To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) budget, (b) agenda and (c) mission statement is of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection; and if she will make a statement. (108089)

I have been asked to reply.

The European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) is being funded under the Financial Framework—Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of terrorism. This framework has been allocated a budget of 12.7 million (euros) for 2007, by the European Union. Although not all this funding will necessarily be allocated to EPCIP, the European Commission currently expects that most of it will.

The Commission is currently drawing up proposals for how EPCIP should proceed, for discussion and agreement with the Member States. Therefore, no agenda or mission statement has been agreed. The stated aim of EPCIP is to improve the protection of critical infrastructure in the European Union.