HL Deb 21 April 1999 vol 599 cc162-3WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the European Union's structural and cohesion funds can come to an end without the consent of their recipient countries; and, if so, when and how. [HL1878]

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury)

The current regulations governing the structural and cohesion funds come to an end on 31 December 1999. New regulations to replace them require unanimity. This they received at the Berlin Summit, and final approval is expected by the end of May.