WRITTEN QUESTION E-1409/01 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission. China's status as a developing country.
Date: 2001-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, World Trade Organisation, developing countries, enlargement of an international organisation

C 40 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Unlike in 1999 and 2000, there was no call for proposals foreseen for TEN-Telecom for March 2001 with
closing date in June. Instead an earlier call was launched in October 2000 (2001 budget) with deadline of
29 January 2001 in order to avoid the rush at the year end for the corresponding budget commitment.
Two calls for proposals are still foreseen for 2001, one with closing date 7 September (partly to commit
the remaining budget 2001 and part of the 2002 budget) and another one to be launched end of October
2001 with closing date at the end of January 2002 (remaining part of 2002 budget).

(2002/C 40 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1409/01

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: China(cid:146)s status as a developing country

(14 May 2001)

In the report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of
the communication (cid:145)Building a comprehensive partnership with China(cid:146) (1), the Commission describes China
as unique for a developing country in that it has enjoyed unprecedented growth, which has brought
prosperity to many areas. China has also become a donor of development aid donor to other countries in
Asia.

Does the Commission consider that China has (cid:129) and must retain (cid:129) the status of a developing country, in
the light (inter alia) of its accession to the WTO?

(1) COM(2000) 552.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2001)

As explained in the Commission(cid:146)s September 2000 Report on the implementation of
the 1998
Communication (cid:145)Building a Comprehensive Partnership with China(cid:146) (1), China is unique for a (cid:145)developing(cid:146)
country: it does not have all the characteristics of a developing country, but neither does it have all the
qualities of a developed country.

In the context of World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession, the Commission(cid:146)s approach has been to
consider whether China should qualify for developing country status for each sector in which case it
should enjoy the benefits foreseen by the WTO Agreement.

(1) COM(2000) 552 final.

(2002/C 40 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1428/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Another terrorist attack in Israel

Today(cid:146)s newspaper(cid:146)s carry reports of yet another terrorist act committed by a Palestinian suicide bomber in
the town of Kfar Saba in Israel. It confirms that every time that negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority are due to be resumed the extremists boycott
them. This shows both the
inconsistency of the Palestinian leaders as valid diplomatic partners and the continuing inability of the
international community (the EU is practically not involved at all) to take tangible action to re-establish
peace and security in the region.