WRITTEN QUESTION E-1779/01 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Technical assistance for China.
Date: 2001-06-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, World Trade Organisation, bilateral agreement, health legislation, import, mollusc, technical cooperation

C 40 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

2.

3.

Is it true that a casino is to be set up in the Czech section of the station?

If so, is setting up a casino consistent with the provisions of the PHARE-CBC programme and what
form do those provisions take?

If setting up a casino is not consistent with the provisions of the PHARE-CBC programme, what
practical measures must be taken to prevent it?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The project (cid:145)Reconstruction of the railway station building in (cid:157)eleznÆ Ruda Al(cid:158)b(cid:236)t(cid:237)n(cid:146) was included in the
PHARE Cross-border-cooperation (CBC) Programme CZ 9604.

The Commission is not aware that a casino is to be set up in the Czech section of the station. If such a
proposal were to be made, it would raise the case with the Ministry responsible for implementation of the
PHARE CBC Programme CZ 9604, i.e. the Ministry for Regional Development, since the targets established
in the project fiche, according to which the project was financed must be maintained as agreed during the
signature of the Financing Memorandum.

The project fiche specifies the services and amenities to be provided in the re-constructed building. These
include amenities for travellers, i.e. a restaurant, buffet, waiting room and left-luggage room. Any changes
would have to be approved by the Commission. The Commission would not approve the addition of a
casino to services and amenities to be provided.

the Ministry for Regional
According to information provided by the Implementing Agency of
Development, after the completion of the construction and handing over of the building to the beneficiary,
Czech Railways, the beneficiary,
launched a public tender to establish and manage the restaurant. The
company that won the tender is called (cid:145)Ingo Casino(cid:146). This may explain a possible misunderstanding
regarding the use of the re-constructed building. In any case, the beneficiary will be informed of the need
to adhere to the agreed terms, above. If they were not adhered to, the return of the funds provided
through the PHARE programme would be requested.

(2002/C 40 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1779/01

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: Technical assistance for China

On the basis of Council Directives 91/492/EEC (1) and 91/493/EEC (2), Commission Decision 97/20/EC (3)
listing the countries authorised to export bivalve molluscs to the EU was drawn up. The list did not include
China on account of the fact that the reports on the chemical, microbiological and toxicological checks
carried out in the areas concerned were not reliable.

In view of the fact that, under the General Agreement with China, the EU undertook to help that country
overcome its technical problems and thus honour its commitments,
is the Commission planning to
provide technical assistance in order to enable China not only to satisfy EU requirements but also to
honour the commitments it takes on when it joins the WTO?

(1) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 15.
(3) OJ L 6, 10.1.1997, p. 46.

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/103

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2001)

The Commission(cid:146)s Food and Veterinary Office carried out a mission in China in 1999. The mission took
note of Chinese efforts to achieve the necessary standards of compliance with Community sanitary
requirements regarding bivalve molluscs (shellfish). It concluded, however, that the Chinese authorities
were not yet in a position to guarantee the control and safety of shellfish intended for the Community
market. In particular, the monitoring system for biotoxins and contaminants in the field of live bivalve
molluscs was considered insufficient. It was therefore decided not to propose an inclusion of China in the
list of countries authorised to export shellfish to the Community for the time being.

The Union in the context of the May 2000 bilateral agreement on China(cid:146)s World Trade Organisation
(WTO) accession has stated its commitment to working in partnership with China in order to help smooth
the process of implementation of China(cid:146)s WTO undertakings. Technical assistance will clearly play a key
role, and with this in mind, the Union has a number of co-operation projects, worth € 25 million, in place
or lined up for the near future. They include a framework programme, under way since last year, which is
designed specifically to help build the capacity of China(cid:146)s Government and administration to implement its
impending commitments under the WTO. The programme consists of a series of specialised modules
targeting segments in the Chinese administration which will be dealing with different aspects of WTO
implementation (cid:129) including in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Support for economic reform and for WTO implementation has also been earmarked as a focal area for
future funding. Projects will be proposed in consultation with China, to ensure that help is targeted where
it is most useful. This could well include further activities in the area in question.

(2002/C 40 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1783/01

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Vocational training courses

(19 June 2001)

The Balearic Islands Regional Government has announced training courses for the period running from
October 2001 to October 2002. The courses will be financed by means of EU Objective 3 funds.

The regional minister responsible has indicated that the courses may be attended by immigrants who lack
work and residence permits, although they will have had to submit an application with a view to
regularising their situation.

1.
Is it possible for vocational training courses subsidised by the EU to be open to immigrants who
have no work and residence permit, even if they have submitted an application for regularisation which
has not yet been approved?

Is there any heading under which funds can be made available to immigrants who have not legally

2.
regularised as to their situation?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

In the context of promoting equal opportunities for all as regards access to the labour market, the
Operational Programme for the Balearic Islands No 2000.ES.05.3.PO.302, as well as its Programme
Complement, which was approved on 25 January 2001 at the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee
for the current planning period (2000-2006), provides for measures and actions targeted, inter alios, at
immigrants.