§ 25. Mr. BatesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the benefits to the United Kingdom of the accession of four new member states expected on 1 January 1995.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe accession of these states will fulfil in part the Government's vision of an EU more widely representative of the peoples of Europe. Their membership will consolidate the benefits to United Kingdom business and consumers already flowing from the European Economic Area. Three of the four will be net contributors to the Community budget, and all are likely to share the United Kingdom's concern for budget discipline. Their accession will add extra weight to the group of member states which favour free trade over protectionism, and subsidiarity over centralism.
§ 28. Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current situation regarding the enlargement of the European Union.
§ 30. Mr. KeenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current situation regarding the enlargement of the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryA treaty of accession to the EU was signed with Norway, Austria, Sweden and Finland at the Corfu European Council on 24 June. Provided that referendums in the Nordic countries are positive—the Austrian people have already voted in favour of membership—all four will accede to the Community on 1 January 1995. The Corfu European Council conclusions included the statement that the next phase of enlargement will involve Malta and Cyprus. The Commission has been asked to prepare opinions on recent Polish and Hungarian applications for EU membership.