§ 15. Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the enlargement of the EU following the Helsinki Council meeting. [104204]
§ 16. Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in the European Union enlargement process. [104205]
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§ 26. Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the enlargement of the EU following the Helsinki Council meeting. [104217]
§ Mr. VazThe Helsinki European Council agreed to invite six more countries to open negotiations in February and decided that Turkey is a candidate for membership. The European Council agreed that the EU should have institutional reforms in place and be in a position to welcome new Member States from the end of 2002. The UK fully supports these developments.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Poland and Hungary to become full members of the European Union; and what assessment he has made of the implications for the Common Agricultural Policy. [104202]
§ Mr. VazThe Helsinki European Council in December agreed that the EU will make every effort to be able to receive new members from 2002. Poland and Hungary, like other applicant countries, have been making good progress in their preparations for enlargement. We want these countries to join the European Union as soon as they are able to meet the obligations of membership. It is too early to say when this will be.
Poland and Hungary both have significant agricultural sectors. Their membership will strengthen the case for further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which the UK supports.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, when he last met his colleagues from other member states of the European Union, they discussed matters relating to the enlargement of the EU and the timetable for the acceptance of the applicant states. [104207]
§ Mr. VazMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discussed enlargement of the EU with his colleagues at the Helsinki European Council in December. The European Council agreed that the EU will make every effort to be able to receive new members from 2002. Applicant states have been making good progress in their preparations for enlargement. We want these countries to join the European Union as soon as they are able to meet the obligations of membership. It is too early to say when this will be.