EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/438

(2004/C 84 E/0510)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0633/04

by Saïd El Khadraoui (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Integration of the Commission in Brussels

The European Commission employs approximately 21 000 staff in Brussels and has an extensive range of buildings. In its communication on buildings policy and infrastructures in Brussels (1) the Commission develops an approach to its premises in Brussels with particular reference to quality of life in the European Quarter.

The communication sets out an action plan concerning various aspects of integration in Brussels: Europe's image in Brussels, mobility plan for the Commission, housing policy for staff, dialogue with the Belgian authorities at various levels.

Has the European Commission discussed these plans with the other European institutions and the various Belgian authorities? If so, when did the relevant consultations take place, if not what were the main obstacles to preventing this?

Will the Commission take the lead in starting discussions with the other institutions on this issue and convincing them of the need for a coherent approach?

The Belgian Government recently decided — following the example set by the Flemish government — to offer its staff free travel from home to work; is the Commission also considering measures of this kind?

Is Commission prepared to integrate its child-care and education facilities more closely with the existing infrastructure in Brussels and open them up to the entire population of Brussels (in terms of cost as well), to encourage greater contacts between the local population and Commission staff?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2004)

The European institutions have set up an Inter-Institutional Infrastructure, Logistics and Internal Services Working Group, whose objective is to coordinate the policies of the Institutions' in Brussels on buildings and infrastructure and their dealings with the host country's authorities. The Working Group has discussed the communication from the Commission on the building policy and infrastructures in Brussels (2) and the Plan Médiateur (3), a consultative Belgian outline for achieving improvements in the part of Brussels that includes the European quarter. The discussions have shown that each Institution is convinced of the need for a consistent and constructive approach to these issues. Contact with the Belgian authorities is, similarly, continuing at several levels (Brussels Region, Federal Government, Buildings Department and semi-public entities such as MIVB/STIB). The Commission wishes to further strengthen contact with those authorities through consideration of the Plan Médiateur.

A Commission proposal for reducing travel costs for officials using public transport between home and work is under consideration as part of a draft Mobility Plan which is currently being drawn up by the Commission's Office for Infrastructure and Logistics. This proposal is due for completion later this year. The first step is for the Commission to determine whether funding is available for implementing such a plan or, if not, to find alternative sources of financial support.

As far as child care provisions are concerned, there are currently over 3 60 children on the waiting list for the nurseries run by the Commission. Current estimates are that enlargement of the Union will increase that figure to around 770. At present it is therefore difficult to envisage the enrolment of any children other than those of officials. The Commission has expanded its own nursery facilities, partly because of a lack of sufficient suitable capacity in Brussels generally. Making nursery places available is also a specified objective of the welfare dimension of Commission reform and of its commitment to provide working conditions for all officials that advance the equality of opportunity.

(1) COM(2003)755.

(2) COM(2003) 755 final.

(3) Ombudsplan Bru/Eur Médiateur — Aries consultants. Study commissioned by the Prime Minister's Office and the Office of the President of the Brussels Region.