European Union (Accessions) Bill

I imagine that it would be difficult to apply a perfect measure of consistency. In the last process, 10 countries were allowed to accede in one bloc, and there is inevitably greater scrutiny when only two countries are under the microscope. That in no way diminishes the objective importance of dealing with all the administrative, social, legal and ethnic issues in the way laid out so clearly by the Commission. In the next few years—it may be later rather than sooner—the House may find itself debating Turkey’s membership of the European Union. That will be an altogether more complicated and controversial exercise than this debate. It will not be possible to have a rational political debate about such a controversial step as accepting Turkey into the EU if the rigour and credibility of the enlargement process has not already been proven. The manner in which we examine Bulgaria and Romania’s case and decide over the next few months whether those countries should join and on what terms sets an important precedent for the debate that we shall no doubt have in some years to come on Turkey. With those caveats in mind, I conclude by saying that my right hon. and hon. Friends and I strongly support the Bill’s Second Reading. We hope that the rest of the House will join us in doing so.