§ 28. Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that European Union development programmes are targeted at the poorest people in recipient countries. [51349]
§ Clare ShortOur aim is for the EC's external development programmes to make an effective contribution in meeting the international poverty eradication goal. My Department seeks to work closely with the European Union to help improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of the Community's aid programmes.
In agreeing the EU mandate for negotiation with those Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) party to the Lomé Convention, we succeeded in securing stronger backing for the International Development Strategy and targets. When negotiations open in September, we will strongly argue that aid allocations should focus on poverty.
We are also seeking to ensure that a larger share of external assistance allocations goes to poorer countries. We are trying to influence the new Financial Perspectives, which will set the ceiling for spending on external assistance through the EC Budget for the years 2000–2006, and the 1999 EC Budget.