Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the 1940 proposal for the establishment of the Franco–British Union in 2025.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
2024 has been a remarkable year for our bilateral relationship, with many successful joint engagements commemorating 120 years of the Entente Cordiale. These include the joint ceremonial events at Buckingham Palace and the Élysée Palace on 8 April, the Prime Minister and President Macron marking Armistice Day, and the inaugural Entente Littéraire Prize. Minister Doughty celebrated Bastille Day with the French Ambassador and met his counterpart in Paris for the Olympics. The Foreign Secretary also welcomed his counterpart to Carlton Gardens, near the Free French Headquarters established after the proposal for a Franco-British Union. We have no plans to mark this but look forward to further strengthening ties with France in 2025, including through the next bilateral Summit.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have changed the rules which prevent non-governmental bodies from using government premises for non-governmental purposes; and if no change in the rules has been made, why the launch of the non-governmental Initiative for Free Trade was allowed to take place in the Map Room of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in early October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Foreign and Commonwealth Office premises may be used by non-governmental bodies for events that are in line with Government policy, as in this case.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 27 January (HL Deb, col 190), what were the successful negotiations undertaken by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with other European Union member states which are said to have achieved "some very positive results"; and in each case what were the issues relating to "our relationships with the European Union" which have been discussed and the proposals made by the United Kingdom in such discussions.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has discussed our EU reform plans with 19 Member States as part of his EU programme of visits. He plans to visit the remaining Member States before the election. The Foreign Secretary has met a range of Presidents, Ministers of Government, Officials, and leaders from Civil Society and business. He has been clear on his desire to seek agreement with our colleagues in the EU on the details of proposed reforms, which will be developed in discussion with Member States in the coming months. In the Foreign Secretary’s discussions he has covered the full range of issues that this Government would like to see reformed in the EU; Fairness, Democratic Accountability, Competitiveness and Migrant Access to Benefits. The Foreign Secretary has found a renewed focus on the economic aspects of the reform agenda, recognition that much of the UK’s reform agenda is now part of EU thinking and the clear message that Member States want the UK to remain in the EU.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the statement of the Foreign Secretary on the Andrew Marr Show on 20 July, which powers of the European Union they consider must be repatriated to Member States; what they consider should be done at national level and what should be done at a European level, and how the they propose to secure those changes.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The UK is working with partners to achieve a reformed European Union (EU), that is more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable. This includes ensuring that action is taken at a national level wherever possible and at EU level only where necessary.
We have already made progress over reforms such as bringing fish stock decisions from pan-EU to regional level and removing UK liability for any further Eurozone bailouts. We will continue with partners to make sure decisions are only made at EU level where they cannot be better made at national level.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the "concerns related to the future development of the European Union" raised by the United Kingdom at the 26–27 June European Council; and what were the terms in which those concerns were communicated to the Council.
Answered by Baroness Warsi
The UK's position is well known: the EU needs reform to be more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable. We welcomed this recognition in the Council's Conclusions and now need to ensure these aims are realised.