WRITTEN QUESTION E-0713/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Ethnic entrepreneurship.
C 374 E/140 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 Reply (18 May 2000) 1. The Council of 31 January 2000 decided to set up a High-Level Working Group on taxation in order to answer to the political will expressed in the conclusions of the European Council ü held in Helsinki, 10-11 December 1999, with regard to the tax package (see paragraphs 34-38 of the Presidency conclusions). The Council also agreed that the political importance accorded to the Group should be reflected in the appointment by each Member of the Council and the Commission of a high-level representative. 2. The Group has been set up within the framework of the Council. Its work is therefore subject to the Councilís Rules of Procedure. The Council will inform the European Parliament in the usual way on the outcome of discussions. 3. The Group has held meetings on 25 February 2000 and 3 April 2000. It considered specifically how the principle of an exchange of information could be implemented most effectively in the framework of the compromise put forward by the Presidency and the Commission on 7 December 1999. The Group is expected to finalise its work in time so that the Council can report to the European 4. Council in June 2000 at the latest. (2000/C 374 E/165) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0713/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (17 March 2000) Subject: Ethnic entrepreneurship Can the Commission give a breakdown of the value of ethnic entrepreneurship by Member States over the past five years? Will the Commission in future include a section on ethnic entrepreneurship in its annual report on SMEís? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (28 April 2000) Reliable statistics on ethnic entrepreneurs and on the importance of ethnic entrepreneurship in the Community are not yet available. In order to obtain information on the problems and potential of ethnic entrepreneurship in Europe a study on young entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, co- entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from ethnic mino- rities has been launched (open call for tender No 98/S 137-92958/EN (1). Once completed the Commission will analyse and disseminate the results. Prior to the launch of the study mentioned above and within the framework of the third multiannual programme for SMEs (1997-2000), the Commission published a call for proposals on assistance for craft enterprises (2). The objective of this call was to provide assistance to these enterprises with a particular focus on measures in favour of women entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs and enterprises made up of disadvantaged groups. One of the pilot actions financed under this call was The ethnic minority business networkí (EMBNeT). Its main objective is to assist ethnic entrepreneurs to overcome business obstacles and regulation constraints. The final report is due by 30 June 2000. Finally, in its forthcoming report on the coordination of activities in favour of SMEs and the crafts sector, under the section on promoting the spirit of enterprise and support to target groups, the Commission will report on action undertaken in favour of specific target groups including ethnic minorities. (1) OJ S 137, 18. 7. 1998. (2) OJ C 117, 15. 4. 1997