WRITTEN QUESTION E-2828/01 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Development of national chambers of commerce and the Secretariat for the chambers of commerce of the ACP countries.
Date: 2001-10-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ACP countries, EU aid, chamber of commerce and industry, economic development

C 147 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

Funds (1) and by Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July
1999 on the European Social Fund (2). The priorities in the development of training schemes are outlined
in the text of the OPs adopted by Commission Decisions C (2001) 24 of 16 January 2001 for the
Objective 1 OP and C (2001) 100 of 23 January 2001 for Objective 3.

The measures and actions to be taken in order to implement the priorities are outlined in the programme
complements adopted by the Monitoring Committees for the corresponding OPs on 4 May 2001.

According to Article 18(3) b) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, definition of the types of final beneficiary
is done in the programme complement.

Article 9 m) of the same Regulation provides that the programme complement is drawn up by the Member
State or managing authority and revised as necessary by the Monitoring Committee and sent to the
Commission for information.

Thus, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, in accordance with Article 9, it is the duty of the Spanish
authorities to define the final beneficiaries.

As final beneficiaries responsible for environmental training schemes in the ‘Iniciativa empresarial y
formación continua’ programmes, the Spanish authorities have identified the Ceneam (Centro Nacional de
Educación Ambiental) for actions started in 2000 and the Fundación Biodiversidad for actions started in
2001.

The Commission will ensure that the aid granted will be monitored and assessed in line with the rules set
down by Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999. In this particular case, the Commission will check that
the objectives relating to environmental training laid down in the operational programmes are respected.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2002/C 147 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2828/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 October 2001)

Subject: Development of national chambers of commerce and the Secretariat

for the chambers of

commerce of the ACP countries

The Community and ACP institutions and the new guidelines set out in the Cotonou Agreement stress the
need to strengthen civil society in the ACP countries. The chambers of commerce, industry and other
economic operators in the ACP countries are an essential element in achieving this aim, as acknowledged
on various occasions, for example in the resolutions of the ACP Council of Ministers meeting in Montego
Bay (Jamaica) and Suva (Fiji) and the motions for resolutions adopted by the Joint Assembly in Brussels in
1997. However, the activity of the national chambers of commerce and industry has been unable to boost
and develop the activities of the Secretariat for the chambers of commerce, as requested inter alia in the
afore-mentioned resolutions, in order to foster the work of the private sector.

What projects does the Commission envisage to improve and step up the activities of these institutions, as
an essential factor in developing the private sector, as mentioned among the objectives of the Cotonou
Agreement and what resources does it intend to allocate for their achievement?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

In the context of measures to support capacity building for non-State actors in general and the private
sector in particular, and in accordance with the Cotonou Convention, the Commission recognises the key
role played by the national chambers of commerce of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/57

The chambers may receive support from EBAS (European Business Advisory Services) which, as part of its
support for capacity building in private sector intermediary organisations, has already agreed to provide
co-financing of a total of € 343 000 for ten chambers of commerce in six different ACP countries (Côte
d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Botswana, Bahamas, Zimbabwe and the Dominican Republic). Individual operations
involve amounts ranging between € 5 000 and € 100 000. The types of operation also vary: a study of the
impact of trade liberalisation on the local economy in Bahamas, preparation of a business guide in the
Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso, a feasibility study on setting up a trade fair centre in Botswana, a
preliminary audit
the
organisation of training seminars for associated businesses in different fields in Côte d’Ivoire, support for
public-private sector dialogue in Botswana, upgrading of the management system in Ethiopia and setting
up a website in Burkina Faso.

to select companies interested in taking part

in a trade fair in Zimbabwe,

In future another instrument, Proinvest, managed by the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE),
will also be available for the assessment of requests for technical assistance submitted by private sector
intermediary organisations.

(2002/C 147 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838/01

by Giuseppe Nisticò (PPE-DE), John Purvis (PPE-DE),
Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE)
and Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 2001)

Subject: Measures to combat potential bioterrorist attacks in Europe

D Following the tragic terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in

Washington,

D given the danger of terrorist attacks recurring and increasing around the world, including inside the

European Union, when the USA attacks terrorists in Afghanistan,

D having regard,

in particular,

to the possibility of specific bioterrorist attacks, using chemical,

bacteriological and viral weapons,

D given that

the terrorists’ potential

targets include the European Parliament’s places of work in
Strasbourg and Brussels and that one of their objectives might be to take strong action to blackmail
Europe into putting a stop to attacks by the USA and, possibly, its allies against the terrorists and
countries supporting them,

the Commission:

1. Does it not consider it necessary,

in addition to strengthening traditional medical prevention and
treatment facilities, to set up emergency clinical toxicology and intensive care facilities as soon as
possible in the vicinity of the European Parliament’s premises?

Such facilities should have qualified personnel and all the necessary scientific equipment, as well as all
antidotes, antagonists and serums known to be effective against intoxication by nerve gas or other
chemical, bacteriological or viral substances.

2. What measures does it intend to take, for the purposes of protecting the health of European citizens,
to recommend that all EU Member States set up emergency clinical toxicology and intensive care
facilities in the major cities of Europe and to strengthen existing medical
facilities in hospital
emergency units in those cities?