HC Deb 17 May 1999 vol 331 cc240-1W
Ms Perham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a country may be admitted to the European Union without becoming a signatory to the European Union code of conduct on arms sales. [84257]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

In practice we would expect all EU member states to adhere in full to the Code of Conduct, including through participation in the information exchange and consultation mechanism established in the operative provisions of the Code.

The Associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Associated country Cyprus, and Iceland and Norway have already aligned themselves with the criteria and the principles contained in the EU Code on Arms Exports.