Written question asked by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 June 2004. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 June 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7th June 2004 422 c55W, on Cyprus, what financial assistance (a) the Government and (b) the European Union is providing to Northern Cyprus; and for what specific purpose. - Including figure.

Answer: Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 55W, on Cyprus, what financial assistance (a) the Government and (b) the European Union is providing to Northern Cyprus; and for what specific purpose. [179542] Mr. MacShane: The EU agreed to the allocation of è259 million EU structural funds to the Turkish Cypriots. The UK's share of that figure will be broadly in line with its contribution to the total EU budget of approximately one fifth. We await the Commission proposals aimed at ending the international economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Our High Commission in Nicosia will work closely with Cypriot officials to ensure that aim is achieved, and will continue to run projects aimed at strengthening administrative capacity and economic governance. The fundamental goal at the heart of this assistance is to improve prospects of agreement to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in the future.

Secondary information