Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92000E3082

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-3082/00 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission. Union enlargement to include countries of Central and Eastern Europe.** 
  
*Official Journal 136 E , 08/05/2001 P. 0176 - 0177*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3082/00

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(2 October 2000)

Subject: Union enlargement to include countries of Central and Eastern Europe

The Committee on Industry, in its report on the implications of Union enlargement (PE 286 105), draws attention to the fact that the Commission has not presented to Parliament any quantitative assessment of the potential impact of the enlargement ontrade creationandtrade diversion.

Are there any scientific surveys available to the Commission relating to the impact of enlargement on trade creation and diversion?

If so, what practical conclusions can be drawn from them?

How does the Commission assess such conclusions?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2000)

Since the overall assessment made by Agenda 2000 and the impact study looking at the effects that the accession of the Central and East European countries will have on certain Community policies, the Commission has ordered or is currently carrying out various comprehensive studies on the implications of enlargement.

The Community, which is now by far the most important partner of the 13 candidate countries, saw the total value of its trade increase almost threefold between 1993 and 1999. The surplus from trade with the 13 candidate countries ( 25 800 million) to a large extent offsets the Community's overall deficit.

But enlargement must not only be measured in terms of growth in trade: the benefits of extending the internal market to more countries must also be assessed in terms of the simplification and standardisation of rules and procedures, competitive practices and intellectual property.

The Commission has not conducted any specific survey of the impact on trade, trade creation or trade diversion. Some of the comprehensive studies that have been carried out relate partly to trade.(1)

(1) L'impact de l'élargissement à l'est sur l'emploi et les salaires dans les Etats membres de l'Union, Boeri, Brückner et al, Berlin, 215 p., March 2000; The impact of enlargement on small and medium sized enterprises in the EU, RWI, Essen, EPRC Glasgow 216 p., October 2000.

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