WRITTEN QUESTION No. 290/98 by Jan BERTENS to the Commission. Diplomatic representation of the EU in Malaysia
C 304/72 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 2. 10. 98 (98/C 304/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0400/98 by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Commission (24 February 1998) Subject: Community aid for the supply of the most remote regions: livestock farming There has been a sharp decrease in Community aid for the supply of cereals to the most remote regions over the last two years. This has led to a significant increase in the cost of animal feed and placed the whole livestock production chain in a very precarious situation. Would the Commission explain how it is possible, under one and the same POSEIDOM programme, to encourage and provide financial support for the expansion and development of the livestock production system while simultaneously increasing production costs by reducing the subsidies for cereals intended for processing into animal feed? Joint answer to Written Questions E-0288/98, E-0289/98, E-0324/98 and E-0400/98 given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (17 March 1998) The Honourable Members are requested to refer to the Commissionís answer to written question P-327/98 from Mr Souchet (1). (1) See page 78. (98/C 304/105) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0290/98 by Jan Bertens (ELDR) to the Commission (5 February 1998) Subject: Diplomatic representation of the EU in Malaysia Is the Commission aware of the fact: 1. That the external trade between Malaysia and the EU is of roughly the same volume as the trade between Mexico, Russia or Brazil and the EU? 2. That Malaysia, from a political point of view, is a core country in South-East Asia? 3. That a large part of the remaining tropical forests are situated in Malaysia and that there are major problems in preserving these forests? 4. That all 15 Member States of the EU have an embassy in Malaysia, which proves that they value the countryís importance, and that the Commission, under the Treaty of Maastricht, has a coordinating role to play between these embassies? 5. 6. Is the Commission not of the opinion that Malaysia is at least as important for the EU as countries like Cape Verde, Sri Lanka and Fiji, where the EU has permanent representations? Is it true that the Group of Ambassadors in Malaysia has submitted a written request to the EU that it open a delegation in Malaysia? 7. Can the Commission explain, in the light of the answers to the above six questions, why the EU has no delegation in Malaysia? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (27 February 1998) The Commission is well aware of the fact that Malaysia is an important trading partner with the 1. Community. 2. The Commission is equally aware of the fact that Malaysia is playing an important political role in south-east Asia and acknowledges that Malaysia is a key player in the cooperation between the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and in the region as a whole