To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she expects the UK to be represented at (a) a meeting of the 18 EU states which have ratified the EU Constitutional Treaty to be held in Madrid on 26 January 2007 and (b) a meeting of EU states which have not ratified the EU Constitutional Treaty to be held on 27 February 2007; and if she will make a statement. (114373)

The UK is not among the EU member states which have ratified the Constitutional Treaty and has not been invited to attend the meeting in Madrid on 26 January 2007. The UK has not yet received an invitation to the meeting reportedly scheduled in Luxembourg on 27 February. We will take a decision on attendance if and when such an invitation is received.

I made a written ministerial statement to the House on 5 December 2006, Official Report, columns 10-11WS regarding the UK’s approach to the forthcoming future of Europe discussions. This continues to be the Government’s position.