My Lords, the answer to the question we are debating today—whether the recent EU-west Balkans summit in Sofia has

strengthened support for EU enlargement—can be provided quickly, clearly and shamefully. It is no. Support for EU enlargement since the Sofia summit has not been strengthened. If anything, it has been...

My Lords, the answer to the question we are debating today—whether the recent EU-west Balkans summit in Sofia has

strengthened support for EU enlargement—can be provided quickly, clearly and shamefully. It is no. Support for EU enlargement since the Sofia summit has not been strengthened. If anything, it has been...

My Lords, I have been asked by the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford—who is no doubt present in spirit if not in flesh on this occasion—to introduce the International Relations Committee’s report to your Lordships in this very timely debate on that report and on the future of the...

My Lords, I have been asked by the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford—who is no doubt present in spirit if not in flesh on this occasion—to introduce the International Relations Committee’s report to your Lordships in this very timely debate on that report and on the future of the...

My Lords, I thank all those who took part in the debate. I thank in particular the three spokesmen from the Front Benches, who demonstrated very clearly that this is not an issue that divides parties in any way; it is an issue that unites us all and it is...

My Lords, I thank all those who took part in the debate. I thank in particular the three spokesmen from the Front Benches, who demonstrated very clearly that this is not an issue that divides parties in any way; it is an issue that unites us all and it is...

Lords motion to take note of the first report of the International Relations Committee on The UK and the Future of the Western Balkans (HL 53). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the first report of the International Relations Committee on The UK and the Future of the Western Balkans (HL 53). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I speak as a habitual complainer about the dilatoriness of the scheduling of debates on the reports of this House’s Select Committee on the European Union, and indeed of other committees. However, it is only fair on this occasion to congratulate the usual channels on having arranged this...

My Lords, I speak as a habitual complainer about the dilatoriness of the scheduling of debates on the reports of this House’s Select Committee on the European Union, and indeed of other committees. However, it is only fair on this occasion to congratulate the usual channels on having arranged this...

I am most grateful to the noble Lord for allowing me to intervene to say that I am not hanging my head in shame. I explained the situation in my speech, which perhaps the noble Lord did not hear properly. I did not say, and the report does not say,...

I am most grateful to the noble Lord for allowing me to intervene to say that I am not hanging my head in shame. I explained the situation in my speech, which perhaps the noble Lord did not hear properly. I did not say, and the report does not say,...

My Lords, I suggest that the Prime Minister's speech is a curate's egg—some good some bad. I include among the bad elements, the commitment to a referendum on a fixed timetable many years ahead on what may well turn out to be a false premise; namely, that wholesale treaty reform...

My Lords, I suggest that the Prime Minister's speech is a curate's egg—some good some bad. I include among the bad elements, the commitment to a referendum on a fixed timetable many years ahead on what may well turn out to be a false premise; namely, that wholesale treaty reform...

My Lords, 2012 has not been a good year for the European Union and it has not been a good year either for Britain in Europe. To deny either of those two pretty evident propositions is to delude oneself and to make the search for remedies even more difficult than...

My Lords, 2012 has not been a good year for the European Union and it has not been a good year either for Britain in Europe. To deny either of those two pretty evident propositions is to delude oneself and to make the search for remedies even more difficult than...

My Lords, Turkey, which in the last quarter of the 20th century had often seemed set to requalify for the title of, "““the sick man of Europe””," has now gained its place in the new G20 group—the primary co-ordinator of global economic issues—and is developing a new, active foreign policy...

My Lords, Turkey, which in the last quarter of the 20th century had often seemed set to requalify for the title of, "““the sick man of Europe””," has now gained its place in the new G20 group—the primary co-ordinator of global economic issues—and is developing a new, active foreign policy...

My Lords, I wonder if the noble Lord can say whether his strictures about having been employees of the Commission or the European Parliament—I hope that he did not include me among them, because although I was, my pension was repatriated—would extend to those Members of your Lordships’ House who...

My Lords, I wonder if the noble Lord can say whether his strictures about having been employees of the Commission or the European Parliament—I hope that he did not include me among them, because although I was, my pension was repatriated—would extend to those Members of your Lordships’ House who...

My Lords, this is a good moment to be reviewing the UK's membership of the European Union. We are only a few days away from an important meeting of the European Council—perhaps a real turning point. We are passing through a period of change in the leadership of several of...

My Lords, this is a good moment to be reviewing the UK's membership of the European Union. We are only a few days away from an important meeting of the European Council—perhaps a real turning point. We are passing through a period of change in the leadership of several of...

My Lords, can I press the Minister a little more on a point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford? What assurances or guarantees did the Government receive from the Government of Cyprus that, on the 27 chapters of the Turkish negotiation which are not frozen, negotiations can...

My Lords, can I press the Minister a little more on a point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford? What assurances or guarantees did the Government receive from the Government of Cyprus that, on the 27 chapters of the Turkish negotiation which are not frozen, negotiations can...

My Lords, the international community is facing a critical moment in what could—and, one hopes, will—be the final chapter in the cascade of events, many of them tragic and many of them not too brilliantly handled, that followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. The long-awaited report on the future...

My Lords, the international community is facing a critical moment in what could—and, one hopes, will—be the final chapter in the cascade of events, many of them tragic and many of them not too brilliantly handled, that followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. The long-awaited report on the future...

I, too, want to intervene briefly on this subject—not, however, in support of the opposition to the clause proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Howell. The noble Lord has explained—and I am grateful to him—that it is not his object to prevent the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and that is admirable....

I, too, want to intervene briefly on this subject—not, however, in support of the opposition to the clause proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Howell. The noble Lord has explained—and I am grateful to him—that it is not his object to prevent the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and that is admirable....

The Bill relates only to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria and it is right that we should address directly the case for those two countries to join the European Union. I will try to bring a little more seasonal good cheer than the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, did. In...

The Bill relates only to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria and it is right that we should address directly the case for those two countries to join the European Union. I will try to bring a little more seasonal good cheer than the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, did. In...

My Lords, two months ago, the negotiations for Croatia’s accession to the European Union were begun, so the noble Earl’s Question comes at an opportune moment to take stock of that important event and to look ahead. The process that led up to the opening of negotiations was far from...

My Lords, two months ago, the negotiations for Croatia’s accession to the European Union were begun, so the noble Earl’s Question comes at an opportune moment to take stock of that important event and to look ahead. The process that led up to the opening of negotiations was far from...