WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126/00 by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission. Misuse of EU funding in Basilicata ‐ Petition 47/96.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Basilicata, fund (EU), use of aid, vocational training

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/201

(2001/C 53 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2123/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Violation of the principles of equality, openness, and non-discrimination in the recruitment of
employees to work for the Mondariz (Pontevedra, Galicia) Municipal Rapid Action Task Force,
partly financed by the European Social Fund

Under the regional and local cooperation programmes financed by the European Social Fund, intended to
provide a basis on which to draw up jointly funded job creation programmes at those levels, the Council
for the Promotion of Employment, the Family, Women, and Youth, a body established under the authority
of the Governing Council of Galicia, has endorsed the programme for cooperation with social forces, and,
under that agreement, the municipal rapid action task forces (GMIRs) have come into being.

As part of the above cooperation, and beginning in 1997, the Mondariz (Pontevedra, Galicia) Municipal
Council entered into an agreement with the Governing Council of Galicia with a view to recruiting
12 employees to work for the GMIR. The vacancies as advertised in 1997, 1998, and 1999 did not satisfy
the basic principles of openness and equality, because the recruitment criteria observed were entirely a
matter for the discretion of Mondariz Council and quite different from those laid down by the Governing
Council of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. One cause for particular suspicion was the fact that,
according to their entries in the register of the National Institute for Employment, the 12 employees
recruited were qualified municipal rapid action task force (cid:145)specialists(cid:146), a qualification which,
though
unknown to most of
to the posts concerned. These
the candidates, was required for recruitment
recruitment criteria are contrary to the guidelines laid down at the extraordinary Luxembourg European
Council on employment, held in November 1997, which call for equal opportunities policies to be applied
to every employment sector (and not least in the selection of bodies to receive contributions from
European funds). Furthermore, the recruitment of the employees in question, who to date have all been
men, contravenes the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of sex.

The Commission should ensure compliance with the requirements laid down when financial support is
granted under the European Social Fund. Will it request the Galician Governing Council to explain the lack
of supervision and the arbitrary nature of the criteria observed in the Mondariz Municipal Council
recruitment procedures?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

The question raised by the Honourable Member relates to the management of projects cofinanced by the
European Social Fund (ESF). In the context of Community legislation, and in conformity with the principle
of subsidiarity, the management of projects is a matter for the Member States.

The Commission does not at present have sufficient information to be able to provide an answer. It will
seek the necessary information from the Spanish authorities and, as soon as the informataion has been
received, will forward it to the Honourable Member.

(2001/C 53 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2126/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Misuse of EU funding in Basilicata (cid:129) Petition 47/96

Dott. Giovanni De Blasis, head of the legislative office of Basilicata Regional Council, submitted a petition
on the misuse of Community funding intended for vocational training, which was entered in the general
register under number 47/96.

On 26 June 1999 the EP(cid:146)s Committee on Petitions deemed the issues raised by Dott. De Blasiis (cid:145)admissible(cid:146)
and started examination of the petition, deciding at the same time to ask the Commission to state its views
on various aspects of the problem.

Can the Commission say what the outcome of its examination was and, if it reached some conclusion,
what steps it has taken?

C 53 E/202

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written E-3138/98 by Mr Rauti (1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 51.

(2001/C 53 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2234/00

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Reduction of Austrian state pension as a result of voluntary contributions made to UK state

pensions

In a letter dated 9 November 1999 to Commissioner Diamantopoulou, I asked the Commission to resolve
a very serious problem being faced by a constituent, Mr R.J.E. Girdler. His case concerns his Austrian state
pension and the fact that the Austrian Government is ignoring Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 (1) which,
according to the United Kingdom Department of Social Security, means that voluntary contributions made
to state pension funds of one country should not be taken into account by another country when
calculating their own pension liability: Mr Girdler made voluntary contributions to the UK social security
pensions scheme, since moving back to the UK from Austria, between 1992 and 1997.

Mr Girdler has received numerous letters, many since November 1999, from the Austrian State Pensions
Office upholding their view that they could reduce his Austrian State pension because of the voluntary
contributions which he had made. Despite assurances that this is matter is being looked into, I have still
not received a satisfactory response from the Commission.

Firstly, can the Commission state whether it has looked into the questions raised by my letter of
9 November 1999?

Secondly, is the Austrian Government contravening Regulation (EEC) No 574/72?

Thirdly, if it is found that the Austrian Government is acting unlawfully, what will the Commission do to
remedy this and ensure that the loss in pension which Mr Girdler has suffered is refunded to the full and
lawful amount?

(1) OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that, on receipt of her letter of 9 November 1999, it
wrote to the Austrian authorities asking them to submit their observations on the case she raised. The
Austrian authorities have not yet replied but have informed the Commission that they will do so shortly.

Once the Commission receives a reply from the Austrian authorities, it will examine whether there has
been an infringement of Community law in this case, in particular of Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 of the
Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their
families moving within the Community (1) and (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council of 21 March 1972 fixing
the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (2). If it considers that there has been an
infringement, it could then open proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 164) of the EC Treaty.