Eastern Europe (Hansard, 4 May 1994)

§ 20. Mr. Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether eastern European countries can be expected to join the EC.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 agreed that the associate countries of central and eastern Europe that so wished could join the European Union as soon as they were able to assume the obligations of membership by satisfying the economic and political conditions required. We are fully committed to that objective.

§ Mr. Duncan
Does my hon. Friend agree that, having pressed those countries to shake off the shackles of communism, it would be negligent if we were then to deny them the benefits of free trade? Does he agree with me that free trade and democracy are not only the guarantees of peace but the best means by which those countries can qualify for membership of the Community in the future?

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
Yes, I think that we have a duty to try to help stabilise the democracies in those newly liberated countries. One of the best ways of doing that is to trade with them—in other words, not just to encourage them to promote market economies but to provide a market for the goods that they produce. This country is at the forefront of those member states that are calling for exactly such access.