ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF EU AID

Early day motion 1128, tabled 24 March 1998 by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 88 members.

That this House expresses its concern at the continuing failure of the European Commission to adopt and implement appropriate procedures to protect the environment and to consult project beneficiaries and local communities in its development co-operation programmes in the Third World; observes that despite a requirement to undertake assessments of the environmental impacts of aid projects, to mid-1996, only 26 such EIAs (out of a total of many hundreds) had been conducted; further notes that a veil of secrecy still surrounds much of the Commission's aid programme and that despite internal Commission policy encouraging openness and transparency, access to information about aid projects continues to be denied; and urges the United Kingdom Government to take advantage of its term of Presidency of the European Union to ensure that reform is granted the highest priority.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 10, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.