WRITTEN QUESTION E-0247/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Withholding of the premium for tobacco producers for the Community Tobacco Fund.
Date: 2000-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, agricultural guidance, smoking, tobacco, use of aid

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/23

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2000)

The Commission follows the human rights situation in Cuba closely (cid:129) and in particular the case of
political dissidents (cid:129) through monitoring carried out by the human rights working group made up of
representatives of Member States(cid:146) embassies and the Commission in Havana. Through declarations and
approaches at local
level, the Union has regularly expressed its disapproval to the Cuban authorities
regarding the treatment of political dissidents and activists.

The Commission is aware of the detention of those dissidents in the last months. To the best of the
Commission(cid:146)s knowledge, the majority of cases have been short detentions (Cuban human rights groups
claim that the number of detainees that would have to face trial
is around 11 out of 262) but the
Commission still believes its importance must not be underestimated.

The Commission was also informed about
the detention of Osvaldo PayÆ and Hector Palacios on
25 January 2000. It has learned that the two were released after being interrogated by security officers.
On that basis, the Union has agreed not to undertake formal action on the matter at this stage. The
Commission will nevertheless continue to work towards pursuing the common goals of promoting human
rights in Cuba and will take advantage of any opportunity to raise the issue with the Cuban authorities.

(2001/C 26 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0247/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 February 2000)

Subject: Withholding of the premium for tobacco producers for the Community Tobacco Fund

In its resolution of 17.7.1997 (1) on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco, the European
Parliament called on the Commission to supply information on the activities so far of the Tobacco
Research and Information Fund as a precondition for any agreement to increase the resources available
to it.

1.
Has any information been published about the use of the resources withheld between 1993 and
1988 by the Tobacco Research and Information Fund? Which programmes have been funded for Greece
so far?

2.
Given that no implementing regulation has been issued to increase the deduction decided by Council
Regulation 1636/98 (2) on the Community Tobacco Fund, does the Commission intend to examine the
possibility of not withholding the premium for tobacco producers for the above Fund in 1999?

(1) OJ C 286, 22.9.1997, p. 237.
(2) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 23.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2000)

1.
In connection with the Community fund for tobacco research and information, set up pursuant to
Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the
market in raw tobacco (1), the Commission issued two invitations to submit proposals (on 1 July 1994 and
30 April 1996) covering both the fields for which the fund was set up: information and research.

On the research side, the first invitation resulted in three projects being selected for a Community
contribution of € 5,9 million, the second in six projects being selected for a Community contribution of
€ 6,5 million.

C 26 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

On the information side, the first invitation resulted in eleven projects being selected for a Community
contribution of € 5,5 million, the second in seven projects being selected for a Community contribution of
€ 7,9 million.

None of the projects submitted in response to the above invitations for proposals has been carried out
entirely in Greece.

2.
As regards the deduction in favour of the fund for the 1999 harvest, the Commission would point
out to the Honourable Member that Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 of 20 July 1998 (cid:129) which
amends Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 (cid:129) stipulates the deduction to be made and
applies as from the 1999 harvest. Consequently, there is not a regulatory void with regard to implement-
ing the deduction provision.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.

(2001/C 26 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0255/00

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 February 2000)

Subject: McDonald report

What assessment has Commissioner Kinnock made of the McDonald report, as referred to in the Sunday
Times of 3 October 1999, in formulating his reforms relating to the Commission, with particular reference
to (a) the allegations of fraud (b) the working mentality and has any Communities money funded the
research?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2000)

The work to which the Honourable Member refers was done as a follow-up to a similar investigation on
the same matter in 1993, in order to evaluate whether, and how far, the intervening enlargement or other
events had altered the perceptions of Commission staff about their employer, about their own roles, and
about those of their colleagues. Assessments of that kind can obviously contribute usefully to reflections
on how to manage recruitment from future new Member States, or to making productive changes in
personnel policy.

The general conclusion from Dr McDonald was that there had been little change that was specific to
Commission employees because most alterations in such perceptions are largely attributable to broad
societal changes, for example on the duties of employers, the status of women in the workplace, and social
norms.

However, the work was taken into account in the compilation of the White Paper on (cid:145)Reforming the
Commission(cid:146) (1). One example concerns staff motivation or working mentality, an issue which the
Honourable Member explicitly addressed in his question. The emphasis put on merit-based promotion
and on improved management
is, among other changes, specifically related to efforts to recognise
meritorious performance and to achieve conditions similar to those recommended by Dr McDonald.

The (cid:145)allegations of fraud(cid:146) to which the Honourable Member refers in his question were described by the
Sunday Times as (cid:145)dark but often unsubstantiated(cid:146). Where allegations are made and suspicions are
supported by reasonable evidence, they are invariably subject to proper investigation and proceedings.

Dr McDonald worked under contract and was paid accordingly by the Commission.

(1) COM(2000) 10 final.