HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc604-5W
29. Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will assess the effectiveness of aid programmes in the Balkans. [147667]

Clare Short

We have recently published country strategies for our programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania which assess the impact of past aid. We shall review progress on them annually. We are currently reviewing progress on our interim strategies for Kosovo and Macedonia and will revise them as necessary in consultation with their authorities. We are also reviewing our activities in Croatia since the election of the present Government; we shall revise it as necessary.

Individual bilateral projects are subject to a standard process of review for impact and effectiveness.

We have contributed to the design of the new EC Regulation covering assistance to the Balkans with a view to more effective design and delivery. We also work closely with the international financial institutions to encourage high quality programme design which draws on the lessons of experience.

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