Foreign Affairs Council (Pre-Council Statement)

Ed Davey Excerpts

Wednesday 14th December 2011 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Edward Davey)]

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will take place in Geneva on 14 December 2011. The agenda will cover items relating to the eighth World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting to be held in Geneva, 15 to 17 December. I will represent the UK.

The substantive agenda items will be: the position to be taken on the accessions of Russia, Samoa and Montenegro to the World Trade Organisation and mandates for deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTAs) with the middle eastern and north African (MENA) countries.

The Government’s objective for the Council is to support the accessions of Russia and Samoa to the World Trade Organisation and the mandates for DCFTAs with the MENA countries.