To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what events her Department is planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Union; (117051)

The 50th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the European Union’s (EU) achievements and promote wider awareness and discussion of the role of the EU in addressing future challenges. It is right that we should not only celebrate the achievements of the EU, but look to the future, as regards the principles that guide the decisions that we will take. The Government are planning to support a number of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary, about which I will make a statement shortly.

The 50th anniversary will be marked in Berlin on 25 March. The German presidency is hosting an Informal Council of Heads of State and Government on that day to mark the event and is planning to issue an accompanying political declaration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU and its predecessor bodies. (116370)

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) today (UIN 117051 and 117052).