Monica Barnes
Ceist:14 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the issues discussed at the most recent meeting of the EU General Affairs Council. [12852/00]
Written Answers. - EU Council Meetings.
The most recent meeting of the General Affairs Council, the 2,254th meeting of the Council, took place on 10 and 11 April in Luxembourg. I represented Ireland. The issues discussed were as follows: follow-up to the Special European Council Meeting in Lisbon on employment, economic reform and social cohesion; conflicts in Africa; Ethiopia-Eritrea and the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa; Zimbabwe; China's accession to the World Trade Organisation; Turkey – adoption of the EU position for the 39th Association Council; relations with Russia, including adoption of the EU position for the third Co-operation Council; the western Balkans; Burma-Myanmar; the EU-ASEAN; Institute for European – Latin American relations; and building needs of the Council.
The Council adopted conclusions on Zimbabwe, Burma-Myanmar, western Balkans, Russia-Chechnya, Ethiopia-Eritrea, China's accession to the WTO, and building needs of the Council. The texts of the conclusions, plus a summary of the discussion and results of the meeting, are contained in the 22 page press release prepared by the General Secretariat of the Council. I have forwarded a copy of this document to the Deputy.
A meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference took place on the first day of the General Affairs Council.