WRITTEN QUESTION E-3326/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 November 2001)

Subject: European Commission proposals to downsize its Delegation in Trinidad and Tobago

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has been informed that, following a review and reassessment of external representation, the European Commission proposes to downsize its representation in Port of Spain. The government is concerned and feels penalised.

The assessment carried out by the Commission severely underestimated the Delegation's workload, focussing as it did on the criterion of expenditure on national programmes as a performance measure,

thereby overlooking to broaden responsibilities for programmes under the Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP). In the context of continued commitment to improve the utilisation of EDF resources, and as a means of advancing the excellent working partnership built up over the years between the office of its NAO and the Delegation, Trinidad and Tobago established, in March 2001, a Special EDF Unit within the Ministry of Integrated Planning and Development with a dedicated contracted staff. Their experience leads them to conclude that since then, the Delegation is to be an effective partner, its minimum staff requirements are one Ambassador and two Advisers. The maintenance of or increase in the Delegation's staff complement is even more necessary in view of the Commission's decision to decentralise and entrust its Delegation with enhanced decision-making responsibilities.

The following facts are pertinent to the assessment under the second criterion of political and economic significance. Trinidad and Tobago is the largest Cariforum importer and its second largest exporter. It is a founder member of the ACS. It hosts some fourteen international organisations and eight regional organisations. Four EU Member States maintain resident missions in Port of Spain, while Trinidad and Tobago maintains three resident missions in Europe. Location in Trinidad and Tobago affords ease of communications, including air transport and telecommunications. Infrastructure and living conditions are excellent.

In the light of the above, is it wise to downsize the European Commission representation in Port of Spain?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The Commission decided on 3 July 2001 to further restructure its network of external representations by the end of 2002. As a consequence of that decision, and reflecting the severe budgetary pressures under which the External Service operates, the Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago will be headed by a non-resident Head of Delegation. This decision covers aspects of the evolution of the Commission's External Service and many Delegations throughout the world are affected. They follow on from the reforms begun in 1996 to rationalise the Commission's external representation while at the same time maintaining the broadest possible reach and ensuring the quality of its activities. Difficult decisions have had to taken to streamline some Delegations and to close others. In the present tight financial climate this was the only way for the Commission to respond to new pressures on its limited resources.

The Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago will remain in place manned by an official as chargé d'affaires with his own local staff. This will enable it to follow, as today, the important issues of development co-operation, political and economic matters, and trade. The Head of Delegation in Guyana will be also accredited as non-resident Head of Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago. The Delegation in Guyana already has a regional role with the capacity to deliver expertise within the region. Moreover the Delegation is to be reinforced in order to better cope with new responsibility for Trinidad and Tobago.