Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Friday, 25 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 March 2000. It was answered by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 March 2000 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what is the nature of the assistance provided by the European Union in exchange for the collection of weapons in Albania, with reference to the Council Decision of 17th December 1999 (1999/846/CFSP). - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the nature of the assistance provided by the European Union in exchange for the collection of weapons in Albania, with reference to the Council Decision of 17 December 1999 (1999/846/CFSP). [112347] Mr. Foulkes: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the lead organisation in the Weapons in Exchange for Development pilot programme in Gramsh, Albania, which has recently been extended to the Elbasan and Peshkpja regions. The Council Decision of 17 December 1999 enabled the European Commission's earlier pledge of 500,000 euros to be applied across the extended pilot programme. The UK has contributed bilaterally to this programme since early 1999 by providing two ammunition technical officers to UNDP to oversee the collection process. We are also funding a feasibility study on the long-term safe disposal of ammunition and ordnance in Albania, the recommendations of which will be passed to NATO, OSCE and other donors.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 345 c624W; 112347
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Decommissioning EU law Weapons Albania EU aid UN Development Programme
Contains statistics: Yes