WRITTEN QUESTION E-1309/00 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. China's accession to the WTO.
C 53 E/124 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 (2001/C 53 E/157) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1309/00 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission (27 April 2000) Subject: Chinaís accession to the WTO What plans have been developed to ensure that a significant European and multi-lateral technical assistance package is established as a flanking measure to Chinaís forthcoming accession to the WTO aimed at improving the administrative and legal capacity in China to implement fully the obligations of Chinaís WTO membership? In particular, what discussions have taken place to ensure that the EU and the US provide properly co-ordinated assistance in this field? Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission (13 June 2000) In order to help make Chinaís further integration into the world economy as smooth as possible, the Commission has put in place a series of co-operation projects. These are designed to contribute to building the capacity of Chinaís government and administration in areas directly related to the implementation of its impending commitments under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Commission attaches great importance to the fact that technical assistance for implementation is provided in a spirit of co-operation and partnership with China and covers more than just surveillance from the Community side. Five projects, with a budget totalling around € 22 million, have already been tabled ü some are already underway, and others are due to come on stream in the months ahead. In particular, a framework programme in support of WTO accession, providing training for Chinese officials who will be dealing with the implementation of Chinaís commitments, will come on stream later this year. Projects under way cover the development of a modern and effective system for the protection of intellectual property rights, the establishment of a framework for transparent and non-discriminatory public procurement, as well as the collection and provision of statistics. Finally, a broad-based initiative to assist in the reform and restructuring of the financial services sector is due to start at the end of this year. In addition, support for economic and social reform will continue to be a priority for co-operation funding in the future. The Commission is examing how to enhance existing programmes should this prove necessary in the light of the first experience with the five projects mentioned above. To date, the Commission is not aware of any concrete plans by the United States to provide WTO-related technical assistance to China. However, the Commission is seeking to coordinate its cooperation activities with the United States and other donors active in this area, with a view to avoiding overlaps and developing synergies between respective programmes. (2001/C 53 E/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1311/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (27 April 2000) Subject: Grants for town twinning In May 1999 The Dorchester ü Bayeux Twinning Society in the UK applied to the Commission for a grant for a twinning event. It was not until well after the event that they were informed that they had been awarded a grant of € 1 200 towards expenses. The Society was told to re-submit its application in order to