§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the European Commission's Information Programme for European Citizens (Prince) was first introduced; what annual expenditures have been financed under it; and what is the treaty article on which the Commission's programme is based. [HL3359]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)The European Commission's Information Programme for European Citizens (Prince) was included in the Commission budget for the first time in 1995. Since 1995 the annual commitments have been: 1995 0.5 million ECU, 1996 15 million ECU, 1997 30 million ECU, 1998 27 million ECU, and 1999 37.64 million ECU.
The funding of this programme is subject to the Interinstitutional Agreement on Legal Bases and Implementation of the Budget, 10893/98, on which an explanatory memorandum was submitted in October 1998.