WRITTEN QUESTION E-1560/02

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: The Commission's policy on China

I learn from the Commission's internal communication on its strategy towards China that under the current programme a total of EUR 50 million is earmarked for improving the development of the rule of law and civil society in the People's Republic of China.

Therefore, the following questions:

1. What measures (indicated by means of key words and examples) are being funded with this EUR 50 million?

2. Is there any cooperation with the similar programmes of the EU Member States, for example the Federal Republic of Germany's law programme?

3. To what institutions and organisations is the implementation of this measure entrusted?

4. How have these projects gone?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2002)

1. In line with the Commission's overall policy objectives towards China, support for good governance and strengthening of the rule of law constitutes one of the three cooperation priorities of the China Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006 adopted by the Commission on 1 March 2002. In the National Indicative Programme 2002-2004 which is part of the Country Strategy, an amount of EUR 30 million has been allocated to this priority.

Two programme proposals have been defined in this connection. The first one aims at combating illegal migration and the trafficking in human beings between China and Europe. This programme may include awareness raising activities targeting vulnerable groups, actions to improve capacities of Chinese and EU officials to detect and prevent illegal migration, and actions to promote exchange of information and research. Discussions between the Commission and China are at their initial stage.

The second proposal aims at supporting the newly developing sectors of civil society in China.

These two new programmes follow on from a number of ongoing projects in the same area such as the EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation Programme (EUR 13,2 million), the EU-China Training Programme on Village Governance (EUR 10,7 million), the Human Rights Small Project Facility (EUR 0,84 million) and the EU-China Network for the Ratification and Implementation of UN Human Rights Covenants (EUR 1,4 million).

2. Several Member States, including Germany, have projects in the area of Good Governance and Strengthening of the Rule of law in their bilateral assistance programmes with China. Coordination between EC assistance and bilateral assistance from Member States is a key feature of the China Country

Strategy and takes place on a regular basis between the Commission Delegation and Member State Embassies in Beijing. With respect to legal programmes in particular, the EU-China Legal and Judicial Programme focuses on a general introduction to European law and legal systems, including administrative, commercial and criminal law. Bilateral assistance programmes between Member States and China are more suited to in-depth practical studies of their respective legal systems.

3. The Commission Delegation in Beijing is responsible for the implementation of projects in the context of the China Country Strategy. Concerning the two above mentioned new programme proposals provide for the National Indicative Programme, the structure and modalities for implementation are still to be defined. As to the EU-China Legal and Judicial Cooperation programme, day-to-day management has been entrusted to the British Council. More detailed information on the status of project implementation is available on the Delegation's website(1).

4. The projects mentioned above are, in general, proceeding in a satisfactory manner, but final evaluations are not yet available. Programmes envisaged under the China Country Strategy for 20032006 have not yet been launched but will be subject to close monitoring and evaluation by the Commission.

(1) http://www.delchn.cec.eu.int/en/Co-operation/Project_Fiches.htm.