WRITTEN QUESTION E-1509/97 by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 April 1997)

Subject: Euro campaign lecturers

According to reports already confirmed, the Commission has set up and is coordinating a team of lecturers for the campaign on the single currency.

The reports also state that the team will consist of some 180 specialists who have agreed to sign a declaration in which they promise to refrain from advocating any idea contrary to those put forward by the Commission.

In the light of the foregoing, will the Commission answer the following questions as quickly as possible:

1. How does it reconcile such a declaration with the ethical principles invariably invoked regarding pluralism and accuracy of information?

2. Which Portuguese lecturers are serving on the team, what selection criteria were followed, and in what activities will the lecturers be involved?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (1 July 1997)

The euro information campaign launched by the Commission in close cooperation with Parliament is based on three simple principles:

- decentralization, which entails having recourse to relay organizations in the public and private sectors in each Member State;

- partnership with the national governments with which national agreements have been concluded; and

- a gradualist approach, in line with the timetable and scenario for the introduction of the euro.

This campaign is by its very nature pluralistic. Thanks to the many symposia and lectures funded as part of the campaign, all shades of opinion on the issue, whether positive or critical, have been aired in public. In response to growing public demand, the Commission decided to set up Groupeuro in 1996. This is a group of outside experts, acting on a voluntary basis, who are selected according to their expertise, location and language skills. They are kept regularly informed of developments in the field of economic and monetary union (EMU) and take part in forums when no Commission official is available. The main purpose of creating Groupeuro was to stimulate debate on EMU by presenting the Commission's position whenever it was sought.

In this context, it is reasonable that the members of Groupeuro should be bound to the Commission by a code of practice. This is specified in an agreement which also regulates the refund of expenses for travelling and accommodation and the granting of a flat-rate amount to compensate for the disruption to their professional obligations. The agreement explicitly requires them to refuse any payments offered by third parties.

When not speaking in the context of the agreement, members are not bound by their Groupeuro obligations. Moreover, signing the agreement is voluntary, and members may withdraw at any time. It has never been the Commission's intention to restrict freedom of expression.

In the light of experience during the initial period of operation, and in order to avoid any misunderstanding, it has been decided that the code of practice should be amended to make it more transparent and to avoid any misinterpretation in the future. The code of practice is available from the Commission (DG.X.C5).

There are at present three Portuguese members of Groupeuro (Mr E. Americo, Mr J. Maia E Silva, Mr T. Mariz). Information about them is also available from the Commission. The Commission consulted Parliament's and the Commission's representative offices in all the Member States in connection with the initial selection of members for Groupeuro. The members are invited by the Commission to speak at conferences or seminars only when no official representative is available.