WRITTEN QUESTION E-1491/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Reimbursement of expenses for group meetings or party conferences incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions

1. Given that members of the Committee of the Regions do not represent their constituents or their political parties but, as a national delegations, represent all the regional authorities in their country, is the existence of political groups in the Committee encouraged and/or recognised?

2. What are the reasons for the position expressed in answer to question 1?

3. Are the expenses incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions for travel to attend meetings of political groups, as referred to in 1 above, reimbursed to them from European Union funds?

4. Can expenses incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions for travel to attend meetings of European associations of like-minded political parties reimbursed to them from European Union funds?

5. If the answer to these questions is yes, does the Commission consider that this situation should continue or be brought to an end?

6. On the basis of what considerations does the Commission arrive at its answer to question 5?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

In reply to the Honourable Member's question, the Commission is sending him the following answers based on information supplied by the Committee of the Regions (CoR):

1. and 2. It is true that there are no provisions in the EC Treaty on political groups in the CoR. However, given that the Members are elected representatives, there is no question that sharing a political ideology is important and an asset for members; this fact deserves recognition and support from the CoR.

The existence of political groups within the CoR is governed by its Rules of Procedure. Rule 9(1) states that Members and alternates may form groups which reflect their political affinities; Rule 9(3) goes on to state that the Committee President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set up, dissolved or otherwise changed. (mldr) Notification of the formation (including name, bureau and number of members) and dissolution of a political group shall be published by the President in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

3. and 4. The expenses incurred by members of the Committee for travel to attend meetings of political groups are governed by the Rules of Procedure. According to Rule 9(5), the Secretary-General shall provide the political groups and their constituent bodies with adequate resources for meetings, activities and publications and for the work of their secretariats. The resources for each political group shall be earmarked in the budget.

Expenses incurred by Committee members for travel to meetings of European groupings of political parties with the same political views are covered by Rule 22 on the CoR's external activities. The rules on payments are laid down in the CoR decision on the refund of travel expenses and the payment of daily subsistence and travel allowances, in particular Article 1(b) (Decision 31/2000 of 15 February 2000).

5. and 6. The Commission's right to judge the provisions adopted by the CoR is limited by the powers conferred on it by the Treaty.