In the EU

Strengthening the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action was a priority for the UK Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 1998

· An updated spending regulation has been approved for incorporating gender issues in European Commission development programmes

· The EU Development Council has renewed its commitment to gender equality and is strengthening efforts to implement the I995 Gender Resolution

· We helped negotiate the mandate for the next round of the Lomonvention, which places much stronger emphasis than in the past on gender and poverty, and identifies the pursuit of gender equality as one of its guiding principles