WRITTEN QUESTION E-1986/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Action to combat corruption.
Date: 1999-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, common foreign and security policy, corruption, eligibility criteria, international aid, terms for aid

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/105

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1999)

Community pharmaceutical legislation regulates the placing on the market of medicinal products and the
requirements for obtaining marketing authorisations, based on an assessment of the quality, safety and
efficacy of the product.

Community pharmaceutical legislation also regulates (cid:129) to a certain extent (cid:129) the conduct of clinical trials.
A draft directive on good clinical practice has been proposed (1) and is currently being discussed in Council
which has as its main aim the harmonisation of general conditions and requirements under which clinical
trials are authorised and conducted. Neither the existing pharmaceutical legislation nor the draft directive
regulate or propose to regulate which substances may be tested in clinical trials because, as a matter of
principle, any substance could have a positive impact in curing certain diseases and a case by case
evaluation must be made by the authorities with regard to any clinical trial proposed.

(1) COM(97) 369 final modified by COM(1999) 193 final.

(2000/C 203 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1986/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(5 November 1999)

Subject: Action to combat corruption

In the light of alarming indications of corruption on the part of leading figures in Russia, a recent G7
decision decreed a freeze on loans to Russia after calling for quarterly information about the state of
accounts as a condition for restoring the flow of funds to the former Soviet empire.

Would the Council set up a committee of inquiry concerning the destination of Community funds
allocated to Russia under the cooperation agreements with that country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 1999)

Allegations have recently been made concerning corruption in Russia and the laundering of assistance
funds disbursed by international organisations. In the light of such allegations, the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) has set certain requirements for the release of the next tranche (US$ 640 million) of the
US$ 4 500 million structural adjustment loan agreed with Russia in July 1999. The requirements concern
increased transparency of the management of state finances in general and official reserves in particular,
quarterly audits of Central Bank of Russia (CBR) forex reserves, adoption of international accounting
standards by the CBR and withdrawal of CBR assets from five state-owned foreign subsidiaries, which have
in the past been used to manage Russia(cid:146)s forex reserves.

This is primarily a matter for the World Bank and Group of seven most industrialised countries, as the
main suppliers of direct financial assistance. Community funds are not the subject of the allegations
mentioned above. The Commission nonetheless confirms that the recent allegations are of concern to all in
the international community. It has already, in meetings held in the framework of the partnership and
cooperation agreement, pressed Russia to address issues of corruption and money laundering forthrightly.
The Commission has welcomed commitments given by Prime Minister Putin at the Group of eight most
industrialised countries ministerial conference on combating organised crime, held in Moscow on
19-20 October 1999, that Russia will adopt anti-money laundering legislation in line with international
standards in the near future and tackle corruption as a matter of priority.