WRITTEN QUESTION E-1309/00 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. China's accession to the WTO.
Date: 2000-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU aid, World Trade Organisation, accession to an agreement, technical cooperation

C 53 E/124

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

(2001/C 53 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1309/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 April 2000)

Subject: China(cid:146)s accession to the WTO

What plans have been developed to ensure that a significant European and multi-lateral
technical
assistance package is established as a flanking measure to China(cid:146)s forthcoming accession to the WTO
aimed at improving the administrative and legal capacity in China to implement fully the obligations of
China(cid:146)s WTO membership? In particular, what discussions have taken place to ensure that the EU and the
US provide properly co-ordinated assistance in this field?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2000)

In order to help make China(cid:146)s further integration into the world economy as smooth as possible, the
Commission has put in place a series of co-operation projects. These are designed to contribute to building
the capacity of China(cid:146)s government and administration in areas directly related to the implementation of
its impending commitments under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Commission attaches great
importance to the fact that technical assistance for implementation is provided in a spirit of co-operation
and partnership with China and covers more than just surveillance from the Community side.

Five projects, with a budget totalling around € 22 million, have already been tabled (cid:129) some are already
underway, and others are due to come on stream in the months ahead.

In particular, a framework programme in support of WTO accession, providing training for Chinese
officials who will be dealing with the implementation of China(cid:146)s commitments, will come on stream later
this year.

Projects under way cover the development of a modern and effective system for the protection of
intellectual property rights, the establishment of a framework for transparent and non-discriminatory
public procurement, as well as the collection and provision of statistics.

Finally, a broad-based initiative to assist in the reform and restructuring of the financial services sector is
due to start at the end of this year.

In addition, support for economic and social reform will continue to be a priority for co-operation funding
in the future.

The Commission is examing how to enhance existing programmes should this prove necessary in the light
of the first experience with the five projects mentioned above.

To date, the Commission is not aware of any concrete plans by the United States to provide WTO-related
technical assistance to China. However, the Commission is seeking to coordinate its cooperation activities
with the United States and other donors active in this area, with a view to avoiding overlaps and
developing synergies between respective programmes.

(2001/C 53 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1311/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(27 April 2000)

Subject: Grants for town twinning

In May 1999 The Dorchester (cid:129) Bayeux Twinning Society in the UK applied to the Commission for a grant
for a twinning event. It was not until well after the event that they were informed that they had been
awarded a grant of € 1 200 towards expenses. The Society was told to re-submit its application in order to