Jim Murphy

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Tuesday 29 April, 2008

On my way back from Luxembourg, to vote in the House of Commons on the Finance Bill. I was in Luxembourg representing the UK at this month’s meeting of European Foreign Ministers and Ministers for Europe. We’ve made progress today in a number of areas of foreign policy that are important to the UK and the rest of the EU.

Most notably we got a very clear statement from the EU on Zimbabwe. Ministers from all 27 EU member states expressed their unanimous concern about delays in announcing the election results, about acts of intimidation, violence and other human rights abuses. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have made clear all along that this is not a UK-Zimbabwe issue, but one between Mugabe’s regime and the entire international community – this EU statement is a good demonstration of that. It is also significant in calling on all countries world-wide to stop selling to Zimbabwe arms and other materials that could be used for repression (the EU already has such a ban – this appeal is to countries that don’t). Particularly pleasing that we got this included in the text as it is something the Prime Minister first raised.

Also this afternoon we signed a “Stability and Association Agreement” with Serbia. The “SAA” is an important step along the route to eventual membership of the EU and I am pleased that we have managed to sign it today. For Serbia signature is of real significance – a clear statement that a future inside the EU is open to them if they choose to follow that path. We also made clear today, as we have before, that to progress further towards EU membership Serbia will need to comply fully with the ‘International Criminal Tribunal on Yugoslavia’ in The Hague. We also got political agreement today that Bosnia can sign its SAA as soon as the texts are prepared – so a positive day for the Balkans, the UK and the EU and congratulations to Bosnia.

We also agreed at today’s meeting:

a positive statement that the EU will look to increase its engagement with Pakistan, on election reform, education and trade (again something the UK has pushed for)

agreement that if the situation in Burma deteriorates we will consider additional sanctions against the regime there.

Today was busy but well worth it, and the progress we have made in a number of areas a good demonstration that Europe is an essential multiplier of UK influence in the world.