Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister's comments in Brussels on 27 May that Brussels was "too big and too busy" indicate that they intend to oppose any further expansion of the European Union.

The Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron)'s comment was that Brussels is “too big and too bossy”. He was referring to the need for the EU to reform to become less interfering and more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable. He was not pronouncing on the EU's territorial size.

The UK continues to be a strong supporter of enlargement based on firm but fair conditionality, focussing on key concerns shared by many Member States, particularly around the rule of law. Enlargement has proved a huge driver of peace, prosperity and progress across our continent.