Dick Spring
Ceist:7 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any proposals, in the context of the Irish Presidency of the EC, to alter or improve EC approaches to Third World aid.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers (Resumed). - EC Third World Aid.
From the beginning of the Presidency I have been concerned to bring about improvements in the Community's programmes for Third World development. During the Presidency many of the provisions of the new Lomé Convention, which provide a comprehensive framework for co-operation with 68 African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States over the next ten years, have been brought into effect. Good progress has been made in the examination by the Council of the measures necessary for ratification of the convention by the Community. I will shortly by laying this Convention before the House with a view to its ratification by Ireland. The convention contains a number of innovations notably in relation to environmental protection and assistance for States undertaking economic reform as well as increased funding.
Most other developing countries are in Asia and Latin America. I will shortly be receiving the Commission's reflections on the future approach to co-operation with these countries. I intend that the Development Council on 29 May will launch a thorough review of the Communty's relations with these countries so as to help determine policy for the nineties. Under our Presidency the Community is also embarking on a major ten year review of its generalised system of preferences. In relation to Central America, a significant step was taken at the sixth San José Meeting in Dublin on 9-10 April when the financing convention for the regional payments system in Central America was signed.
The Development Council will also consider new approaches in the areas of environment and development with a view to ensuring that the natural heritage of developing countries is protected in development projects. Among other matters it is also envisaged that the Council take steps to integrate food aid more fully into the Community's development policy and to enhance the role of women in developing countries.
I thank the Minister for the details he gave on the Lomé Convention. I want to ask him a specific question about Third World aid which was the nub of the original question. The Lomé Convention is not generally regarded as providing Third World aid; it is a co-operation agreement between the Community and the other countries mentioned. The question asked the Minister the improvements or alterations which have taken place during the Irish Presidency in regard to Third World aid. I want to ask him specifically what measures the Irish Presidency suggested going into the GATT round which would assist, for example, the primary commodities from the producing countries.
With regard to environmental protection, what measures have the Community or the Irish Presidency suggested to transfer the costs of the environmental burden from the recipient countries to the Community itself or to any of the member countries? Finally, were the other members of the Community deeply impressed by Ireland's continuing cuts in overseas development aid or were they enlightened enough not to take it as a headline?
May I ask if the Minister is taking Question No. 37 at this stage?
No. I should like to remind Deputy Higgins that the question put down by Deputy Spring is very specific.
Yes, it is.
It deals with the question of altering or improving EC approaches to Third World aid.
As we both know, the Lomé Convention deals with co-operation.
I have given quite a comprehensive answer to Deputy Spring's question which I hope Deputy Higgins can accept.
No.
With regard to helping developing countries, I believe there is agreement that the Community will do what it can to promote trade by developing countries and provide appropriate technical and other assistance to them. This important fact was catered for in the Lomé Convention. That convention provides a significant framework to enable the ACP countries to improve their economies. So far as the other main group of developing countries is concerned, as I stated in my reply a review of future co-operation with those countries is taking place and the Community's ten year review of the generalised system of preferences will take the interests of these countries into account.
I do not see myself making progress on the general matter. Arising from the Minister's reply in relation to one specific area — in the hope that we might get concrete information even in that one — when he referred to the sixth San José meeting of 9-10 April, would he not agree that the conditions attaching to the assistance for creating better trading relationships between the countries of the Central American region are not very severe if they are not subject to the contingency that if any one country does not comply then aid does not go to the other compliant countries? That is posed by way of a small modest question of fact.
At the meeting to which the Deputy has referred there was a long discussion on the matter raised by him. After that discussion the decision was as outlined in the communiqué issued afterwards.
Can the Minister inform the House whether there has been any discussion among the Ministers responsible for development co-operation about the possible effects of increased EC aid to the Eastern Europe area versus the Third World aid policy now being adopted by the EC? Can the Minister give the House an assurance that there will be a Lomé VI in ensuing years? Also in view of his answer to an earlier question about Cambodia, during the Irish Presidency of the EC, can the Minister alter EC policy to allow long-term development aid to be given to Cambodia now that people are seeing that they can deal with the Cambodian position rather than just sending EC aid through the NGOs thereby ensuring that the EC itself could effect a change? Would the Minister use his very significant power within our period of the Presidency so that, at the end of these six months, he will have one or two of those kinds of successes standing to his name?
I shall be glad to look into the substance of the second part of Deputy Owen's question. With regard to the first part, the answer is "yes", I can give that assurance, that there will be no decrease whatsoever in moneys specifically put aside for aid in the context of which we are speaking. There will be no question whatsoever that any moneys designated for aid will be siphoned off for Central or Eastern Europe.
Given what we know about the general state of Africa, declining economies, foodstocks and so on, does the Minister think that EC aid to African countries or to the Third World generally — as the question asks — has been satisfactory? Does the Minister think it is working satisfactorily? Can he stand up and give us a "yes" or a "no" reply to that question?
In fairness, I should say it can only be regarded as a help; it is not yielding the end result we would all like to see. The problems being encountered in many parts of Africa are great. Aid can do a certain amount only. There is now a recognition, within the administrations in some of these countries, that they will have to put their houses in order, that they will have to devise economic plans and programmes beneficial to their people——
What the Minister means is plans which would benefit the IMF.
They will have to devise efficient schemes. I might mention one example of which I am aware: I visited a certain city in one of the Southern African states recently. My guide pointed out to me a beautiful site in the city centre where the Government of that poor country planned to build a £65 million headquarters. As a result of gentle persuasion that £65 million project is not being built and the country can well do without it. Certainly there is room for improvement in the aid that can be given from Europe to these countries which are in very serious trouble. There is also very great need for practically all of those countries to sit down and devise practical policies for the benefit of their peoples.
In view of the appalling record of our Government in matters of aid to the Third World would the Minister agree that he would find it very difficult to convince the EC that they should increase their aid?
The answer to that question is "no".