Letter dated 27 March 2007 from Mr Gareth
Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department
for International Development
EU AND AFRICA:
SCRUTINY
I promised to write after the session on 7 March
2007 about scrutiny of the EU Africa process and specifically
about the review of progress against the EU and Africa: Towards
a Strategic Partnership. The Committee queried why Geoff Hoon,
Europe Minister as opposed to a DFID minister, had written attaching
the Progress Report in January 2007; argued that there had not
been adequate explanation of the Government's views in that letter,
and queried why the Government had not written to the Committee
before the European Council in December.
First let me apologise for not providing the
Committee with the information expected prior to the European
Council. Our intention was certainly to engage vigorously with
Parliament on issues relating to the EU and Africa. While we set
out our views on the Commission and Council Secretariat's own
progress report during the Lords debate on November 30 2006, following
the Lords inquiry and follow up report, we did not write to the
Commons Committee on the issue before the Council and for this
I apologise.
Geoff Hoon wrote to the Committees after the
December Council attaching the final public document—The
EU and Africa: Towards a Strategic Partnership—The Way Forward
and Key Achievements in 2006. This document included Member
State inputs collected during October and November by the Commission.
Follow up to the EU's Strategy for Africa is led jointly by my
Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office because the
Strategy includes political, security and development aspects.
Most correspondence to Parliament on this topic has issued jointly
from the International Development Secretary and Lord Triesman
as Africa Minister, to reflect this and the close working relationship
across Whitehall on this set of policies. The January letter issued
from the Europe Minister because it conveyed the outcome of the
December European Council. The letter was written with full knowledge
and input from DFID officials. In future we will aim to send updates
under joint signatures wherever possible on correspondence to
Parliament pertaining to the EU Africa Strategy.
I would like to clarify expectations on scrutiny
of the EU Africa Strategy during 2007. I propose that the
Government write to the Committees once the Commission and Council
Secretariat have published their expected joint review of progress.
The Government will then forward the finally agreed review of
progress after the relevant Council. In respect of the proposed
Joint EU Africa Strategy to be approved at an EU Africa Summit,
and scrutiny of any such document, we hope to be able to forward
an outline of the Strategy once this has been agreed with the
African Union later this year. We will keep the Committees informed
of progress.
Finally, I promised to provide further information
on the 2006 Review, which I enclose below.
I hope this letter satisfactorily responds to
your concerns.
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