WRITTEN QUESTION E-2086/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Irregularities in the European call for tenders by the Rome municipal authority for the supply of uniforms for the municipal police.
Date: 1999-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, Italy, award of contract, invitation to tender, political morality

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/89

If any irregularities are found the Commission will take the necessary steps under the rules in force, in
particular the provisions of Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 of 20 July 1993 amending
Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on
coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment
Bank and the other existing financial instrument (1) concerning the (cid:145)reduction, suspension and cancellation
of assistance(cid:146).

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2000/C 219 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2086/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Irregularities in the European call for tenders by the Rome municipal authority for the supply of

uniforms for the municipal police

In February, the Chinese company YuYi won the European bidding for the supply of uniforms for the
municipal police in Rome. Despite the presence of textile experts and production test samples and despite
the impartial opinions of the Chamber of Commerce, the fabric of the sample uniform was found to be
different from that described in the procurement order, which, it would appear, is impossible to create!
Furthermore, other swindles have been uncovered, such as the 90 % price increase for the reams of paper
and the 80 % increase for staples. The matter is all the more cause for concern in that the Chinese
company is a front for the much better-known company (cid:145)Balloon(cid:146), in which the former brother-in-law of
the Mayor of Rome, Mr Rutelli, is a partner.

Can the Commission intervene in order to investigate the irregularities in the above procurement
procedure and subsequently inform Parliament of its findings?

Can the Commission adopt the necessary measures for monitoring European tenders to ensure that they
are conducted in compliance with the rules and to ensure that the contracts are awarded to specialist firms
rather than firms that are unable to carry out what is required of them?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1999)

As a result of the honourable Member(cid:146)s information, the Commission plans to ask the Italian authorities
for all relevant information in order to assess the compatibility of the supply contract for police uniforms
for the City of Rome with Community law on public contracts. With this in mind, the Commission is
preparing a letter to be sent to the Italian authorities requesting clarification of the exercise.

in the light of this information,

it turns out that the procedures applied are incompatible with
If,
Community law, the Commission could start the proceedings for failure to fulfil an obligation laid down
in Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

At any rate, the Commission will of course inform the honourable Member of the outcome and of the
conclusions it might reach after considering the information provided by the Italian authorities.

(2000/C 219 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2094/99

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Slaughter premiums in 1998

What was the cost in euros to the European Union in 1998 for subsidies in the form of slaughter
premiums or similar subsidies?