HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 cc933-4W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the request by Turkey for a date for the commencement of the accession process to the EU to be given at the Copenhagen summit; and if he will make a statement. [77914]

Mr. MacShane

HMG has long been a strong supporter of Turkey's EU candidature and we look forward to Turkey's membership of the EU as soon as possible and in accordance with the conditions which all candidates have to meet. The European Council at Brussels welcomed the important reforms undertaken by the Turkish Government and said that Turkey's progress has brought forward the prospect of opening accession negotiations.