92000E1538

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1538/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(18 May 2000)

Subject: Nepal

Nepal is a country with a population of over 20 million and rather unstable political institutions, where 600 people already have been killed in the course of an uprising by Maoists who have taken control of some regions of the country. Nepal is strongly affected by the presence of its powerful and fundamentally undemocratic neighbour, the People's Republic of China, and is also one of the poorest countries on Earth.

For these and other reasons, the European Union pays particularly close attention to Nepal. In particular, the Commission supports a large number of projects there, which a Commission representative based in Delhi is responsible for following up.

Could the Commission state the reasons which in this instance do not seem to involve budgetary considerations why the Commission's representative for Nepal has to be based in New Delhi rather than Katmandu?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The Commission handles its relations with Nepal from its Delegation in New Delhi since that Delegation has regional responsibilities.

The Commission is currently examining its political priorities for the possible opening of new delegations and offices in third countries. Once such priorities are established, it will be a question of allocating the available human and financial resources. A communication will be sent to the Council and Parliament on these matters during the course of this year.

The Commission cannot therefore, at this stage, enter into any undertaking about establishing a presence in Nepal.