WRITTEN QUESTION E-1626/02 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Chambers of Commerce in Chile.
Date: 2002-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Chile, EU programme, Latin America, chamber of commerce and industry, economic cooperation, investment promotion, small and medium-sized enterprises, trading operation

C 92 E/74

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

(2003/C 92 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1626/02

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

Subject: Chambers of Commerce in Chile

(6 June 2002)

Over the last decade European trade has become more focused on Latin American markets, especially
Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela, whose markets are large and well-developed. However, the balance
of trade between Latin America and the European Union accounts for only 5,8 % of Europe’s share in
world trade.

The Chambers of Commerce play an important role and in their latest report for January-February 2002
they propose measures such as introducing new programmes, promoting initiatives aimed at attracting
more interest on the part of European companies, encouraging exchanges of technology, information and
know-how, and improving communication and information on the opportunities for doing business in
Latin America, and the advantages associated with it. What measures is the Commission taking and what
plans does it have to promote the role of the Chambers of Commerce in the development of economic
and trade relations between the EU and Chile?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1623/02, E-1624/02, E-1625/02 and E-1626/02
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2002)

The Community cooperation programmes for economic cooperation have a strong emphasis on
strengthening trade, investment and institutional relations between the Community and Latin American
countries.

The ongoing AL-Invest programme that aims at economic cooperation between the Community and Latin
American small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has proven to be a successful tool for increased
economic relations between Latin America and the Community. It provides support to the SME’s in both
regions in searching and exploring new markets and economic opportunities.

The Regional Strategy and programming document for Latin America has foreseen the continuation of the
AL-Invest programme on the 2002-2006 period. It will aim at promoting trade and investment between
the two regions through strengthening relations between the Community and Latin American business
communities.

An independent evaluation of AL-Invest has been carried out in 2001 which confirmed the success of the
programme: 92 % of the organising participants (chambers of commerce,
industrial organisations, etc)
consider the programme to be an effective and efficient tool. It observed a (cid:1) minimum (cid:1) return on
investment ratio of 1/7,5,
i.e. every euro spent on the programme generates minimum EUR 7,5 in
Community-Latin American business.

The evaluation stressed the necessity to incorporate institutions representative of the private sector in the
administration of the programme and recommended integrating the pilot ATLAS programmes designed for
Chambers of Commerce in the AL-Invest programme for better consistency in the overall activity.

In October 2002 the Commission aims to propose a new AL-Invest programme that shall take these
recommendations into account. Special emphasis shall then be given to strengthen the capacity of business
organisations to represent the private sector in matters related to international trade and related issues and
to offer high quality services to their member enterprises. Activities will also include business meetings,
capacity building and diagnostic tools to support trade and investments between the two regions.

The role of chambers of commerce from both continents in this programme will be very important both
as beneficiaries and as organising participants.