A4-0185/96

Resolution on a report from the Commission on the future operation of the information and cooperation networks in the framework of enterprise policy (COM(95)0435 - C4-0012/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the report from the Commission on the future operation of the information and cooperation networks in the framework of enterprise policy (COM(95)0435 - C4-0012/96),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0185/96),

1. Endorses the report's assertion that the chief target population is the enterprise, and particularly the SME. With around 18 million SMEs in the EU, and almost the corresponding number of people unemployed across the EU, it is clear that if each SME could possibly employ another person, this could lead to a considerable reduction in unemployment across the Union. Therefore, the fostering of enterprise to improve business and employment is a desirable objective;

2. Welcomes the services offered by the European Information Centres across Europe, such as the provision of:-

* Community texts

* information packs and products

* information officers to provide expert information and advice

* access to Community databases

* network coordination

* a computerized communications system to support the needs of the network;

3. Recognizes the usefulness of the BC-NET and BRE-NET cooperation networks, and values their contribution to the fostering of enterprise throughout the European Union;

4. Endorses the Commission statement within the report that states - 'the method chosen by the Commission for the operation of its networks does not allow the results obtained to be fully appraised on the basis of the most important criterion, that of client satisfaction¨;

5. Believes that problems faced by the EICs in the areas of staffing, supply and demand, location and promotion should be dealt with at local level, and the management of the centres should be reviewed on a regular basis;

6. Takes the view that, in addition to the quarterly surveys and annual reports, the Commission must carry out actual visits to the EICs on the basis of an annual spot check, so that an accurate impression can be obtained of the activities of the EICs in the different regions of Europe;

7. Believes that the information provided centrally to EICs must be reviewed regularly, in order to ascertain the usefulness of the material to target enterprises such as SMEs; the information should be centralized to allow it to be distributed to, and consulted by, SMEs at one point ('one-stop shopping¨);

8. Believes that synergy between the various networks can only be improved if the interaction between those networks is reviewed regularly, and the results of the reviews are used to improve the interaction of the networks;

9. Recommends that the networks utilise the latest technologies to enable efficient operation of the networks, in particular to assist in areas such as 'partner matching¨. Examples should be followed where appropriate in the areas of electronic commerce;

10. Recommends that the EICs continue to work with local authorities, chambers of commerce, and enterprise agencies and look towards cooperating with newer networks such as business links;

11. Believes that the emphasis for the operation of the networks must remain on being service driven, rather than profit driven, and that value for money, whether from the Community budget or for services offered at a charge, must be obtained; departing from these principles will result in further barriers to success being placed before SMEs;

External economic relations aspects

12. Points to the importance of the information and cooperation networks in a world in which the economy is tending to become globalized at all levels;

13. Notes that the results achieved under the networks policy as it now stands have not been uniformly consistent, but considers them to be very encouraging;

14. Believes that material and human resources must be increased and guaranteed in the long term in order to make the various networks more effective;

15. Believes that development and an increase in the number of networks serving countries outside the Union should be treated as matters of the utmost priority and hopes in particular that the European Business Information Centre will be expanded;

16. Welcomes the intention of expanding the EIC network and developing the EICs to interface with all networks serving businesses, as announced in the multi-annual programme for SMEs and craft industries (1997-2000);

17. Hopes that the Commission's external information offices will assist development along the above lines and consequently provide the necessary personnel and financial resources;

18. Believes that the decentralized facilities should remain in place so as to provide a link to the Commission for those operating on the ground;

19. Hopes that the Commission will submit an annual report to Parliament on development of and the results achieved by the European Business Information Centre;

20. Believes that constant use should be made of existing opportunities for regular quality control and assessment so as to improve the excellence of the networks;

21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.