WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3714/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL Auditing of the ESCB
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Central Bank, European Court of Auditors, European System of Central Banks, accountant, auditing, central bank, management accounting, self-employed person

C 289/76

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

On 24 July 1997 the competent authority of the Netherlands forwarded to the Commission a product
1.
dossier for placing on the market of genetically modified potatoes notified by AVEBE (notification
C/NL/96/10) with a favourable opinion. These potatoes are to be used for starch production, with by-
products of this process being used for animal feed. The potatoes are not to be used for human consumption.

2.
The dossier submitted to the committee was the same as that originally submitted to the Commission by
the Netherlands’ competent authority in its capacity as rapporteur Member State with supplementary
information requested subsequently by the competent authorities of the other Member States. The scientific
committee during its evaluation requested certain additional clarifications from the notifier. According to
information available to the Commission, the marketing application considered by the Dutch authorities
contained specific information and risk assessment data on the inclusion of the nptIII gene.

3.
In accordance with Article 13 § 3 of Directive 90/220/EEC, six Member States raised objections to the
placing on the market of the product. The objections of the Member States concern in particular the presence
of the nptIII gene coding for amikacin resistance.

4.
The Commission regrets that at the moment the full opinion is unavailable for reasons of claims of
confidentiality by the notifier. In these circumstances, the Commission is examining the legal aspects
connected with the publication of the full opinion, in particular in consideration of the provisions for
transparency provided by Article 19 of Directive 90/220/EEC and Article 10 of the Decision 97/579/EC
setting up the scientific committees in the field of consumer health and food safety (2). As soon as the results of
this examination are available, a complementary answer will be transmitted to the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.
(2) OJ L 237, 28.8.1997.

(1999/C 289/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3714/98

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Council

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Auditing of the ESCB

Article 27 of Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European
Central Bank provides that ‘the accounts of the ECB and national central banks shall be audited by independent
external auditors recommended by the Governing Council and approved by the Council’.

Does the Council believe that the involvement of the Court of Auditors as an additional auditor would pose a
threat to the independence of the ESCB?

(1999/C 289/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3715/98

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Council

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Auditing of the ESCB

Article 27 of Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European
Central Bank provides that ‘the accounts of the ECB and national central banks shall be audited by independent
external auditors recommended by the Governing Council and approved by the Council’.

Does the Council believe that the involvement of the Court of Auditors as an additional auditor might enhance
the auditing?