§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the stage they wish the enlargement process to have reached by the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement. [59103]
§ Peter HainThe EU has now agreed its position on the Regional Policy, Institutions and Budget chapters allocated to the Spanish Presidency, while leaving aside a limited number of issues that need to be addressed later in the year. We expect a similar approach to enable EU agreement on the Agriculture chapter by Seville, in line with the road map for negotiations.
The EU remains on track to complete negotiations by the end of this year with those candidates who are ready, so that they can join the EU in 2004, in line with the objective first set by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in October 2000.