91998E4023

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4023/98

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 1999)

Subject: EU-Macau relations following the transfer of sovereignty on 20 December 1999

Following the example of what it did in the case of Hong Kong, when is the Commission planning to draw up a communication on the future of relations between the EU and the Special Administrative Region of Macau once responsibilities have been transferred to the People's Republic of China? Account should be taken of the need for the application of the "one country, two systems" principle to be guaranteed and of the major role which Macau could play as an "open door" from China to the West and from the EU into China.

When is the Commission intending to submit such a communication, which must be received early enough to enable it to be discussed by Parliament?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 1999)

The Commission strongly supports the application of the one country, two systems policy to the future special administrative regime of Macau.

As confirmed by the responsible member of the Commission during his visit to Macau on 2 November 1998, the Commission intends to prepare a communication to the Council and the Parliament on Community-Macau relations. Following a similar procedure as that followed in the case of Hong Kong, the Commission intends to prepare the communication close to the date of the transfer of sovereignty of Macau to the Peoples Republic of China in the last part of 1999.

That should allow the Commission to raise the main issues to follow in the first year of the implementation of one country, two systems policy.