§ Mr. HoonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he considers it appropriate at this stage to rule out the use of a referendum to determine future questions affecting the terms of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.
§ Mr. David DavisWe have not ruled out a referendum, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that he is not in general in favour of referendums in our parliamentary democracy.
§ Sir Roger MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards enlargement of the European Community.
§ Mr. David DavisThe European Union signed a treaty of accession with four EFTA states on 24 June this year. The people of Austria and Finland have voted in favour of joining: provided that the referendums in Sweden on 13 November and in Norway on 28 November are also positive, and that remaining parliamentary procedures in those countries are satisfactorily completed, all four will accede on 1 January 1995. On further European Union enlargement, the Copenhagen European Council in June 1195W 1993 agreed that the associated countries of central and eastern Europe that so wish will join as soon as they are able to assume the obligations of membership by satisfying the economic and political conditions required. The Corfu European Council in June 1994 agreed that the next phase of enlargement would involve Cyprus and Malta.