HC Deb 27 October 1998 vol 318 cc143-5
8. Mr. Jeff Ennis (Barnsley, East and Mexborough)

When he last met his European counterparts to discuss Agenda 2000 and enlargement. [54292]

15. Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster, Central)

When he last met his European counterparts to discuss Agenda 2000 in relation to enlargement. [54299]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ms Joyce Quin)

I last met my European counterparts to discuss Agenda 2000 issues at yesterday's General Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

Mr. Ennis

I thank the Minister for her reply. Is she aware that the current gross domestic product per capita in South Yorkshire is only 75 per cent. of the European average? Is she further aware that in my constituency that figure falls to 65 per cent? Does she agree that, if this country is successfully to regenerate the most economically deprived regions, it must negotiate extremely hard to try to maximise the amount of European regional assistance that comes to this country under Agenda 2000?

Ms Quin

I very much support my hon. Friend's comments. We generally support the criterion of 75 per cent. of GDP as the threshold for European regional assistance. European funds have already been used to effect in regenerating certain areas of the British economy. We are keen to see that process continue, as it rebounds on the efforts of those regions to the credit of both Britain and the European Union.

Ms Rosie Winterton

Is my hon. Friend aware that the rail port in my constituency of Doncaster provides rail freight services from the north of England to Europe? Does she agree that, to protect the environment and regenerate areas like South Yorkshire, the development of European rail links should be a high priority in any discussions on Agenda 2000 and European Union enlargement?

Ms Quin

I very much agree with my hon. Friend that transport infrastructure is a vital part of the economic development of a region. European transport links make a great deal of sense in the context of the European Union's structural funds and European efforts generally to promote economic development.

Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

Will the Minister tell the House why so little progress is being made on the financial and other reforms which will be essential if the European Union is to be successfully enlarged? Is it because her Government, and other centre left Governments within the EU, are still obsessed with yesterday's backward-looking agenda of a Europe which is uniform, not diverse; rigid, not flexible; and deeper, not wider?

Ms Quin

The basic premise of the hon. Gentleman's question is simply incorrect. Good progress is being made towards the Agenda 2000 timetable, as was evident from our discussions in Luxembourg yesterday, which ranged over all the issues involved in the negotiations, including financial and budgetary ones.

Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset)

Does the Minister think that assurances given during enlargement negotiations can be kept to? I have in mind the assurances made by Spain, when it joined the European Union, about its treatment of Gibraltar. Spain is now attacking Gibraltar's fishing rights as well as its border rights, as always. Can she assure us that she takes these matters into account in the discussions on enlargement, and that the Spanish Government will be told, yet again, that they should keep to their assurances over Gibraltar?

Ms Quin

It is certainly important that, in enlargement negotiations, undertakings that are given are implemented in practice. Indeed, a range of mechanisms has been put in place to make sure that the progress of existing applicants can be monitored through all the different chapters of the accession negotiations. In respect of Gibraltar, the hon. Gentleman might like to know that we recently protested strongly about increased delays at the border. As a result, those delays have been greatly reduced.

Mr. Eric Illsley (Barnsley, Central)

When my hon. Friend last met her European counterparts to discuss enlargement, was any attention given to the question of Cyprus being admitted to the European Union as an occupied country, in light of the view held by some of our EU partners that the idea of EU membership as a catalyst to a peace settlement appears to have failed?

Ms Quin

In the General Affairs Council, we have said clearly that we believe that the accession negotiations regarding Cyprus remain an important pressure on reaching a settlement and reunifying the island. That is our view, and we have put it forward strongly. We believe that the accession negotiations represent a real opportunity to make progress, however difficult the problems are.