the Future of Europe. The Convention has now reached a decisive phase in its work, as it begins to flesh out a Constitutional Treaty. The first 16 draft articles (covering Titles on Establishment of the Union, Values, Objectives, Legal Personality, Fundamental Rights and Competencies), were circulated to the Convention at the plenary on 6 February. A large number of written comments have been received on these and will be the subject of a full debate at the plenary on 27–28 February. At the same time, a second batch of articles (on the Union's instruments and procedures) will be circulated.
The President of the Convention, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, will make a further report to the European Council at its meeting of 20–21 March 2003. The Convention will present a final document later this year.
Progress of work in other Council configurations
The Council noted a Presidency report on work under way in the Council's other configurations. The report draw's particular attention to: the Economic/Financial Affairs Council meeting on 18 February, where a first exchange of views was held on the economic reform strategy set at Lisbon in March 2000; the conclusions adopted by the Education, Youth and Culture Council meeting on 6 February on activities aimed at creating coherence in education and training in Europe; and the conclusions adopted by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on January 27–28 on the integration of environmental protection requirements in the Common Fisheries Policy and on the sustainable development of European aquaculture.
Preparation of the European Council in March
The Council examined a draft annotated agenda for the European Council prepared by the Presidency, in advance of substantive preparation at its next meeting on 18–19 March. At this stage the Presidency intends to limit the agenda to the Lisbon strategy of social and economic reform. The Government welcome this as the focus for discussion.
The annotated draft agenda sets out the main items that the European Council is due to address in connection with the economic reform strategy that it laid down at Lisbon in March 2000, including how the strategy can be used to support the Union's enlargement. The agenda draws on the Commission's "Spring Report" on progress made on the Lisbon strategy and suggested policy orientations.
At this stage the Presidency intends to limit the agenda to the Lisbon strategy, although there may be discussion of the international situation. The European Council will also hear a progress report on work of the European Convention from its President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, and will hold an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox.
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Economic and Social cohesion in the run-up toenlargement
The Council took note of a Commission presentation on its second interim report on economic and social cohesion in the Union. It requested the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine this document further and to report back at its meeting on 17 and 18 of June 2003. The Commission's third full cohesion report is due in autumn and will emphasise the unprecedented challenge for cohesion policy that enlargement will bring. It will also examine the conditions for implementation of a new generation of structural fund programmes for the 2007–13 period.
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