§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards the EU Commission's Agenda 2000. [18856]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonEnlargement of the European Union (EU) will enhance stability and prosperity across Europe and is strongly in the national interest. Reform of the EU's main policies is essential for enlargement to be successful. That is why we broadly welcome the proposals made in the European Commission's Agenda 2000 document, in particular
to begin EU accession negotiations as soon as possible with those candidate countries that are ready while ensuring an all-inclusive enlargement process.to maintain the ceiling on the Community budget's Own Resources at 1.27 per cent. of EU-GDP throughout the next financing period from 2000–2006.230Wto reform the CAP by cutting support prices and increasing targeted measures for rural areas and the environment.to reform the Structural and Cohesion Funds while maintaining their budget ceiling at 0.46 per cent. of EU-GDP and treating new and present Member States fairly.The Luxembourg European Council on 12–13 December 1997 will receive a report from the General Affairs Council on Agenda 2000. We expect the European Council to invite the Commission to open accession negotiations and to table draft legislative proposals early in 1998.