Written question asked by Bowen Wells (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 June 2000. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 June 2000 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What reforms she will propose to the European Union to increase the effectiveness of its whole aid programme. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mr. Wells: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reforms she will propose to the European Union to increase the effectiveness of its whole aid programme. [123184] Clare Short: We have published an 18-point strategy to improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of EC development assistance. The new European Commission has taken several positive steps, including the reduction of the number of Commissioners responsible for European Community development programmes from five to two, the establishment of poverty reduction as the overarching objective of the successor to the Lome Convention and the restructuring of the European Development Fund, including the recent publication of a draft development policy statement and of proposals to reform the administration of EC external programmes. However, most of the proposed changes have not yet been implemented. We are pressing the Commission to draw up clear action plans to put the proposals that have been made into practice. We will continue to work closely with the Commission and other member states to improve the poverty focus, effectiveness and efficiency of EC programmes.

Secondary information