WRITTEN QUESTION P-3512/00

by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 November 2000)

Subject: Court of Auditors reports on the operating efficiency of the European Monetary Institute and the European Central Bank

The Commission has taken note of the reports published by the Court of Auditors in the years 1996-1998, which have highlighted a number of problems regarding the proper use of public money by the EMI and later the ECB.

The main points to have given rise to concern are:

- The method of supervision is such that projects cannot be monitored on a sound and objective basis and, moreover, there is no simple and coherent way to keep track of progress as regards implementation.

- The use of external consultants has made it difficult to coordinate and oversee the different projects.

- As regards the lack of transparency in the implementation of the budget for the year 1998, the approach adopted at the time when the EMI was succeeded by the ECB was totally unsatisfactory. In particular, the Court has pointed out that the EMI and ECB consolidated accounting results were not available and consequently not sent to the Governing Council. Furthermore, it maintains that the accuracy of the information has been impossible to check in either bookkeeping or arithmetical terms.

- Substantial special bonuses, up to 38 % of their annual salary, have been awarded to some employees even though the Governing Council did not give the necessary permission.

Bearing in mind that the Commission regularly sends an observer to ECB Governing Council meetings, and sometimes to its top-level meetings:

1. Can the Commission say whether the Governing Council has discussed the reports referred to above? What measures have been laid down to avert a repetition of such occurrences? Will the culprits be disciplined, and will the Executive Board members responsible for the areas in which the greatest shortcomings have been revealed be publicly censured?

2. Will the Commission allow Parliament to inspect all the correspondence between the ECB and the Court of Auditors as well as the ECB internal reports on the irregularities revealed by the Court?

3. What attitude has the Commission taken to the ECB regarding the irregularities that have been brought to light and the ECB's internal management failings?

4. What are the reasons for the delay which has meant that the Court of Auditors report on the 1999 ECB accounts has still not been published?

5. Will the Commission supply Parliament with copies of the ECB's detailed estimates and final accounts and the related documents approved by ECB bodies?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

According to Article 10.4 of the Statute of the European system of central banks (ESCB) the proceedings of the meetings of the governing council of the European central bank (ECB) are confidential. The Commission is not able to provide the requested information.

The Commission does not intend to intervene in the relationship between the Court of auditors and the ECB.

The Commission considers that all institutions and bodies should ensure an efficient execution of their tasks.

The Commission understands that the publication of the report of the Court of auditors on the 1999 ECB accounts is not due until beginning of 2001.

The Commission cannot supply the Parliament with copies of the ECB's estimates. As far as the annual accounts are concerned these documents are published on an annual basis according to Article 26.2 of the Statute of the ESCB. These documents contain a profit and loss account as well as comments and explanations on this account.