WRITTEN QUESTION E-2783/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: Relationship between the European Union and the British Virgin Islands

What is the legal and constitutional relationship between the British Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom and between the British Virgin Islands and the European Union?

What treaties, conventions, decisions, declarations, resolutions or other provisions of the European Union are applicable to the relationship between the British Virgin Islands and the Union?

What commercial agreements does the European Union have with the British Virgin Islands? What was the value of imports and exports with the Union in 1994, 1995 and 1996? What are the main products involved?

What agreements on development cooperation and/or regional development does the Union have with the British Virgin Islands? What contribution did the Union make to the Islands in 1994, 1995 and 1996?

What plans do the Union and the British Virgin Islands have for development and structural improvements for the period 1997-2000?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2781/97, E-2782/97, E-2783/97, E-2784/97, E-2785/97, E-2786/97, E-2787/97, E-2788/97, E-2789/97, E-2790/97, E-2791/97, E-2792/97, E-2793/97, E-2794/97, E-2795/97, E-2796/97, E-2797/97, E-2798/97, E-2799/97 and E-2800/97 given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (26 September 1997)

The following is the Commission's overall answer to the 20 written questions from the Honourable Member, which pose the same five questions with regard to each of the overseas countries and territories (OCT).

The constitutional relationship between each OCT and the Member State concerned depends on the internal law of that Member State (Denmark, France, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom). It is not the Commission's responsibility to describe those relationships. However, they are summarised in Annex I to the Communication from the Commission on the mid-term review of Decision 91/482/EEC ((OJ L 263, 19.9.1991. )) on the Association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community ((COM(94) 538 final. )). Since they are subject to modification, in May 1997 the Commission asked the Member States to up-date this information as an aid to the work currently underway on the future of relations between the Community and the OCT after 2000.

Relations between the OCT and the Community are governed by Articles 131 to 136 of the EC Treaty and by Association Decisions unanimously adopted by the Council, pursuant to Article 136, in 1964, 1970, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991.

The trade arrangements between the Community and the OCT are set out in the Association Decisions. The Decision currently in force is Decision No 91/482/EEC of 25 July 1991. The trade figures can be found in the Commission (Eurostat) publication on the Community's external trade with the ACP countries and the OCT.

Financing arrangements (programmable assistance from the European Development Fund (EDF) for the OCTs and regional cooperation; non-programmable assistance such as emergency aid, interest subsidies, Stabex, Sysmin, venture capital; European Investment Bank loans) are also set out in the Association Decisions.

On 14 February 1996 the Commission submitted a proposal for 1997-2000 ((COM(95) 739 final. )); however, the Council has not yet adopted provisions for that period because of continuing disagreement among its members about the trade aspects of the mid-term review of Decision 91/482/EEC.