§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what percentages the entry of the six current applicant countries for EU membership into the EU will increase(a) the EU's population and (b) the EU's GDP. [71085]
§ Ms QuinWe cannot of course predict the population or GDP of the candidates or the 15 current EU member states at the time of the first accessions. However recent figures indicate that enlargement to include the six candidates currently in accession negotiations would754W increase the EU' s population by some 17 per cent. (based on figures in Agenda 2000 published by the European Commission in July 1997) and GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) by about 8 per cent. (based on figures released by Eurostat on 11 September 1998).