WRITTEN QUESTION E-0211/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(5 February 2002)

Subject: Unforeseen and excessive financial demands made by the intended chairman of the Convention for an enlarged Europe

1. Prior to the decision taken on 15 December 2001 to ask Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing to act as chairman of the Convention on the future of Europe, did the Council or any other European Union institution enter into agreements with him, or give undertakings, regarding his renumeration and that of his vice-chairmen Giuliano Amato and Jean-Luc Dehaene and regarding exemption from taxation, payment of expenses, payment of luxury accommodation in Brussels and the provision of support by a staff of 12?

2. What were the Council's expectations as regards the financial conditions under which Mr Giscard d'Estaing would carry out his duties? Did the Council take into consideration the fact that Mr Giscard d'Estaing is not a person who is without employment or who would be forced to give up his job, but someone who is already guaranteed a steady, and not inconsiderable, income as a former president of France and former Member of the European Parliament, and who is being offered a unique opportunity to resume and crown his political career with a very prominent role?

3. Is the Council surprised at Mr Giscard d'Estaing's demands? In the light of his request to be paid EUR 20 000 net a month, does the Council still think he is a suitable person for the duties intended to be assigned to him, bearing in mind the likely negative impact on efforts to involve citizens to a greater extent in the operation of EU structures which are often a subject of contention?

4. Does the Council consider that Mr Giscard d'Estaing's financial demands can be justified vis-à-vis European voters? If so, is it prepared to assume responsibility for meeting these demands in whole or in part by amending the budget?

5. Did the Council have a conception beforehand of what a reasonable monthly salary for a chairman of the Convention would be, and does it have one now? What is that sum?

6. Does this situation justify the Council in approaching other possible candidates, perhaps those who were previously ascertained to be available, with a view to their accepting the chairmanship?

Sources: Het Parool of 19.1.2002 and the Financieel Dagblad of 22.1.2002

Reply

(21 May 2002)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the replies already given on these matters during Question Time at the February 2002 part-session in Strasbourg (Question H-0055/02 by Hans-Peter Martin Salary demands of the Chairman of the Convention) and in response to Hans-Peter Martin's Written Question P-3630/01 President of the Convention.

The Council would point out that at its plenary session on 27 and 28 February 2002 the European Parliament approved the arrangements for financing the Convention.

It would also remind the Honourable Member that it was the European Council which appointed Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Chairman of the Convention, as can be seen from point III of Annex I Laeken declaration on the future of the European Union to the Presidency conclusions Laeken, 14 and 15 December 2001. His question 6 is therefore no longer an issue.