WRITTEN QUESTION P-0242/00

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Appointment of a new Commission Director-General for Agriculture

In an article headlined Cynics flag up doubts over farm job in its issue of 13-19 January 2000, the European Voice suggests that political pressure may have been applied to secure the appointment of Mr José Domingos Silva to the post of Commission Director-General for Agriculture.

1. Can the Commission confirm that Mr Silva was appointed on the basis of individual merit and that no political pressure was applied?

2. Did Members of the Commission or their services have any formal or informal contacts, written or otherwise, with any Member State government in relation to the appointment of a new Director-General for Agriculture? If so, what were the nature and contact of these contacts? When did these contacts take place?

3. Can the Commission confirm the assertion made by the European Voice that, upon his appointment, Mr Silva circulated a letter to the staff of the Directorate-General for Agriculture thanking the Vice-President of the Commission, Mrs Palacio, for her support in securing his appointment? If so, will the Commission communicate the contents of this letter to Parliament and indicate what the nature of this support was?

4. Can the Commission indicate whether the post of Director-General for Agriculture was externally advertised? Can it indicate how many applications for the post it received from internal and external applicants, and how many applicants were invited for interview?

5. Since taking office, has the Commission adhered fully to the set of rules governing the appointment of high officials?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2000)

1. The procedure for filling the post of Director-General for Agriculture was in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations and the Commission decision of 18 September 1999 on appointments to grades A1 and A2 at the Commission.

The Commission can consequently confirm that the appointment of Mr Silva Rodriguez to the post of Director-General for Agriculture was due entirely to the fact that the applicant's merit, qualifications, agricultural training and experience of work in the Directorate-General for Agriculture since 1987 completely matched the requirements of the post.

2. Vacancies at Director General level naturally attract broad political interest and it would be surprising if opinions were not informally offered.

It is, however, the Commission which clearly takes the final decision once the interview process has been completed, and does so on an objective basis following the Commission rules on nominations which require a double examination of the candidatures.

3. Following his appointment, Mr José Manuel Silva Rodriguez did indeed send a letter to the staff of the Agriculture DG. However, the letter does not express any thanks to Commission Vice-President Mrs Loyola de Palacio. In his message, Mr Silva Rodriguez refers to the confidence that Mrs de Palacio has placed in him since their first meeting. He also mentions the six other Commissioners whom he has had the opportunity of meeting during the course of his Community career.

4. The vacant post of Director-General for Agriculture was advertised inside the Commission and the other European institutions as provided for under Article 29(1)(a) and (c) of the Staff Regulations.

5. The Commission has at all times complied with all the rules governing the appointment of senior officials and with its own decision of 18 September 1999, and will continue to do so.