HC Deb 01 December 1998 vol 321 cc157-8W
22. Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the completion of the Agenda 2000 proposals. [61401]

Ms Quin

At the Cardiff European Council in March this year, Heads of State or Government agreed that political agreement to the Agenda 2000 package should be reached no later than March 1999. Both Austria, who hold the Presidency now, and Germany, who will hold the Presidency for the first 6 months of 1999, have expressed their commitment to that timetable.

25. Mr. Watts

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress on Agenda 2000. [61404]

Ms Quin

Steady progress has been made in the past month or two. The Vienna European Council on 11–12 December will not take final decisions, but the Presidency are preparing a report identifying the key political issues that need to be resolved as part of the overall agreement, and also a compendium of negotiating texts reflecting the current state of discussion. Agreement no later than March 1999, in line with the Cardiff European Council conclusions, is achievable.

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