Written question asked by Michael Colvin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 February 2000. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 February 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the future of the enlarged European Union in the light of the Helsinki European Council agreement.

Answer: Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the enlarged European Union in the light of the Helsinki European Council agreement. [109952] Mr. Vaz: On 14 February the member states of the European Union convened an Intergovernmental Conference to make the institutional changes necessary to prepare for enlargement. The following day they launched accession negotiations with six countries (Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia), increasing to 12 the total number of countries currently in negotiation. Both events represent important steps towards a swift and successful enlargement of the EU, in line with the Helsinki European Council conclusions.

Secondary information