HC Deb 25 June 2003 vol 407 cc815-6W
Mr Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of the organisations in EU applicant states which have been in receipt of Community funds in the past 12 months under the Information and Communications Strategy; what proportion of those bodies(a) favour and (b) oppose accession; and if he will make a statement. [121467]

Mr. MacShane

The European Commission publishes monthly reports on the implementation of the communication strategy for Enlargement on its website (www.europe.org.uk). This includes details of organisations in the accession states that have received funding under this strategy. The Commission Delegations in the accession states administer the funding under strict guidelines as set out in the communications strategy. Their activities are closely monitored by the Governments of the Candidate Countries.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has, since 1997, raised objections to aspects of European Commission communications activities(a) in the UK and (b) in applicant states; and if he will make a statement. [121468]

Mr. MacShane

This information is not held centrally and to research the situation in each of the 13 candidate countries for the past five years would incur disproportionate cost.

The FCO and European Commission Representation to the UK have a good working relationship and cooperate on activities to raise UK public awareness of EU enlargement—an objective we share.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the documents received by his Department on the management of the European Commission's communications activities in EU applicant states over the past 12 months. [121469]

Mr. MacShane

Documents relating to the management of the Commission communication strategy for EU Enlargement are published on its website (www.europe.org.uk) and include monthly updates on activities in the accession countries.