WRITTEN QUESTION E-1282/02 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Financing of the European Business Summit.
Date: 2002-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European conference, type of business

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/55

Does the Commission not believe that impartial international guarantees should be provided to establish a
channel or safe conduct for delivery of the most urgent relief supplies (such as food and medicines) to
those under siege?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2002)

The Commission would like to refer to the fact that the situation of the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem was resolved on 10 May with the help of EU representatives.

Regarding the Union’s and in particular the High Representative’s involvement the Commission would
suggest that this question be redirected to the Council.

(2003/C 52 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1282/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Financing of the European Business Summit

(7 May 2002)

The European Business Summit is due to take place in Brussels on 6-8 June 2002. The registration fee is
EUR 2 178 (reduced rate for participants from candidate countries: EUR 1815). As 1 500 people are
expected to attend the Summit, the takings will be in the order of about EUR 3 million.

The organisers say in their publicity material that the Summit is supported by the European Commission.
According to the programme, eight Members of the Commission are to address the Summit.

Can the Commission state who the organisers of this meeting are and what sort of support they are being
given?

Will it indicate in particular whether it is also making payments to the organisers (e.g. in the form of
subsidies or by purchasing admission tickets)?

Can it state who the above-mentioned registration fees are going to, and what is being done with the
money?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

The European Business Summit (EBS) was organised by European Business Forum Asbl, a non-profit
making organisation established in 1999 for the organisation of the first EBS in June 2000.

The Commission hired a total stand area of 105 m2 from company ACE at the normal rate for all
organisations, and its various departments were grouped at common European Union stand. The only
Commission subsidy to the EBS was a EUR 39 000 grant from the Directorate-General Enlargement for the
organisation of conferences within the summit to present each of the 13 candidate countries, at a value of
EUR 3 000 per country.

Around eighty percent of the 1 500 people expected to attend the EBS were guests who received free
admission badges: politicians, sponsors, any persons working for companies which have a stand, including
officials of the DGs participating in the European Union stand, from Heads of Unit upwards, and Members
of the European Parliament.

The total budget for the second EBS was estimated at EUR 1,8 million, of which approximately one-third
was covered by the takings from the sale of admission badges to around 300 delegates. The remaining
two-thirds were covered by sponsorship. The EBS expects to break even.