# CE2004078EN.01033401.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/334 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/334

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(2004/C 78 E/0352)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3901/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject:   President Prodi's involvement in Italian politics

Subject:

On 12 November 2003 the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi, published a long letter under the title ‘Europe: the dream; the options’, which he sent to the parties in the Italian centre-left coalition. The letter contains a fully-fledged political manifesto, touching upon issues such as justice, peace, the environment, economic growth, education, the welfare state and immigration and putting forward proposals to be taken up by reformist parties with a view to offering solutions at European level.

The ‘letter’ is thus, in all senses of the term, a manifesto for the forthcoming European elections, as can be seen from statements such as ‘we can put forward a strong political programme’ (paragraph 4 of the document) or ‘looking to Italy and the forthcoming spring elections to the European Parliament, I have suggest to all reformists that they join together on a single list’ (paragraph 4), or again ‘however, the underlying ideas remain those which first gave birth to the Ulivo’ (paragraph 5). The arguments used in connection with all the issues covered are based on Mr Prodi's experience as President of the Commission, his intention being, it would appear, to make use of the authority conferred on him by his position to support the electoral campaign of the coalition to which he belongs in Italy. The letter gave rise to serious concern among Members of the European Parliament, including those belonging to the PSE Group, of which the Italian parties Mr Prodi was addressing are members.

Given the above, would the Commission:

| 1. | not agree that its President should remain neutral, should abstain from taking an active part in national political activities, should not express any preference and should stay as far away as possible from internal issues? |
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1.

not agree that its President should remain neutral, should abstain from taking an active part in national political activities, should not express any preference and should stay as far away as possible from internal issues?

| 2. | take the view that it forms part of the President's remit to take part in the political debate in a Member State on major EU issues, or that in this instance Romano Prodi has misused the position he holds within the EU institutions? |
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2.

take the view that it forms part of the President's remit to take part in the political debate in a Member State on major EU issues, or that in this instance Romano Prodi has misused the position he holds within the EU institutions?

| 3. | state whether Mr Prodi's behaviour is in keeping with Article 213 of the Treaty, which reads: The Members of the Commission shall, in the general interest of the Community, be completely independent in the performance of their duties. In the performance of these duties, they shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or from any other body'? |
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3.

state whether Mr Prodi's behaviour is in keeping with Article 213 of the Treaty, which reads: The Members of the Commission shall, in the general interest of the Community, be completely independent in the performance of their duties. In the performance of these duties, they shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or from any other body'?

| 4. | consider, given that the President of the Commission is elected by the European Parliament as a whole, irrespective of its Members' political affiliations, that he is entitled to take part in an electoral campaign as the leading candidate of a political movement, or, conversely, that he should resign before doing so? |
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4.

consider, given that the President of the Commission is elected by the European Parliament as a whole, irrespective of its Members' political affiliations, that he is entitled to take part in an electoral campaign as the leading candidate of a political movement, or, conversely, that he should resign before doing so?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

(30 January 2004)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-3492/03 by Mr Ribeiro e Castro (1)

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(1)  See page 292.

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