§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that under his presidency the EU adopts the anti-poverty strategy targets set for 2005 and 2015 by the Development Assistance Committee. [43576]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 1 June 1998]: Yes. One of our top development priorities during the UK Presidency is to increase the EU's commitment to implementing the International Poverty Eradication Strategy, of which targets form an important part, and ensuring poverty eradication is at the heart of European development programmes.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development organised a high level seminar on 17 March for the Development Ministers from Member States, and representatives from the Commission and the European Parliament to discuss how to put the International Poverty Eradication Strategy into practice.