§ 12. Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met the EU Commissioner for International Development to discuss the EU aid budget. [147649]
§ Clare ShortI last met EC Development Commissioner Poul Nielson at the EC Development Council on 10 November. I shall be meeting him again tomorrow, 8 February. We have worked closely with Commissioner Nielson to put in place a major reform programme to increase the poverty focus and effectiveness of European Commission development efforts. The new EC Development Policy Statement and action programme are a great advance. We are now focusing our efforts on implementation.