WRITTEN QUESTION E-1624/00 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Austrians at the European Commission.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European Commission, European Commissioner, Member States' contribution, administrator, general budget (EU)

C 81 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

(2001/C 81 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1624/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Austrians at the European Commission

Austria has been a member of the European Union for the last five years. A few Austrians have moved to
the Commission in that period. However it appears that Austria, which accounts for 2,15 % of the EU(cid:146)s
total population and makes a disproportionately high contribution to the EU budget (2,65 % of the total),
provides only 1,93 % of the top officials at the Commission. This 1,93 % figure amounts to 127 posts,
which suggests that Austria is under-represented on the Commission staff.

Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs, and if so, are any other countries in addition to Austria
similarly under-represented in relation to the size of their population and their contribution to the EC
budget?

What does the Commission intend to do in future to make up this shortfall or to ensure that similar
situations do not arise in future?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

According to the most recent official figures (28 April 2000), there are 200 officials of Austrian nationality
in the A grades of the Commission, i.e. 2,3 % of all A officials. Among these, 2 were A1(cid:146)s (out of a total of
54, i.e. 3,7 %) and 6 were A2(cid:146)s (out of a total of 195, i.e. 3,08 %).

Of the 15 Member States 5 have a proportion of A grade officials that is lower than their share of the total
Community population. Germany has 12,4 % of A officials and 21,8 % of Community population; Spain
has 9,5 % of A officials and 10,5 % of Community population; France has 13 % of A officials and 15,8 % of
Community population; UK has 11 % of A officials and 15,8 % of Community population; Italy has 12 %
of A officials and 15,3 % of total Community population.

The Commission is bound by Article 27 of the Staff Regulations to recruit (cid:145)officials of the highest standard
of ability, efficiency and integrity on the broadest possible geographical basis from among nationals of
Member States of the Communities.(cid:146) Promotion takes place after consideration of the comparative merits
of officials who are eligible (Article 45 of the Staff Regulations). The Commission will continue to respect
these provisions fully.

(2001/C 81 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1628/00

by Jonathan Evans (PPE-DE) to the Council

(9 June 2000)

Subject: HRP Refrigerants Ltd (cid:129) imminent adoption of new Regulation to replace Regulation 3093/94 on

substances that deplete the ozone layer (cid:129) HCFC import quota

The Council and the European Parliament are soon to adopt a new regulation to replace Regulation 3093/
94 (1) on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The new regulation will bring about a change in the way
in which HCFC import quotas will be allocated. From 1 January 2001 the total available import quota will
be shared out between individual
importers in the same proportions as their market shares in 1996
(Article 4(3)(i)(h)). As a result, with effect from the end of this year, those companies which started
importing HCFCs after 1996 will be arbitrarily deprived of their quota. This could result in job losses
across the EU. It will result in unnecessary interference in the HCFC market and may be a breach of EC
law. Reliance on 1996 as the reference year will put jobs needlessly at risk and could result in claims