Publication predominantly in English of information on funding opportunities for businesses

28.2.2007

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1195/07
by Renate Sommer (PPE‑DE)
to the Commission

The Commission provides individuals and businesses with online information on funding opportunities and grants for businesses. This information is given almost exclusively in English.

The financial support is particularly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is precisely these SMEs that frequently lack staff with adequate foreign language skills who can understand and make use of the information published by the Commission.

1. Can the Commission explain, therefore, why important information for SMEs is provided almost exclusively in English?

2. Would the Commission not consider it useful at least to include information in French and German? German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the EU and the second foreign language, after English, with French the third most spoken language.

3. Why does the Commission consider it unnecessary to provide this information in all working languages? After all, the funding available is paid for by all EU taxpayers.

4. Can the Commission state when the German and other language versions will be available?

OJ C 293, 05/12/2007