§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which east European states he expects to be eligible for EEC membership; what timetable he envisages; and what size of fishing fleet each of these states has. [25381]
§ Mr. David DavisThe Copenhagen European Council in 1993 agreed that the associated countries of central and eastern Europe that so desired would become members of the European Union. Their accessions would take place once they were able to assume the obligations of membership. The present associates are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Similar association agreements are expected to be signed with the Baltic states at the 12 June Foreign Affairs Council, and another is being negotiated with Slovenia.
According to the latest FAO figures, for 1992, the Polish fishing fleet has 521 vessels, 249,079 gross tonnage; the Bulgarian, 38 vessels, 86,600 gross tonnage; the Latvian, 141 vessels, 343,236 gross tonnage; the Lithuanian, 162 vessels, 236,268 gross tonnage; the Estonian, 249 vessels, 180,921 gross tonnage; and, according to 1989 OECD figures, the Romanian fleet has 106 vessels, 237,457 gross tonnage. Figures are not available for Slovenia.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the specific contributions to the nation's security which arise from membership of the European Union which are not adequately covered by membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Western European Union, the United Nations and Organisation of Security and Co-operation. [25770]
§ Mr. David DavisThe security of the United Kingdom is enhanced by the contribution that membership of the European Union makes to our prosperity. It benefits from intergovernmental co-operation under the Maastricht treaty in the fields of justice and home affairs, especially with respect to fighting cross-border crime and drug trafficking. Our participation in the common foreign and security policy enables us to exercise greater influence in foreign affairs, including relations with Russia, Ukraine and central and eastern Europe.