WRITTEN QUESTION P-0743/03 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission. EU funds for the Caribbean tourism sector.
Date: 2003-03-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Caribbean Islands, EIB loan, EU financing, European Development Fund, aid policy, private investment, tourism

C 33 E/76

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

27 January 2003 setting standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and
distribution of human blood and blood components and amending Directive 2001/83/EC (4), which will
have to be applied by the accession countries in the future. This Directive includes requirements for donor
deferral criteria, and HIV testing for each blood donation.

(1) http://www.who.int/mediacentre/statements/2003/statement5/en/.
(2) COM(2001) 96 final.
(3) COM(2003) 93 final.
(4) OJ L 33, 8.2.2003.

(2004/C 33 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0743/03

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: EU funds for the Caribbean tourism sector

(4 March 2003)

The European Community, its 15 Member States and the 77 ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific)
are in the process of ratifying the Cotonou Agreement, signed in June 2000, providing a framework for
EU-ACP trade and cooperation for the next 20 years.

The cooperation aid with ACP countries is channelled through different instruments: Direct cooperation
aid through the ninth European Development Fund and loans through the European Investment Bank, as
well as various support facilities like the Centre for Development of Enterprise, Proinvest or the European
Business Assistance Scheme.

Some sub-regions in the ACP countries,
like the Caribbean islands, are fiercely competing with EU
destinations in the share of world tourism destinations. Does the European Commission have data on the
total amount of funds and financing made available by the EU to the Caribbean tourism sector? How
much of the money is available for private investments?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission, like many other donors, sees the tourism sector as a potential key player in achieving
poverty reduction, to the extent that it can contribute to economic growth and job creation.

The Commission is particularly keen on promoting sustainable tourism, supporting the setting up of
appropriate policy frameworks and setting standards, especially in the environmental field. It also wishes to
support representative national and regional associations, promote training and other business devel-
opment services to local small hotels and tourism related producers and service providers. In the past,
support has been provided to facilitate at tourism fairs, participation for local operators, which is no
longer envisaged. In specific cases, the preservation of historical monuments and the setting up of eco-
tourism projects has been ensured.

Overall, through the 7th and 8th European Development Fund (EDF), EUR 20,8 million has been approved
for regional tourism development programmes in the Caribbean.

The all African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) programme Proinvest (8th EDF), which aims at
strengthening foreign direct investments in the ACP States and cooperation agreements, is also likely to be
active in the tourism sector in the Caribbean to support the setting up of partnership agreements between
local and European players.

6.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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the 7th and 8th EDFs have been devoted to tourism
Other resources (about EUR 10 million) of
development under national programmes for countries like Surinam, Dominica and the Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Only one country, Grenada, has identified tourism as focal sector under the 9th EDF. A small
EUR 3,2 million project, centred on the renovation of a fort, has been envisaged.

No funds have been allocated through the EDF for capital
Caribbean in order to support new economic infrastructure.

investments in the tourism sector in the

Even if not specifically targeted on the tourism sector, some resources have been devoted to the tourism
sector through national/regional or all-ACP programmes aiming at supporting the strengthening of local
enterprises
respect, one can note the
EUR 0,8 million awarded by the Union-ACP Business Assistance Scheme (EBAS) programme to Caribbean
tourist operators (associations, hotels, tour operators, etc.).

to business development

through access

services.

In that

Only the European Investment Bank (EIB) (cid:1) not the Commission (cid:1) directly supports private capital
investments. As far as the EIB is concerned, the institution tries to limit its direct support to projects
having a significant socio-economic benefit, especially when promoted by local operators. In this respect
based on data available to end 2001, only two EIB direct loans are relevant, both with local promoters: in
Anguilla: The Great House (cid:1) EUR 1,5 million and in Grenada The Resort Hotel for EUR 1,5 million (cid:1)
both projects were financed from risk capital resources.

Through its global loans to financial intermediaries the Bank has also supported around 70 small hotels
mostly owned and managed by indigenous non-foreign-chain affiliated small and medium-sized enterprises
(SME’s). While such support for this indigenous private sector investment in the sector is very appropriate,
it does, however, mean that the Bank is most exposed in that part of the hotel sector that is the least
profitable and the most risky.

The Community is committed to pursuing its support of the tourism sector in the future.

As far as the possible impact on the European destinations, one can point out the following elements:

(cid:1) The Caribbean is a specific tourist destination, which means it is unlikely to be a direct competitor for
most European markets. Moreover, one can be reasonably confident that tourist demand will continue
to increase, as it has done consistently over time despite the recent fluctuation. Under these conditions
there should be no cause for concern about the possible negative impact of new competitors in the
tourist market. Their presence should absorb increased demand and provide an incentive for European
destinations to improve the quality of their provision within a competitive market;

(cid:1) Strengthening the local operators and associations can benefit European tourist operators, in that they

will be able to enter more easily in partnership with reliable local partners;

(cid:1) Through the development and enforcement of environmental, health and safety standards in
the 8th EDF Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism
conformity with international practices,
Development Program will contribute to the establishment of responsible tourism and fair trade in
tourism in the Caribbean, which are essential factors for a fair competition among all destinations.

(2004/C 33 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0746/03

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Hmong Christians in Vietnam

The suffering of Hmong Christians in Vietnam has been brought to my attention. Contrary to Article 18 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, these people are not allowed the freedom of
religious practice, and are apparently persecuted by public security police, border police and even political