WRITTEN QUESTION P-2043/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. On the defence of officials unfairly blamed.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, defamation

C 103 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

control of the major communicable diseases (AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis) as part of the reduction of
poverty. This initiative will be taken in close cooperation with the Member States, the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the UNAIDS (Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS) and will be the subject of an
international round table in Brussels on 28 September 2000.

In 1998 alone the Commission committed upwards of € 700 million for schemes in the health, AIDS and
population policy fields in the developing countries. Around € 300 million was committed for reproduc-
tive health and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Malaria and tuberculosis action financed by the Commission
forms part of wider programmes targeted on health systems and care coverage so budget appropriations
for these specific diseases are not identified precisely.

As regards humanitarian aid, whilst the Commission is not mandated to coordinate Member States(cid:146)
humanitarian action in the field, it does nevertheless try to coordinate its own relief activities with them.

3.
Development aid managed by the Commission is financed through the Community budget and the
European Development Fund (EDF). The total amount of heading 4 of the Community budget (external
relations) for the year 2000 is € 4,627 million. This figure is to be divided between eight geographical
programmes and several thematic and horizontal instruments, which are geographically neutral. Only one
of the geographical programmes concerns Africa, the South Africa heading with € 128 million. The EDF is
the financial instrument of the LomØ Convention. It is formed by Member States(cid:146) contributions and is
devoted to development cooperation with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and overseas
countries and territories (OCTs).

Total commitments from the EDF concerning Africa in 1999 were € 2,199 million (€ 219,6 million was
also committed for regional cooperation with the ACP countries).

For Member States(cid:146) bilateral aid to Sub-Saharan African countries, the Honourable Member should refer to
the statistics of the OECD development aid committee in the 1999 annual report, which show the
following figures in millions of dollars for 1997/1998 (see page 228, Statistical table 32):

Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom

104
300
560
103
2 132
1 339
99
596
36
799
172
234
522
1 043

(2001/C 103 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2043/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: On the defence of officials unfairly blamed

In his answer to Written Question P-1049/00 (1) of 23 May 2000, the Vice-President of the Commission,
Mr Kinnock, emphasises that (cid:145)Where there are serious unfounded accusations against the professional
integrity of an official, the administration is required under Article 24 of the Staff Regulations to take all

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/51

necessary steps to restore the good name of the official concerned. In such cases the administration enjoys
a wide discretion, subject to review by the Community judicature, regarding the choice of the ways and
means of providing the official with assistance. It must refute those allegations and do everything possible
to restore the good name of the official concerned. Assistance under Article 24 can therefore take various
forms depending on the type of threat or action and the wishes of the victim(cid:146).

Does the Commission intend to follow through all the implications of the above statement in a number of
cases pending where officials are the subject of defamatory allegations? Furthermore, can the Commission
rule out the existence of requests from officials to whom it has omitted to give an answer pursuant to
Article 24 and in line with the above statement?

(1) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2000)

The Commission confirms its answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question P- 1049/00 (1), in
which it stressed that it is required under Article 24 of the Staff Regulations to assist any official who, by
reason of his position or duties, is subjected to threats, insulting or defamatory acts or utterances, or any
attack to his person or property.

the cases brought

In each of
Staff Regulations applies.
Court of First Instance, in deciding which measures are the most appropriate.

the
In doing that it has considerable discretion, subject to supervision by the

the Commission examines whether Article 24 of

to its notice,

Each case is examined individually and dealt with on its own merits. A request for assistance may be
turned down because the acts about which the official complains do not fall within the category in respect
of which assistance can be provided. Alternatively, the Commission may decide to provide assistance in a
form which differs from that requested.

The Staff Regulations provide the official with means of redress in respect of any decision taken under
Article 24 of the Staff Regulations.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that requests for assistance are still pending and
that a reply will be given as soon as they have been fully examined taking into account, in particular, the
individual circumstances of each official.

(1) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 15.

(2001/C 103 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2045/00

by Carlos Costa Neves (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Revision of Poseima

In the light of the preparatory work being undertaken by the Commission(cid:146)s services with a view to the
revision of Poseima, can the Commission answer the following questions:

(cid:129) at what stage of the revision process will the Portuguese government and the regional governments of
the Azores and Madeira be involved, by way of consultation or participation; or, if this has been done
already, at what stage did it take place?

(cid:129) has provision been made, or will provision be made, for the social partners, notably the farmers(cid:146)
to be involved in the revision process by way of consultation or

representative organisations,
participation?

(cid:129) have any of the bodies named in the previous paragraphs submitted specific proposals to the

Commission for measures to be launched, amended or repealed?

(cid:129) when does the Commission intend to conclude the process of revision of Poseima?