HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc1049-50W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Agenda 2000 reforms to EU structural funds. [54855]

Mrs. Roche

Discussions are continuing between Member States and the Commission on the reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds.

The Cardiff Council at the end of the UK Presidency set a deadline of March 1999 for agreement on the Agenda 2000 package. The UK will make every effort to ensure that this deadline is met.

Under the UK Presidency, we reached agreement on a number of principles for making the administration of the Funds simpler and more effective.

In the discussions starting again this autumn, the UK will continue to seek an outcome that is fair and affordable to all future and existing Member States, but particularly the UK.