§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with European Commissioner Poul Nielson concerning the effect that enlargement will have on the European Union aid budget. [106434]
§ Clare ShortI have had several discussions with Commissioner Nielson about the EC aid budget, but not about EU enlargement.
In July 1999, EU Foreign ministers agreed that the Commission should table proposals for the overall division of the EC external assistance budget, to allow Council discussion of development priorities as a whole and an opportunity to focus more EC resources on the poorest countries. I have pressed Commissioner Nielson on this and on other EC development issues and will continue to do so. The disproportionate amount of EC aid going to richer countries, and the inertia of the EC in rectifying this, are unacceptable.
When the EU is enlarged to include new member states during the period 2000–06, the European Parliament and the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, will jointly adjust the multi-year budget ceilings to take account of expenditure requirements arising from the enlargement. Such adjustments are not expected to affect the aid budget.