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EU Presidency

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 14 December 2005.

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Photo of Gregory Barker Gregory Barker Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's presidency of the European Union; and what representations he has received from foreign Governments about it.

Photo of Douglas Alexander Douglas Alexander Minister of State (Europe)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out the work programme for the UK presidency in detail in white paper Cmnd 6611 presented to this House on 30 June. We have made progress in a number of areas, including the historic decision to open accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia on 3 October. Last month, we achieved significant reform of the EU sugar regime and we continue to work on a range of issues from the fight against terrorism to the future financing of the EU. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I are, of course, in regular contact with our EU counterparts on the whole range of European and international issues relevant to us as EU presidency.

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Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

White Paper

A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.

More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper