WRITTEN QUESTION P-3457/00

by Marit Paulsen (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 October 2000)

Subject: Commission office in Stockholm

From the outset the Office of the Commission Representation in Stockholm has seen a succession of scandals, most recently the method of dealing with the financial irregularities which occurred there over a lengthy period. Four local staff have recently lost their jobs because of these irregularities, but the senior officials either remain at their posts in the office or have been moved on to better ones.

This is an outrageous state of affairs. The responsibility of the senior staff has to be clarified before any subordinate staff are dismissed.

It is almost a year since the then head of the Office of the Commission Representation in Sweden was reassigned within the Commission. Despite the time that has elapsed the Commission has been unable to pull itself together and appoint a new person to be responsible for its activities. This is most disturbing.

In two months' time Sweden will take over the Presidency of the European Union. There is a considerable risk that none of these problems will have been resolved by then. If so, the Swedish Presidency will be severely affected by the Commission's clumsy handling of the situation.

Can the Commission answer the following:

- Why did the Commission decide to dismiss subordinate staff before establishing the responsibility of the senior officials?

- When does the Commission expect that the report to establish and publish the exact course of events and the overall responsibility will be made accessible to the public?

- When will the Office of the Commission Representation in Stockholm be up to strength and have a fully-fledged head?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

On the basis of the findings of the investigation carried out into the Commission Representation in Sweden by the Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and after first hearing the persons involved in strict accordance with the rights of defence, the Commission decided to dismiss without notice four members of the local staff of the Stockholm Representation. The individual dismissal decisions were taken in full compliance with all the provisions of Swedish law applicable in this area, and with the specific conditions of employment applicable to local staff in Sweden. The persons concerned also have the right to appeal against the decisions, in accordance with Swedish law.

Parallel disciplinary proceedings are currently under way against certain officials in relation to the same case. The only reason why the proceedings have not moved at the same pace is because the two categories of staff do not have the same status and different legal provisions therefore apply. While the proceedings against the local staff are wholly subject to Swedish law which imposes very strict time limits within which the employer must act the proceedings with respect to officials are governed by the rules in the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities. Any differences in form between the two procedures in no way affect the rights of defence of those involved and result in no discriminatory treatment as regards the merits of the case either of the local staff or of the officials concerned.

The allegation that senior officials who may have been responsible in this affair have been moved on to better jobs is entirely without foundation.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999(1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by OLAF, the investigation report was sent to the Commission and to the Swedish judicial authorities. The information communicated and obtained in this context is subject to professional secrecy and may not be passed on to persons other than those within the Community institutions or in the Member States whose duties require them to know it, nor may it be used for purposes other than to combat fraud and corruption.

The Commission is unable to give an exact date for the outcome of the investigations into this matter. However, the disciplinary proceedings that are in progress are due to be completed around the spring of 2001. The Commission will duly inform Parliament in accordance with the rules in force.

On the question of the management and the organisation of the Commission's Representation in Sweden, it should first of all be pointed out that the Stockholm Representation has an acting head for the time being and that this person has performed very creditably in a job which is particularly difficult given the present circumstances. Furthermore, as the Commission has already informed the Honourable Members in its answer to Oral Question H-741/00 by Mr Sjöstedt at the October I part-session(2), the procedure for recruitment of a new Head of Representation is currently in its closing stages. The Commission will appoint an official to the post before the end of 2000, strictly in accordance with the rules applicable in this matter, and will at all events ensure that the forthcoming Swedish Presidency of the Union will be able to rely fully on the contribution of the Commission's Representation in Sweden.

(1) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2) Debates of the European Parliament (October I 2000).