The UK as Presidency of the EU declared, on 11 October, 'its deep concern and support for the victims of Tropical Storm Stan and its solidarity with the people and governments of the affected countries.' The Commission and a number of Member States have already made available financial and other support. The EU declared that it would consider further requests for support on the basis of needs' assessments.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Jack Straw briefed MPs on the European Union's decisions to open negotiations for full membership with Turkey and Croatia. Speaking on 11 October 2005, Mr Straw said that there was 'no doubt that Turkey and Europe as a whole will benefit from this decision in equal measure'. Mr Straw added: 'For Turkey it represents another significant step on its long journey to becoming a fully European nation. The process will strengthen the wide-ranging reform programme already pushed through in recent years and it will give renewed impetus to further improvements to the rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic institutions.' On Croatia, the Foreign Secretary said: 'Croatia has made remarkable progress in recent years, and had been able to satisfy the EU Commission that it had met all the so-called 'Copenhagen criteria' relating to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, which are prerequisite to the beginning of formal negotiations.'