WRITTEN QUESTION E-3150/97 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Official cars

How many of the Commission's official cars and drivers, and at what annual cost, are allotted to the following Community institutions:

1. the Ispra Research Centre

2. the European Vocational Training Foundation in Turin

3. the 120 Commission Delegations

4. the Commission's 15 representations and 8 external offices?

Will the Commission also indicate the ratio in each case between official cars and management (A3 officials and above)?

When does the Commission intend to reduce these figures and recommend its staff to use the 'democratic'public transport it rates so highly (see COM(95)302 final)?

How are official cars allocated?

How often and using what procedures are official cars procured?

What is the average number of kilometres attained by official cars?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1997)

No official in Grade A3 or above has the use of an official car at the Ispra Research Centre or in the fifteen Commission Offices in the Member States. In the 141 Delegations and Offices outside the Community, the Head of Delegation or Resident Adviser has the use of an official car irrespective of his grade.

1. The Ispra motor vehicle fleet consists of 89 light and utility vehicles for the carriage of mail, goods and equipment, 25 heavy goods vehicles (radioactive or nuclear substances); 9 vehicles equipped as mobile laboratories; 2 ambulances and 9 fire engines on emergency call; 1 vehicle for the security services and 1 car for missions (without driver). The annual cost of this fleet - operational and vehicle replacements - is roughly ECU 200 000 per year.

2. The European Training Foundation (Turin) has a vehicle for the carriage of mail and equipment. The purchase price was ECU 12 000 (1996). The operational cost is less than ECU 2 000 per year.

3. The motor vehicle fleet of the 141 Commission delegations and offices consists of 554 light and utility vehicles for the carriage of persons, mail, goods and equipment; of these, 141 are diplomatic vehicles for Heads of Delegation and Resident Advisers, 89 are cross-country vehicles for missions, and the remainder are official cars. In some delegations there is also a minibus for the carriage of both goods and local staff where local transport networks are inadequate. The annual cost of this fleet - operational and replacement of vehicles - is roughly ECU 2 400 000 per year.

In developing countries delegations are equipped with a number of vehicles, including a cross-country vehicle, equal to the number of officials. In industrialised countries, apart from the diplomatic car for the Head of Delegation (and one for the Deputy Head ((Official title ( At present, Geneva, Moscow, Tokyo, Washington). )) where relevant), there are usually one or two official cars, depending on the number of officials, and possibly a minibus. The criteria for selecting the type of car are based on an analysis of the specific requirements of each delegation and its location. In practice, the maximum engine capacity of vehicles must be less than 2 litres (2 1/2 litres for cross-country vehicles) and the maximum cost less than ECU 22 000.

When vehicles are replaced, the three parameters taken into consideration are: age (5 to 7 years after purchase); number of kilometres (100 000 to 150 000 km depending on their state), and the scale of maintenance costs. Internal rules listing the conditions of use, maintenance procedures, criteria and parameters for purchase and replacement were issued on 29 April 1996.

4. Offices in the capitals of the Member States have two vehicles: one diplomatic car and one general official vehicle (carriage of goods and persons). Regional offices have one vehicle for both purposes. The use of an official car is confined strictly to official visits to national authorities. All staff required to represent the Commission use the official car.

The criteria for selecting the type of car are based on an analysis of the specific requirements of each office and its location. In practice, the maximum engine capacity must be less that 2 litres and the maximum cost less than ECU 22 000. When cars are replaced, the parameters taken into consideration are age (5 to 7 years after purchase) and the number of kilometres (100 000 to 150 000 km, depending on their state). Internal rules listing the conditions of use, maintenance procedures, the criteria and parameters for purchase and replacement are being studied.