Convention on the Future of Europe

HC Deb 22 May 2003 vol 405 cc914-5W

Mr. Cash

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) of 14 May 2003,Official Report, column 306, what the basis is of his statement that the European Convention is necessary to make accession work. [115285]

The Prime Minister

The Convention on the Future of Europe is looking at how an enlarged EU can continue to function effectively and transparently. The Laeken Declaration, which mandated the Convention, tasks it to seehow we can improve the efficiency of decision-making and the workings of the institutions in a Union of some thirty Member States as well as simplify the Treaties and make the EU more accessible to its citizens. Reform of the EU's institutions and processes is necessary for an enlarged EU of 28 to work efficiently.