WRITTEN QUESTION E-1420/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Corruption within the European Commission.
Date: 2000-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European official, administrative sanction, corruption, disciplinary proceedings

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/37

in order to see issues resolved peacefully by dialogue and agreement. This applies equally to situations
internal or external to countries where a conflict threatens or takes place.

The EU(cid:146)s ability to control and even to influence events is obviously limited by factors which vary
according to the circumstances, including the EU(cid:146)s weight in the country or the issue in question as well as
its overall interests. In each case, the EU must decide through its institutions the most appropriate actions
in the circumstances to promote its objectives.

including ethnic
One of those objectives is to promote the protection of the rights of minorities,
minorities. Specific initiatives will vary according to the circumstances and according to the EU(cid:146)s ability
to influence the situation.

(2001/C 81 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1404/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(5 May 2000)

Subject: Action against corrupt officials

In the book (cid:145)Blowing the Whistle(cid:146), by Paul Van Buitenen, he refers to a number of officials of the European
Commission who were corrupt.

Please will the Commission indicate what action has been taken against those officials named as corrupt in
the official report?

Have any of them been retired on pensions, as Mr Van Buitenen claims in his book?

(2001/C 81 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1420/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Corruption within the European Commission

(5 May 2000)

Can the Commission indicate what disciplinary proceedings, if any, have been taken against individuals
working for the Commission as a result of the wrongdoings exposed by Mr Paul van Buitenen?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1404/00
and E-1420/00 given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

The Commission investigates all allegations of acts committed by officials that could give rise to the
opening of disciplinary proceedings.

In the cases relevant to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, disciplinary proceedings were opened some
time ago and, where appropriate, files have been transmitted to the judicial authorities of Member States.

C 81 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

After due process, disciplinary proceedings relating to six officials referred to in Mr van Buitenen(cid:146)s book
have been concluded. In two cases the officials were acquitted, in one case the official was reprimanded, in
two cases the officials were dismissed, and in one case the official was dismissed with partial reduction of
entitlement to retirement pension.

In other cases, disciplinary proceedings and administrative enquiries launched before and after the date of
the publication of this book are in progress.

(2001/C 81 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1405/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(5 May 2000)

Subject: Action against Paul Van Buitenen

At a recent launch in England of Paul Van Buitenen(cid:146)s book (cid:145)Blowing the Whistle(cid:146), Mr Van Buitenen said
(cid:145)I have been warned, and threatened, and my home has been ransacked, and I am told that if members of
the Commission decide to take legal action against me, the Commission will back them.(cid:146)

Does the Commission intend to take any action against Paul Van Buitenen?

Does the Commission utterly renounce the actions of anyone who may have warned or threatened Paul
Van Buitenen, or ransacked his home?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

Disciplinary action was taken against Mr Paul van Buitenen because he breached the existing rules by
investigations and disciplinary proceedings to be
causing documents that related to on-going criminal
transmitted outside the Commission. Mr van Buitenen was formally reprimanded for that breach of the
rules and that concluded the case.

Mr van Buitenen has not formally notified the Commission that he has been warned or threatened or that
the Commission would strongly deprecate abusive
his home has been entered illegally. Naturally,
behaviour of the sort alleged in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, or of any other kind.

Article 24 of the Staff Regulations specifies that (cid:145)The Communities shall assist any official, in particular in
proceedings against any person perpetrating threats, insulting or defamatory acts or utterances, or any
attack to person or property to which he, or a member of his family, is subjected by reason of his position
or duties(cid:146). Such assistance must be formally requested by the official.

(2001/C 81 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1422/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 May 2000)

Subject: Guardianship of the Treaties

Does the Commission accept that Article 211 of the Consolidated Version of the Treaty establishing the
European Community requires the Commission (cid:145)to ensure that the provisions of this Treaty and the
measures taken by the institutions pursuant thereto are applied(cid:146), and, if so, and if the Commission wishes
to retain its role as (cid:145)Guardian of the treaties(cid:146), how is that compatible with remarks made recently by the