WRITTEN QUESTION E-1546/02

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: EU Commission Representation in Vienna

In spring 2002, the position of Head of the European Commission Representation in Vienna, vacant since November 2001, was advertised throughout the EU. According to media reports, these advertisements do not appear to have been based on objective criteria.

On 11 March 2002, it was reported in the Austrian newspaper Der Kurier that the advertisements were apparently aimed at Austrians, because extensive knowledge of the country's political and social situation was explicitly required. On 22 April 2002, it was reported in the same newspaper that the private office of EU Commissioner Franz Fischler had confirmed that five candidates had applied to succeed Wolfgang Streitenberger.

On 6 August 2001, the press reported that the most likely successor was Michael Reiterer and that the Austrian official had confirmed that he was interested in the position.

1. Is it true that only five candidates applied for the position of Head of the Vienna Representation? If not, how many applications were received for the position?

2. Can the Commission explain why there were so few applicants for the post in its Representation in Austria, when the position of Head of the Representation is regarded as being well-paid and prestigious?

3. What professional requirements did the advertisement stipulate for applicants? Is it true that both extensive knowledge of Austria's political and social situation and excellent knowledge of German were required? If so, is a similar knowledge of the national language and customs laid down as a requirement in advertisements for corresponding positions in all the Member States?

4. Since 6 August 2001, i.e. long before the position was advertised, a certain person had been favourite for the position (see press articles). How could the Commission ensure that this did not discourage potential applicants? Does it not believe that the fact that a candidate was named so early violated the objectivity and transparency of the advertising process?

5. How many applications have been received when the position of Head of a European Commission Representation in other Member States has been advertised? More specifically, how many applicants were there for the last five advertised positions of Head of a Commission Representation in Europe (including positions which have yet to be filled)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2002)

1. It is correct that five officials applied for the post of Head of Representation in Vienna following the publication of the post(1).

2. and 5. Since 2000, for five similar vacancies published in the same way, there have been 25 valid applications an average of five candidates for each Head of Representation vacancy. One published vacancy, for instance, drew applications from eight candidates, another one from two. The fact that five officials applied for the post in Vienna should not, therefore, be considered to be exceptional.

3. The requirements of the post are indeed quite demanding, as is always the case for management positions and especially for Heads of Representation. It is normal and logical to require that the representative of the Commission in a given Member State should have a thorough knowledge of Union policies and Institutions, and of the political, economic and social situation of the Member State and a good understanding of the local culture, media and institutions. Other Head of Representation vacancies were drafted in exactly the same way.

4. It may happen that some names of potential appointees are speculatively circulated in the press before a management position is filled, but the Commission could hardly prevent such speculations. Moreover, the reliability of such information is questionable. Speculation does not, in any case, prejudge the final decision of the appointing authority. There is no dependable evidence to suggest that press rumours prevent candidates applying for the post and it would, of course, be impossible as well as authoritarian to try to prevent a free press from playing guessing games about a presumed candidate for a post. Meanwhile, the objectivity and transparency of the selection procedure is strictly maintained by the service responsible for the filling of the vacancy.

(1) COM/031/02.