HC Deb 10 January 1990 vol 164 cc641-2W
2. Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in eastern Europe.

Mr. Hurd

The whole House will welcome the momentous changes in eastern Europe which give promise of democracy and longer-term prosperity throughout the region. We hope in 1990 to see these gains consolidated. We shall do all we can to support these countries in accordance with their individual needs and stages of development.

Mr. Marlow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the respective powers of(a) democratically controlled Ministers and (b) Community bureaucrats with regard to the initiation of European Community policy with regard to eastern European issues; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude

Under the EC treaties it is the Commission which has the responsibility to put forward proposals for Community action. Formulation of policy in European political co-operation is co-ordinated by the presidency. In both areas decisions are taken by Ministers. We have taken a prominent part within the Community in ensuring that the EC has responded generously and quickly to reforming countries in eastern Europe.

80. Mr. Michael Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is giving in the process of exchanges with parliamentarians from eastern Europe.

Mr. Waldegrave

We welcome the increased scope which now exists for useful contacts between Members of this House and eastern European parliamentarians. We have assisted the Great Britain-East Europe Centre in setting up successful seminars for Polish and Hungarian politicians and are involved in a similar seminar for GDR politicians in March.

We hope that future direct links and contacts within the I PU framework will encourage the further development of democracy in eastern Europe.

63. Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom will offer for environmental improvements in eastern Europe.

Mr. Waldegrave

The Government are fully committed to improving the environment in Europe, including eastern Europe. Environmental problems are best tackled through international co-operation, and we are working within the EC to establish how best we can help in eastern Europe. The £210 million EC assistance budget for 1990 to Poland and Hungary includes the environment as a priority area. The G24 countries, which are co-ordinating their assistance for eastern Europe, are also looking at ways to help.

54. Mr. Hanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being made available to encourage the process of reform in eastern Europe.

Mr. Waldegrave

The Government are committed to supporting economic and political reform in eastern Europe, and have played a leading role in encouraging the positive response of the EC and its member states to the emerging democracies in Poland and Hungary. For both these countries we have established know-how funds and provide assistance through the EC's trade, aid and other measures. We will respond positively to other countries in eastern Europe at the time they put into place necessary political and economic reforms.

22. Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss the developments of the Community and relations with eastern European countries.

Mr. Maude

The next formal meeting of the Community Foreign Affairs Council will be on 5 and 6 February, the first under the Irish presidency. The agenda is not yet known but is likely to include further discussion of eastern Europe, given the continuing pace of developments in those countries. The FAC will be preceded by an extraordinary meeting of the EC Foreign Ministers, called by the Irish presidency on 20 January, specifically to discuss eastern Europe.

24. Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up know-how funds to assist countries in eastern Europe.

56. Dr. Twinn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government in providing know-how funding for east European countries emerging from one-party rule.

Mr. Speed

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up know-how funds to assist eastern European countries emerging from totalitarian regimes.

Mr. Waldegrave

A know-how fund for Poland was established in June, and it has subsequently been doubled in value to £50 million to be spent over five years. The aim of the fund is to help political and economic reform. To date, some 40 separate activities have been approved and £2.1 million committed. A fund of £25 million over five years for Hungary will start in April. Help for the Poles and Hungarians to prepare for democratic elections is one of the central objectives of both funds. We are considering further help for other eastern European countries.