§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 1 April 2003,Official Report, column 653W, if he will undertake a fresh analysis of the costs and benefits to the United Kingdom of EU enlargement. [108135]
§ Mr. MacShaneFigures for the positive economic benefits of enlargement for the current EU, including the UK, have been supported by other independent studies, including, most recently, the Report of Wim Kok to the European Commission "Enlarging the European Union: Achievements and Challenges (March 2003)". This estimates that enlargement will122W provide a one-time gain of 0.2 per cent. of GDP for the current EU, and create 300,000 jobs (http://www.iue.it/RSCAS).
§ Michael FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 1 April 2003,Official Report, column 653W, if he will undertake an analysis of the costs and benefits to the United Kingdom of EU membership; and if he will make a statement. [108136]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe costs and benefits to the UK of EU membership are regularly discussed in Parliament and revealed in oral and written questions. This is a continuing process and the FCO has no plan to publish a specific report at this time on this subject.