To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communication he has had with the governments of the EU applicant countries regarding their accession to the European Union. [99738]

Her Majesty's Government has close relations with all the candidate countries for EU accession. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I, have met with representatives of incoming EU member states on a number of occasions both in London and on mainland Europe. I intend to visit several of the applicant countries.