To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if joining the single currency will be considered acquis communautaire for applicant countries to the European Union. [17222]

Acceptance of the Community aim of economic and monetary union will be part of the acquis communautaire for applicant countries. The Treaty imposes an obligation to join the Single Currency on Member States considered, in compliance with Articles 109j and k, to fulfil the necessary conditions. However this obligation does not apply to Member States which, like the UK and Denmark, have negotiated special provisions. Applicant countries will have to decide whether to seek to negotiate special provisions in their treaties of accession.