European Union Treaty

HC Deb 14 May 1992 vol 207 c194W

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reference tothe desire for modulation of the levels of Community participation in programmes and projects referred to in the protocol on economic and social cohesion to the treaty on European union; what was the original French text for this; and which body was responsible for the translation.

Mr. Sainsbury

I have been asked to reply.

The reference relates to an agreement among member states, recorded later in the protocol to allow higher rates of structural funds grant in the less prosperous member states "with a view to avoiding excessive increases in [their] budgetary expenditure". I expect precise provisions to be included in the new regulations on the funds due to take effect in 1994, but discussion of these has not yet begun.

The original French text of the reference was le souhait d'une modulation des niveaux de la participation communautaire aux programmes et aux projets". The translation into English was made by the Council secretariat.