WRITTEN QUESTION E-0255/00 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. McDonald report.
Date: 2000-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Commission, administrative reform, fraud against the EU, work study

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.