EU Aid Budget (Hansard, 9 February 1999)

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the 10 countries which received the most EU aid in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [69040]
186W

§ Clare Short
In 1997, the latest year for which figures are available, the 10 countries which received the most EU official development assistance are set out in order. Our proposals to seek to change this situation are set out in our EU Strategy Paper "Working in Partnership with the European Community", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina

2. Morocco

3. Egypt

4. Tunisia

5. Palestinian administered areas

6. Slovenia

7. India

8. Jordan

9. Bangladesh

10. Mauritania.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the EU aid budget is currently invested in low-income countries; and if she will make a statement. [69039]

§ Clare Short
In 1996 45 per cent. of EC external assistance (official development assistance plus official aid) went to low income countries, compared with 71 per cent. for the Department for International Development's bilateral programme. Our strategy to increase EC spending in low income countries is set out in our EU Strategy Paper, "Working in Partnership with the European Community", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her European counterparts concerning the proportion of the EU' s aid budget which is invested in low income countries. [69041]

§ Clare Short
I discussed the EU aid budget with all my European colleagues in the last meeting of the Development Council, on 30 November 1998. I and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State also meet our counterparts individually. We raise this issue at every possible opportunity.