§ 19. Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what measures the UK has participated to assist candidate members of the EU to meet the terms of environmental directives prior to entry. [90475]
§ Ms QuinThe UK fully supports the important goal of helping all the applicant countries meet the EU's environmental standards, and we are working to achieve this through projects for the Know How Fund, through the EC's Twinning Scheme and through contributions to PHARE and other funding programmes.
§ 22. Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet his European counterparts to discuss the enlargement of the European Union. [90479]
501W
§ Ms QuinAs I mentioned in the House earlier today, enlargement is a key priority of the Government and of the European Union. It, therefore, is a constant feature of all my contacts with my colleagues from EU member states and applicants. Our next full discussion will be at the Foreign Ministers' Informal Meeting in Finland on 4–5 September.