Eastern Europe (Hansard, 29 November 1989)

§ 31. Mr. Devlin
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to Poland and Hungary in their efforts to establish liberal democracy.

§ 40. Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress Her Majesty's Government are making in setting up a know-how fund for Poland; and if he will make a statement.
316W

§ 53. Mr. Knapman
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress Her Majesty's Government are making in setting up, a know-how fund for Poland; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Kirkhope
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training in the technical processes of democracy Britain is offering to countries in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
We established a know-how fund for Poland after General Jaruzelski's visit to Britain in June. This will contribute £25 million over the next five years towards projects which will underpin Polish democracy and help economic reform. I am glad to be able to announce that it will now be doubled in size to £50 million. Moreover, we shall be making a contribution of $100 million to a stabilisation fund set up in support of the agreement being discussed between the IMF and the Polish Government. Finally, we shall be spending £15 million on a major project to improve the Polish food supply situation.
A know-how fund will provide British expertise for Hungary, amounting to £25 million over five years and will operate from next year.

§ 39. Mr. Ian Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the European Community Commission has made in carrying out its co-ordination of aid measures to Poland arid Hungary following the Paris summit.

§ Mr. Maude
The European Commission is coordinating aid measures to Hungary and Poland effectively, and have within the Community made numerous proposals which have led to the comprehensive series of measures approved by the Council. Three co-ordination meetings of the 24 countries providing aid to Poland and Hungary have been held since the Paris summit, as well as expert working groups dealing with food aid, investment, environmental protection and vocational training. The international financial institutions and the OECD have been associated with this work. There will be a substantive review of progress at a ministerial meeting of the 24 countries in Brussels on 13 December.

§ 86. Mr. Grocott
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is planning any changes in Britain's relations with eastern Europe in the light of the breaching of the Berlin wall.

§ Mr. Maude
We welcome the changes that are taking place in eastern Europe. Our policy of maintaining sound defences through NATO, and building up economic success in the EC, has been an important factor in the process which is now unfolding. This policy will continue. As individual countries in eastern Europe embark on genuine political reform, we are actively seeking, in common with our Community partners, to develop our relations with them and to encourage them with advice and practical help.

§ 95. Mr. Robert B. Jones
To ask the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on European Economic Community policy towards eastern Europe.
317W

§ Mr. Maude
The aim of EC policy has been to respond to and encourage reform in the emerging democracies of eastern Europe. The Community therefore differentiates in its relations with individual countries. The Community responds positively to significant progress towards genuine democracy and a market economy through appropriate bilateral trade and co-operation agreements, the extent of which depends on the reform being achieved.

§ 110. Mr. Barry Field
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place within the European Community concerning the entry into European Community territory by nationals of east European states.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
Discussions are continuing between member states in the European Community ad hoc working group on immigration on access to the Community by third country nationals generally, but there has been no specific discussion on east Europeans.

§ Mr. Thurnham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans to visit eastern Europe at present, but hopes to include it in his travels at an early stage.

§ 48. Mrs. Maureen Hicks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to Poland and Hungary in their efforts to establish democracy.

§ 119. Mr. Summerson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training in the technical processes of democracy Britain is offering to countries in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
We have invited groups of Hungarian and Polish parliamentarians to this country to learn about democratic procedures. We intend to invite further groups in the future. We also intend to help in other areas, such as the media and local government.