§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on using the European Community Development Budget funds to finance security sector reform activities and initiatives to remove small arms from circulation. [71044]
§ Clare ShortThe possibility of using EU development funds to finance security projects is a difficult issue from a legal point of view. The Commission enjoys competence in the field of development co-operation under the EU' s first pillar, competence on conflict prevention and resolution 629W rests with Member States under the EU' s second pillar (known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy). We are making progress, however, in advancing the principle that wherever possible, development assistance should contribute to the prevention of conflict; the November 1998 Development Council agreed conclusions to this affect.