§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the priority areas of technical assistance under the PHARE and TACIS funds; and what proposals there are to change these.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydPHARE priorities and programmes are described in an EC publication summarising PHARE activities in 1992 already placed in the Library. Member states agreed revised guidelines in December 1992 for the period 1993–97; a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. A revised TACIS regulation for 1993 and beyond was agreed in March, subject to the views of the European Parliament which are still awaited. The full texts are available in the Library, but in summary they cover:
PHARE:
- Restructuring and privatisation of state enterprise in industry and agriculture
- Support for the private sector
- Modernisation of the financial system
- Development of a social safety net
- Nuclear safety
- Regional co-operation
TACIS
- Human Resources Development
- Enterprise restructuring and development
- Infrastructure
- Energy, including nuclear safety
- Food production, processing and distribution
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the EC about improvements in the administration of the PHARE and TACIS funds.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMy right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Overseas Development have discussed the question of improvements with Sir Leon Brittan. We welcome the programme of improvements which Sir Leon announced on 9 June, and I have placed a copy of his speech in the Library.