HC Deb 15 January 1997 vol 288 cc315-7
13. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official meetings he attended in the European Union in 1996; and in how many meetings he discussed the expansion of the Community. [9245]

Mr. David Davis

Last year, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary attended nearly 30 official EU meetings, including eight General Affairs Councils and two European Councils. The enlargement of the EU was a frequent subject of discussion at nearly all of them.

Mr. Shaw

Does my hon. Friend agree that in the European Union we must concentrate on creating jobs and opportunities for business in Europe so that we can use Europe's market potential to our advantage and that of all European peoples? Does he agree that the danger is that Europe, instead of trying to bring in other countries and expand, is trying to become a federalist super-state? The British view and the Government's view must prevail if we are to achieve the job opportunities in Europe that we want.

Mr. Davis

My hon. Friend is right. Employment is the most important issue in Europe at the moment and the best model for improving employment in Europe is that of free trade, deregulation and low taxes—the British model.

Mr. Llew Smith

When discussing the possible expansion of the European Community, did the Minister bring to the attention of the countries involved article 107 of the Maastricht treaty, which makes it obvious that it is illegal for democratically elected and accountable Parliaments to try to influence the undemocratic and unelected central bank? As the unelected central bank will have so many powers over our economy, did the Minister say that if we were to accept the article, the vote and the democratically elected Parliaments would become increasingly irrelevant?

Mr. Davis

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. One issue very much at the forefront of the concerns of some of the would-be accession countries such as the Czech Republic is the effect of monetary union. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic referred to monetary union as the most important event in Europe's history in the past 50 years.

Mr. Jacques Arnold

Were the European Union to be expanded, would not the common agricultural policy and the system of structural funds become totally unviable? Given that proposition, can my hon. Friend give an assurance that those two issues will be at the top of the list of priorities in the forthcoming discussions?

Mr. Davis

Indeed I can. Reform of the CAP and of the structural funds is, if anything, more important than the intergovernmental conference in allowing the enlargement of Europe to the east and south. If those two measures are not reformed, it will place a critical—indeed, unbearable—burden on the taxpayers of Europe. Therefore, the two issues are very much at the top of our list of priorities.

Ms Quin

I congratulate the Minister on his new right honourable status.

How many of the meetings referred to in the question have dealt with quota hopping and the working time directive, which are apparently make-or-break issues for the Government at the IGC? Will the Minister list the countries that support the Government's line on each of those issues?

Mr. Davis

I thank the hon. Lady for her gracious congratulations. Some people have said that PC is not a description normally applied to me.

One of the difficulties that we must face is that much of the movement in a negotiation takes place in the last few days. I do not expect other countries to volunteer support for our position until the last few days—when they realise that they must do so to deliver a result. I take it from what the hon. Lady says that she is not suggesting that we give up the interests of British fisherman to get a result in Europe.

Back to