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British Association For Central and Eastern Europe

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Radice, for starting this important debate and for chairing BACEE so well for the last 10 years. It is right and proper to call for the Government’s assessment of the work of the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe. I declare an interest at this stage, having been a member since 1994, when it was chaired enthusiastically by my late noble friend Lord Kelvedon. Yet I cannot help but think that, had a more thorough assessment taken place before it was closed, we might not be depending solely on hindsight to appreciate its work. It is a platitude that in many parts of life we do not know what we have until it has gone, but I know, and noble Lords will agree, that that is not how Governments should operate. It was particularly interesting to hear BACEE’s history from the noble Lord, Lord Roper. The budget of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was supposed to be bolstered by efficiencies arising from restructuring, cutting administrative costs and changing the emphasis of resources. Instead, it seems to have atrophied. It has been mentioned before in this Chamber that, since May 1997, the Government have closed eight British embassies, eight high commissions and 18 British consulates, making a total of 34 closures in 10 years. This was intended to create a diplomatic surge, with diplomats reassigned to Middle Eastern posts, but it has dampened morale and led many to leave the service. While unfortunate, however, that is not the primary subject of our debate today. Any department or company faced with similar cuts might expect some of these effects, although I would argue that, if they were better managed, they would not have been so pronounced. I mention all this because I think that it reveals a trend that finds its most glaring example in the closure of BACEE. Instead of pruning administrative inefficiencies, the FCO seems to have gone for some of the things that are doing substantial amounts of good for relatively minor amounts of money. BACEE cost the Foreign Office about £260,000. Now we shall have to rely perhaps more and more on the British Council and all its good work. I am pleased to see the noble Lord, Lord Kinnock, in his place for the debate. Perhaps in a new bureaucratic age of governance, a perverse cost-benefit analysis would not give BACEE good marks, but I find that hard to believe. Since 1991, more than 5,000 politicians, civil servants, judges, journalists and businessmen from countries in central and eastern Europe have participated in BACEE’s courses, seminars and conferences, as we heard from the noble Lord, Lord Radice. It was undeniably popular. Many of the leaders in power today had experiences with BACEE. They remain still grateful and good friends. The evidence for this, and perhaps even the cause of this popularity, was the long-standing approach of responding to requests for help instead of imposing an unwelcome paternalism. BACEE’s efforts were directed at improving civil society. Out of the ashes of authoritarian rule, many central and eastern European countries continue to struggle to transform into participative democracies. These are states in transition and this period of transition could not be a more important one. It is not enough to throw off the yoke of one-party rule. Education and assistance in young democracies strengthen the fabric of civil society and provide the foundation for its long-term success. Or does the Minister think that the battle has been won? Is he satisfied that BACEE’s aims of promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law have been achieved in central and eastern Europe? I suspect that it would be hard to persuade your Lordships’ House that there is no longer a pressing need for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in this part of Europe. Indeed, BACEE organised visits for Croatian and Kosovan delegations right up to its final week. Croatian membership of the EU is pending. Kosovo remains an issue of serious importance on the world stage. How can the Minister feel that the British Government can afford to decrease our resources and influence in this area at such a crucial time? What must be mentioned is the kind of help that BACEE provided under the brilliant guidance of the former ambassador, Nicholas Jarrold, whom the noble Lord, Lord Radice, mentioned, his staff and all the distinguished members. The work of BACEE was project-based. It was resolutely not for profit. What it did, however, was to foster dialogue. This seems to me one of the most important ways of assisting countries eager to establish themselves on a firmer democratic footing and to empower their citizenry. We believe in the importance of the European Union and enlargement of the European Union, especially in this part of the world, including Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and others. We also believe that the EU should function properly, without too much red tape or centralisation. BACEE was exactly one of the right bodies helping to do this. Perhaps it will take hindsight for the Minister to appreciate the work of BACEE and the work that is still to be done. I hope that the contacts and good will that it worked hard to establish will continue in some form. Thus, I hope that the Minister will include in his assessment his thoughts on how progress will be made in BACEE’s absence. Perhaps then he will understand what has been lost.