§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on amendments to the nature and direction of the EU overseas aid package. [31490]
§ Peter HainMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have regular discussions with EU counterparts on the nature and direction of the EU's external assistance.
The General Affairs Council will discuss the effectiveness of the EU's external action's including financial assistance, on 18 February. The Development Council on 8 November 2001, attended by the Secretary of State for International Development recommended that further work be done by the Permanent Representatives Committee to ensure that the views of Development Ministers are fed into the General Affairs Council discussion on external actions in February.
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