WRITTEN QUESTION No. 619/98 by Gijs de VRIES to the Commission. Fighting corruption in international public procurement
Date: 1998-03-09
Institutions: DE VRIES, European Parliament
Subjects: OECD, application of EU law, award of contract, corruption, development aid, fight against crime, fund (EU), international market, public contract, third country

21. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 323/55

(98/C 323/73)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/98

by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission

(9 March 1998)

Subject: Directive 91/439 on driving licences

Under the provisions of Directive 91/439/EEC (1) diabetes sufferers taking insulin and seeking to renew their
licences  in  the  UK  for  driving  category  C1  and  D1  vehicles  will  not  be  able  to,  except  in  (cid:145)very  exceptional
circumstances(cid:146).  Relevant  interest  groups  maintain  that  this  will  severely  damage  the  economic  situation  and
quality of life of many individuals.

1.

On what statistical evidence is this aspect of the legislation based?

2. What are the precise criteria for determining the exceptional circumstances referred to above?

Is the Commission considering more general derogations from the provisions of the Directive, subject to

3.
periodical medical examination?

(1)  OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 1998)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answers  to  written  questions  E-113/98  by
Mrs Waddington and E-539/98 by Mr Nicholson (1) and oral question H-60/98 by Mrs McIntosh during question
time at Parliament(cid:146)s February 1998 part-session (2).

The Commission is not considering any general derogations from the provisions of the Directive. As stated in the
above-mentioned replies, Member States have to decide on what constitutes (cid:145)very exceptional cases(cid:146) and on the
frequency of the medical examination.

(1)  OJ C 310, 9.10.1998, pp. 23 and 24.
(2)  Debates of the Parliament (February 1998).

(98/C 323/74)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/98

by Gijs de Vries (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 March 1998)

Subject: Fighting corruption in international public procurement

Corruption tends to play a role in the award of contracts for public sector infrastructure in developing countries.
Companies sometimes are reluctant to desist from offering bribes for fear of losing contracts to competitors.

Corruption could be dealt a serious blow if EU Member States were to agree that certain classes of sales would be
subjected to supervised competitive bidding practices. Under these procedures, the World Bank, for example,
could be asked to supervise open competitive bidding for all sales supported by EU export credit and guarantee
agencies  in  certain  agreed  project  categories.  The  Bank  already  has  in-house  expertise  in  handling  such
procedures for Bank-funded projects and could develop a fee-based service for export credit agencies. Similar
screening  arrangements  could  be  envisaged  for  direct  suppliers  of  equipment  and  services  to  public  sector
projects.

In  the  interest  of  good  governance,  fair  competition,  and  the  fight  against  international  crime,  will  the
Commission explore the is idea › supported by the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International
Monetary Affairs › with the EU Member States?