WRITTEN QUESTION E-2125/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Enlargement - justice and home affairs

Further to Question P-1172/98(1):

1. Could the Commission provide further details of the "initiatives to improve the fight against corruption"? What measures have actually been carried out?

2. How much of the ECU 100 million has been spent on practical measures to combat corruption (in Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and the Slovak Republic)?

3. What measures are being taken to fight corruption in the applicant countries with which negotiations have already begun?

4. To what extent are Phare appropriations for Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and Estonia being used to finance anti-corruption measures?

5. Please describe the new institution-building programme. How much Community funding is available for it?

6. What practical measures are planned under the Phare programme for asylum policy?

7. What steps have been taken in the individual States to bring their law on aliens up to the required standard?

8. What percentage of the appropriations for the Odysseus programme is being made available for programmes in Eastern Europe?

9. Please describe the project which has been planned in cooperation with Member States' customs experts. How much Community funding is it receiving, and how?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

1. and 3. The fight against corruption is addressed in the individual accession partnerships and the national programmes for the adoption of the acquis communautaire of the individual candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In the framework of administrative and judicial reforms specific measures are envisaged or already implemented including the setting up of specialised units, anti-corruption commissions and the establishment of anti-corruption programmes. Nearly all the countries concerned have made active and passive corruption criminal offences.

2. Project proposals under the ECU 100 million made available under the catch-up facility are still being scrutinized.

4. Phare is currently supporting administrative and judicial reforms in the candidate countries. These are an essential first step in the process of reducing corruption.

5. When assisting the transposition of the acquis communautaire, Phare supports in general the process of institution building. An indicative allocation of 30 % of the Phare programme has been made available for this activity. The new shaped instrument of twinning between public administrations under the national Phare allocations will play an important role. Funds available depend on the number of eligible projects.

6. Following the identification of legislative, institutional and training needs in the 10 candidate countries, practitioners will be trained in workshops presenting standards and practices used in the Community and will visit corresponding institutions in the Member States.

7. The adaptation of laws on aliens to standards within the Community is foreseen in the national programmes for the adoption of the acquis. Legislative reforms are in hand.

8. There is no percentage foreseen.

9. There are several projects with Member States' customs experts. These provide for a total of approximately ECU 20 million of Phare support. In addition there will be twinning projects.

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998, p. 74.