HL Deb 29 November 2000 vol 619 cc146-7WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest evaluation of the future role to be played by the South Eastern Europe Stability Pact in the Balkans; what interdepartmental machinery they have put in place to maximise the effectiveness of the United Kingdom's co-operation with and support for the pact; and what is the total direct and indirect expenditure by the United Kingdom on such co-operation and support. [HL4723]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Stability Pact agreed at its Regional Table meeting in June to focus on business and investment, the fight against corruption and organised crime, the elimination of ethnic discrimination, security sector reform and support for independent media. Her Majesty's Government support this approach. Next year, we expect the pact to evaluate the progress of the 2.4 billion euro quick start package of measures, announced last March, and produce a strategy for future assistance to the region, for a further regional funding conference as agreed recently by the High Level Steering Group. At the Zagreb Summit in November, countries of the region agreed to submit economic recovery and reform programmes as the basis for such a conference.

A number of departments co-operate closely over UK support for the pact's aims, notably the FCO, DfID, the Cabinet Office, DTI, MoD, the Home Office and HM Treasury. These departments are in regular contact. This arrangement is found to be fully effective.

DfID delivers the major part of the UK's non-military assistance to South East Europe. The department has earmarked £100 million for bilateral technical assistance to the region from 2000–2003. In addition, DfID provides some 18 per cent of European Community aid. At the Zagreb Summit, Community aid worth 4.65 billion euro was announced for Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the period 2000–2006 under the Community's new CARDS programme (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Democratisation and Stabilisation).