Written question asked by Lord Redwood (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 May 2001. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Friday, 11 May 2001 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his estimate is of increased annual expenditure on (a) the CAP and (b) the total EU budget as a result of admitting the 12 applicant countries negotiating to join the EU. - Includes figure. (Holding answer 9 May 2001).

Answer: Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of increased annual expenditure on (a) the CAP and (b) the total EU budget as a result of admitting the 12 applicant countries negotiating to join the EU. [160621] Mr. Vaz: [holding answer 9 May 2001]: Following the Berlin European Council in March 1999 the EU agreed indicative limits for expenditure in an enlarged EU until 2006, assuming six new members joining in 2002. The exact level of expenditure, overall and on the CAP, will depend upon a number of factors, including the terms of accession, but will be restricted by these limits. These limits leave the overall ceiling on spending in an enlarged EU well beneath the current Own Resources ceiling (1.27 per cent. of community GNP).

Secondary information