§ Ms QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations about European Free Trade Association membership by countries of central and eastern Europe. [1233]
§ Mr. David DavisNo such negotiations are taking place. Slovenia has signed a bilateral free trade agreement with EFTA and Estonia has initialled a similar agreement. However, these agreements do not hold out the prospects of membership of EFTA. The central and east European countries with association agreements with the EU continue to aspire to membership of the EU itself.