WRITTEN QUESTION P-0498/00 by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission. Measures to assist persons suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Date: 2000-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, care for the elderly

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/199

The structure of the basic salaries of EIB staff is largely similar to that of Community officials and
other servants. The breakdown is as follows:

Basic salaries of the EIB (1998)

Category

Executive staff

Administrative staff

Management staff

Minimum

1 891,48

3 715,03

7 466,13

(in euro)

Maximum

4 950,88

10 651,64

14 610,10

These figures show that the ratio between the lowest and highest possible salaries is 1:7.7, a difference
considerably lower than the norm in the banking sector in Europe. Further, to date no member of the
EIB management staff has received the maximum salary shown in the table. All salaries are subject to
Community tax; the maximum rate is 45 % and the proceeds from it are paid into the Community
budget.

Certain factors peculiar to the EIB should be taken into account when assessing the above data:

(cid:129) Unlike the other Union institutions, the Bank(cid:146)s Statute requires it to be self-financing and to cover
its administrative costs out of the gains it makes as an intermediate bank. In other words, the EIB
provides for its own operation without drawing on the budgetary resources of the Community or
of the Member States.

(cid:129) Also unlike the other institutions the employment relationship between the Bank and its staff is
governed by contract rather than by conditions of service; in addition, the Bank still works a 40-
hour week. These two factors combined with the banking nature of EIB activities, which is
reflected in the preponderance of administrative and management staff
the staff
complement), should be taken into account when assessing the average salaries of Bank staff.

(55 % of

(cid:129) Finally,

in accordance with banking custom, the salaries of Bank staff are established on an
individual basis and form part of the employer-employee relationship. That said, staff are familiar
with the minimum and maximum salary for their category.

To conclude, the amount actually allocated to the remuneration of Bank staff (€88,5 million out of the
€126 359 million which goes on staff costs) is 30 % less than the figure quoted by the Honourable
Member.

Finally, the Commission would point out that the EIB is an independent institution owned directly by the
Member States and operating under guidelines established by its Governors. For any further clarification on
the remuneration of the officials of the EIB, the Governors or the Bank should be approached direct.

(1) Profit and Loss account, EIB 1998 Annual Report, p. 74. As the figures cited by the Honourable Member are for
1998, the figures in this answer refer to the same year, which is the last year for which the accounts have been
certified.

(2000/C 303 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0498/00

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 2000)

Subject: Measures to assist persons suffering from neurodegenerative diseases

As people start to live longer, age-related health problems are generally increasing. Enabling the elderly to
retain their independence for as long as possible, through preventive treatment, assistance and structures to
provide information on diseases, is one of the priorities for the European Union(cid:146)s social policy.

C 303 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease effects 5 % of persons over the age of 65 in Europe and there is still no treatment able
rapidly to halt the neurodegenerative process that occurs.

Will the Commission say what procedure it intends to introduce and what criteria it will adopt for the use
of funds under the new budget heading B3-4307N, which is designed to improve the quality of life of
those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease and related conditions, and of
those assisting them in a non-professional capacity?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2000)

The Commission is aware of the implications that demographic factors, and in particular the ageing of the
Community population, will have for society as a whole, and for health systems in particular. It underlined
these consequences in its communication on the development of public health policy in the Commun-
ity (1), which it also recognises in its forthcoming communication and proposal for a programme of action
in the field of public health. Moreover, under the present Community action programme on health
promotion, information, education and training, strategies aiming at improving older people(cid:146)s health have
been developed as a priority issue.

As a result of the ageing of the population, the number of people afflicted by Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease is bound
to increase in the future, and the Commission is very much aware of the great suffering caused by this
disease not only for the patients, but also for their families. The fact that neither proven treatments nor
effective preventive measures are available for Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease further aggravates the situation, and at
the same time limits the scope for action both at national and Community level.

Budget line B3-4307 foresees activities aimed at improving the quality of life of patients suffering from
neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer(cid:146)s, and of people who care for Alzheimer patients in a non-
professional capacity. The Commission is presently in the process of examining the implications of
implementing this budget line, including the implications for spending on other Community public health
activities. Once this examination is completed, the Commission will transmit the result of its examination
direct to the Honourable Member.

(1) COM(98) 230 final.

(2000/C 303 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0499/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 2000)

Subject: Car price differentials

Does the Commission consider that the substantially higher prices for cars in the UK are the result of
concerted behaviour on behalf of car producers and/or distributers and thus should result in an early
revision of the block exemption from competition rules under the existing regulation? If the Commission
does not consider this to be the case, how does it explain the substantial and persistent difference in the
price of new cars, well beyond the figure mentioned in the notice published by the Commission in
connection with the regulation EEC 123/85 (1)?

(1) OJ L 15, 18.1.1985, p. 16.