WRITTEN QUESTION E-1984/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Participation of Commission officials in local elections in the Belgian Federation.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, European official, elective office, local election, regulations for civil servants, unpaid leave

C 81 E/126

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

(2001/C 81 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1984/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Participation of Commission officials in local elections in the Belgian Federation

Under Article 19(1) of the EC Treaty EU citizens have the right to vote and to stand as candidates in
elections in the Belgian Federation.

The Commission, however, is said to have adopted an internal regulation making it very unattractive for
its officials to stand as candidates in elections. If they do so, they must take three months(cid:146) unpaid leave.

This measure is inconsistent with the concern that EU citizens, including Commission officials, should
integrate into the social fabric of their local community. It also seriously erodes officials(cid:146) involvement in
local decision-making.

including Commission officials, should integrate fully into the social

Does the Council accept that a regulation of this kind is inconsistent with the concern that EU
1.
citizens,
their local
community? If so, will it ask the Commission to withdraw the regulation concerned? If not, how is the
requirement that three months(cid:146) unpaid leave be taken to be reconciled with the concern that EU citizens,
including Commission officials, should integrate into the social fabric of their local community?

fabric of

2.
Does the Council accept that a regulation of this kind seriously erodes officials(cid:146) involvement in local
decision-making? If so, will it recommend the Commission to withdraw the regulation concerned? If not,
how is the requirement that three months(cid:146) unpaid leave be taken to be reconciled with the concern that
Commission officials should be fully involved in local decision-making?

Reply

(28 September 2000)

The question put by the Honourable Member concerns an internal Commission regulation. In accordance
with the principle of the organisational autonomy of each institution, the Council believes that the
question should be directed towards the Commission.

However, in the event that the regulation referred to by the Honourable Member is Article 15 of the Staff
Regulations of officials, which stipulates that: (cid:145)An official who is a candidate for elective public office shall
apply for leave on personal grounds for a period not exceeding three months(cid:146), the Council would
emphasise that this provision applies to officials of all the institutions and can be amended only by
amending the Staff Regulations on the basis of Article 283 of the Treaty establishing the European
Community.

(2001/C 81 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1986/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Forthcoming start of the new marketing year for sugar and fixing of the basic price for sugar beet:

consequences for Italy(cid:146)s southern region

Under Regulation No 2038/1999 (1), the Commission must submit by this summer a proposal concerning
the fixing of target prices for sugar and the basic price for sugar beet for the 2001-2001 marketing year.