§ 21. Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the enlargement of the European Union. [44534]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe EU' s preparations for enlargement are on schedule. I anticipate that Cardiff will welcome the fact that the UK Presidency has fully implemented the remit of the Luxembourg European Council. We have launched the European Conference, opened the Accession Process and started accession negotiations with the six countries considered to be ready.
§ 29. Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress on Agenda 2000 in relation to the enlargement of the European Union. [44542]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Cardiff European Council agreed to adopt the Agenda 2000 proposals by June 1999. This would ensure agreement to the future financing of the EU and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and Structural and Cohesion Funds ahead of enlargement.