Written question asked by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 November 2008. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran: EU External Relations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy was on the inclusion of Iran on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of 10 to 11 November 2008; whether any discussion of Iran took place at that meeting; and when he expects EU foreign ministers to meet to discuss Iran.

Answer: Iran was not formally discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting of 10 and 11 November, though Iran is regularly discussed in the margins. However, we welcomed Council Regulation (EC) No. 1110/2008 of 10 November 2008, which was agreed at the GAERC, implementing UN sanctions resolution 1803 on Iran. The next meeting of the GAERC is scheduled for 8 December though the agenda for that meeting has yet to be finalised. Going forward we will be looking to the EU to enhance measures already in place against Iran and will aim to build further consensus for coordinated measures in support of the UN as required by the Council Conclusions of 14 December 2007.

Secondary information