WRITTEN QUESTION E-0244/98 by Karla Peijs (PPE) to the Council (17 February 1998)

Subject: Closure of European Business Information Centres

1. What are the reasons behind the Council's decision to close the European Business Information Centres (EBICs) in South and South-East Asia despite their success?

2. Is the Council aware of the consequences that this decision will have for:

a) participation of Asian SMEs in future Europartnerships,

b) the local Asian economies,

c) Asia-Invest, Asia Interprise and Asia Partnership,

or does it believe that they will be unaffected by the closures?

3. How does the Council reconcile closure of the EBICs with promotion of the European Union's joint trading interests in Asia, as endorsed by the Member States in Essen in December 1994?

Answer (28 May 1998)

The European Commission has made proposals to continue financing of the three European Business Information Centres (EBICs) operating in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Bombay for five years. These proposals are under consideration in the Asia/Latin America Committee (composed of Member States under the chairmanship of the Commission) according to the procedures set out in Council Regulation No 443/92.

The Council has not therefore been required to take a decision on the proposals.