§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made in assisting Macedonia and Albania to recover from the consequences of the war in Kosovo; what specific projects are being funded; and if she will place detailed documents on these matters in the Library. [96083]
§ Clare ShortWe are contributing towards the care and protection needs of remaining refugees in Albania and Macedonia, ensuring that outstanding pledges and promises made to refugee-hosting communities are fully honoured and taking forward pledges of longer term bilateral technical assistance.
For this calendar year, the European Union has a planned expenditure of 56.5 million for Albania and 22.1 million euro for Macedonia. The United Kingdom contributes 15.5 per cent. to the EU budget.
In Macedonia a medium term strategy is being developed. So far we have been developing support centres for small and medium enterprises in the regions 234W of Gostivar, Tetevo and Ohrid; providing advice to the Government of Macedonia on short term budget management, financial planning and accountability issues; and working with the World Bank to develop a longer term programme of reform for public expenditure and institutional structures within the Government. We will be providing training on EU negotiating skills.
In Albania we are supporting the development of rural communities in the north of the country; providing strategic advice to the Albanian Customs Service as part of a wider European Commission programme; supporting the establishment of a network of citizen's advice and information centres; and, in co-operation with the World Bank, working to improve primary health care in the Tirana region. A mission will be undertaken this month to develop future strategy.
We commissioned a study of the post-crisis trade environment in the Balkans, which identified the trade development needs of countries in the region and proposed ways in which these might be met. This study is being placed in the Library. Country strategies will be made available as they are completed.