WRITTEN QUESTION E-2107/00 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Reforming the Commission.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commissioner, political responsibility

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/63

The Commission does not compile any record of directors of companies that receive financial support
from the Community budget as a result of the work that they do, or the functions that they fulfil, and is
therefore not in a position to say whether any such persons are MPs or Peers.

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001.

(2001/C 103 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2106/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Council

(30 June 2000)

Subject: 1995 Convention on the Protection of the European Communities(cid:146) Financial Interests

What action does the Council intend to take in order to ensure the ratification of the 1995 Convention on
the Protection of the European Communities(cid:146) Financial Interests, given that it should have been completed
by 1998 and that ratification will become pointless once the Commission has submitted a proposal for a
Community act?

Reply

(7 November 2000)

The Council is continuing to call on those Member States which have not yet done so to proceed rapidly
with ratification of the Convention signed in 1995 and of the Protocols thereto. The Council sees no need
to consider the possible consequences of a Commission initiative for a Community act in this field as long
as no such initiative has been taken or formally announced.

(2001/C 103 E/066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2107/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Reforming the Commission

Can the Commission give its opinion on Paragraph 41 of the Van Hulten report which calls for
(cid:145)the individual political responsibility of Commissioners to be enshrined in the Treaties(cid:146)?

What progress, if any, has been made to date, and what future action would the Commission envisage to
attain this objective?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

In its opinion of 26 January 2000 on the Intergovernmental Conference (1), the Commission proposed that
the political undertaking given by the Members of the present Commission to resign if asked to do so by
the President be written into the Treaty. To that end, it proposed an amendment to Article 215 of the
In its Resolution of 13 April 2000 on the Intergovernmental Conference (2), Parliament
EC Treaty.
proposed that (cid:145)any Member of the Commission guilty of serious misconduct in the performance of his
duties should be required to tender his resignation when asked to do so by the President of the
Commission(cid:146) (point 12.6).

C 103 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The matter is now being discussed by the Intergovernmental Conference. As stated in the report by the
Presidency to the Feira European Council, delegations remain divided on whether or not a formal
procedure should be included in the Treaty (3).

The Commission would also refer the Honourable Member to the answer to his Written Question
E-1348/00 (4).

(1) Adapting the Institutions to make a success of enlargement. Commission Opinion in accordance with Article 48 of

the Treaty on European Union (COM(2000) 34.

(2) Resolution A5-0086/2000.
(3) Report by the Presidency on the Intergovernmental Conference on Institutional Reform (Confer 4750/00, 14 June

2000).

(4) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 29.

(2001/C 103 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2108/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Reforming the Commission

Paragraph 55 of the Van Hulten report calls on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive reform of
human resources policy, including the introduction of a significant independent external element to the
disciplinary procedure.

What does the Commission plan in response to the recommendation for this external element?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s plans for reform of rules on disciplinary proceedings are set out in the White Paper
(cid:145)Reforming the Commission(cid:146) (1) adopted on March 1st.

The document identifies shortcomings in the present system which include the fact that it is (cid:145)based around
a disciplinary board that varies in composition and is purely internal(cid:146). The introduction of an independent
external element could contribute to remedying such shortcomings and enhancing consistency and
professionalism in the conduct of disciplinary proceedings.

A consultative document on reform of the discipline system, and the adoption by the Commission of a
draft decision on administrative improvements to disciplinary proceedings, are scheduled in the Reform
Action Plan (published with the White Paper) for October 2000. The consultative document will include
proposals for improving procedures and making relevant amendments to the Staff Regulations.

Meanwhile, the nomination of people who are not serving officials to serve as chairpersons of the
disciplinary board is, together with related matters, under consideration. Under the present Staff Regula-
tions that is the only way to introduce an independent external element into disciplinary proceedings
because the provisions of Article 5 of Annex II of the Regulations require that the members of the board
must be serving officials.

Further to that, the Honourable Member will have noted that the intention to propose the establishment of
an inter-institutional Disciplinary Board was set out in the White Paper. That proposal will be included in
the forthcoming consultative document with the purpose of increasing the continuity and consistency of
the Board by ensuring that it will be composed of a single group of officials, for all cases, who are chosen
for a period of office of up to three years, and come from the administrations and from staff
representation.

(1) COM(2000) 200 final.