HC Deb 22 June 1999 vol 333 cc356-7W
27. Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for economic reconstruction in the Balkans. [86603]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Her Majesty's Government are actively pursuing, with partners, a range of initiatives to promote stabilisation and prosperity in south eastern Europe. The offer of new Stabilisation and Association Agreements for the countries of the region, once they meet the conditions, will help accelerate the EU integration process and make it more inclusive.

We actively supported the EU presidency initiative for a Stability Pact for south-east Europe, which was launched on 10 June and will provide a new form of co-operation, including on reconstruction issues. We warmly welcome current EU and World Bank efforts to assess the reconstruction needs in Kosovo and the impact of the crisis on the neighbouring region. We will continue to play our part in all efforts designed to overcome the consequences of the crisis and bring the countries of the region into the European mainstream.