§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the Estonian contribution for participation in the(a) Kaleidoscope, (b) Ariane and (c) Raphael Programmes; what was the cost of negotiating the level of the contribution; and if he will make a statement on the nature of United Kingdom participation in these negotiations. [66348]
§ Janet AndersonI have been asked to reply.
I welcome the fact that Estonia will be participating in the EU' s cultural funding programmes for 1999 as part of its preparations for EU membership. Participation in these, and other, programmes is now open to the candidate countries in the context of the pre-accession strategy.
293WThe precise level of Estonia's contribution for participation will be determined by the European Commission in consultation with the relevant programme management committees.