EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/524

(2004/C 78 E/0545)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3340/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Request for verification of information concerning President Prodi

The Italian press has reported that, at least a year before the end of his term of office, the President of the Commission Romano Prodi is taking steps to have his close associates appointed to prestige posts, giving them all roles to ensure that their careers continue and that their high status is maintained even after the current administration comes to an end.

For example, Riccardo Franco Levi, the President's former spokesman, would become head of the EU's policy services; Michel Petite, former Head of Cabinet, is supposed to have been appointed head of the Community's Legal Service; Fabio Colasanti, the President's deputy, would become Director-General of the Enterprise department.

Even people directly or indirectly linked to the regrettable Eurostat case are to occupy illustrious positions: David O'Sullivan was removed from the office of deputy Director-General of the Statistical Office, but is now the Secretary-General of the Commission.

The press also claims that Commissioner Pedro Solbes is to be given a post in a Spanish public corporation.

Can the Commission say whether these reports are true?

In view of the fact that on previous occasions the allocation of EU posts to persons close to Commissioners caused the Santer administration the crisis which led to the resignations, does the Commission not consider that similar behaviour on the part of President Prodi, if that is the case, should be avoided, in order not to arouse pointless suspicions and so as to safeguard the transparency of the institutions?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 2004)

The Honourable Member refers to appointments that, according to her information, were made at least one year before the end of Mr Prodi's term of office and asks whether her information is correct.

The Commission wishes to point out that some of that information is incorrect, that most of the appointments referred to were made some time ago and that all the appointments complied with the procedures for appointing senior Commission officials.

Mr Riccardo Franco Levi was appointed Director of the Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA) on 16 May 2001; Mr Michel Petite was appointed Director-General of the Legal Service on 1 June 2001; Mr Fabio Colasanti was appointed Director in the Enterprise DG on 1 January 2000 and was appointed to his current post of Director-General of the Information Society DG on 1 July 2002; Mr David O'Sullivan has never been deputy Director-General of the Statistical Office but was Director-General of the Education and Culture DG before becoming Chef de Cabinet to Mr Prodi and was appointed Secretary-General of the Commission on 1 June 2000. Of these four posts, two were filled by transfer in the interest of the service (Article 7 of the Staff Regulations) while two were filled as a result of publication of a vacancy notice (Article 29(1) of the Staff Regulations).

The Commission has no knowledge of any offers of employment that may have been made to any Commissioner. In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Commissioners at the beginning of their term of office, whenever they intend to engage in an occupation during the year after they have ceased to hold office, they must inform the Commission, which will examine the nature of the planned occupation and its relation to their portfolio in order to decide, after seeking the opinion of an ethical committee, whether the planned occupation is compatible with the last paragraph of Article 213(2) of the EC Treaty.

The appointments referred to by the Honourable Member were made within the framework of the applicable procedures and with the sole aim of appointing the best-qualified persons to the posts to be filled, in accordance with the general policy on staff and in the interests of the institution as a whole.