§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the honourable Member for Great Grimsby, (Mr. Mitchell) of 25 May,Official Report, column 684–85, (1) what changes he expects to make to the common fisheries policy when the entry of (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia begin negotiations for entry into the EU; [28919]
(2) what benefits he expects to come to the British fishing fleet when (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia are admitted to the common fisheries policy. [28918]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 19 June 1995]: All the countries listed, with the exception of Slovenia, have signed Europe agreements with the EU—Slovenia's has been negotiated and is now awaiting signature). These agreements contain the prospect of eventual EU accession. Only Poland and Hungary have formally applied to join the EU although a number of other central European states have indicated their wish to follow suit by the end of 1995.
It is too early to say when any of these countries will join the EU, nor is it yet possible to predict what changes may be made to the common fisheries policy or what benefits there would be to the British fishing fleet consequent upon their joining. In any negotiations on changes to the common fisheries policy consequent upon the accession of further countries to the EU, we will have uppermost in our minds the interest of the UK fishing industry.