WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. EC-Macau Joint Committee — tenth meeting.
Date: 2003-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Macao, appointment of staff, bilateral relations, cooperation agreement (EU), joint committee (EU), the EU's international role

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/631

The UNHCR has informed the Commission that the next round of high level discussions on a tripartite
agreement is due to take place in Ankara on 21 January.

As far as financial involvement is concerned, the UNHCR has expressed its intention to establish a project
to ensure the successful repatriation of these people and has suggested that one source of funding be the
Union. This will be subject to consideration once the parties have reached an agreement.

(2004/C 78 E/0667)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3699/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Objective 1 areas in Connacht/Ulster (Ireland)

My Connacht/Ulster constituency at present comprises 8 ‘Objective 1’ counties. After the 2004 European
elections, the constituency of Connacht/Ulster will be renamed and enlarged. One county will be added,
which, at present, has ‘Objective 1 in transition’ status. This county is County Clare, at present in the
Munster constituency.

Can the European Commission inform me if the enlarged constituency will then comprise 8 ‘Objective 1
in transition’ counties and can you also inform me of the proposed status of County Clare?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

The regions eligible under Objective 1 of the Structural Funds, including the regions in transition, are those
that were decided by the Commission on 1 July 1999 (1) in accordance with the procedure foreseen in
Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) no. 1260/1999. This decision is unaffected by subsequent changes in
administrative boundaries in the Member States. The eight counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim,
Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo remain eligible for Objective 1 until 31 December 2006 while
Clare will remain eligible for Objective 1 in transition.

(1) 1999/502/CE.

(2004/C 78 E/0668)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: EC-Macau Joint Committee (cid:1) tenth meeting

Under the terms of the EU-Macau cooperation agreement, in force since 1 January 1993, an EC-Macau
Joint Committee was established, to meet annually, on the territory of each signatory year about.

To date there is no news of the scheduling or holding of the tenth meeting, which should take place in
2003.

No official specifically responsible for EU cooperation with Macau has yet been appointed, capable of
getting bilateral cooperation moving on the ground in Macau.

C 78 E/632

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Commissioner Patten said in reply to my Written Question E-3098/02 (1), that the Commission continued
to be committed to maintaining close relations with Macau.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) has the date for the holding of the tenth meeting of the Joint Committee been fixed;

(cid:1) what are the reasons for it not having been scheduled or announced to date;

(cid:1) does the Commission believe that the existence of an official specifically responsible for EC-Macau
cooperation,
the need for which both Commission and Parliament have acknowledged, would
guarantee more effective continuity in following up relations with the Special Administrative Region;

(cid:1) in the light of the foregoing, and pursuant to my previous Written Questions P-1961/01 (2) and
E-3098/02 and taking account of the recent developments described in Question E-3278/03 (3), does
the Commission believe that
it can now go ahead with recruiting an official responsible for
cooperation with Macau?

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 39.
(2) OJ C 364 E, 20.10.2001, p. 232.
(3) See page 248.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

The EEC-Macau Cooperation Agreement of 14 December 1992 provides for an annual joint committee
meeting to review trade relations and the state of bilateral cooperation between the Community and the
Macau Special Administrative Region. The Commission is committed to holding these meetings annually.
During informal talks with the Economic and Trade Office, Macau’s mission to the Communities,
it
suggested a date for the tenth meeting of the committee in December 2003. Unfortunately Macau was
unable to accept that date. The Commission is currently discussing other possible dates, i.e. February or
March 2004, with its counterparts from Macau.

On the question of the appointment of an official with special responsibility for cooperation with Macau,
the Commission still does not consider that the size of its current cooperation programme in Macau,
consisting of a single project expiring this year, justifies recruiting an official for this purpose.

(2004/C 78 E/0669)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3703/03

by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission

(3 December 2003)

Subject: HIV and Commission support for development of affordable microbicide

Can the Commission provide a comprehensive account of
for
microbicide research and development, including community preparedness efforts, both within the EU
and in developing countries to date, and specifically provide detailed information on the timing of such
support, to whom it was allocated and from which budget lines it was drawn?

its previous and ongoing support

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2003)

There are several Community initiatives to help develop microbicides and make them readily available.