WRITTEN QUESTION E-2857/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Standardisation of the procedures for holding competitive examinations for entry into the civil service.
Date: 2000-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, administrative competition, approximation of laws, civil service, competence of the Member States

C 113 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

The Commission does not agree that questions relating to colour are excluded from the Directive.
Although there is no specific reference to colour in Article 13, the Commission believes that colour is an
important factor in the determination of a person(cid:146)s ethnic origin and that discrimination based on colour
is therefore contrary to the requirements of the directive.

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.
(2) COM(1999) 566 final.

(2001/C 113 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2857/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Standardisation of the procedures for holding competitive examinations for entry into the civil

service

The procedures for holding competitive examinations for the recruitment of civil servants vary from
Member State to Member State.

Among the fundamental principles of such examinations should be transparency and simplification of
administrative procedures, but these principles are often flouted by public bodies and hence unacceptable
irregularities may occur.

Can the Commission say whether it intends to introduce legislation on the subject, by proposing common
rules for holding competitive examinations, in order ensure that all Community citizens are subject to the
same conditions, that there are instruments to monitor the activity of the organisers of competitive
examinations in accordance with procedural standards (type of documentation to be submitted by
candidates, access to records, deadlines, appeals,
levels of appeal, etc.) which would be the same
throughout Europe and, finally, ensure that citizens do not have excessive costs to bear?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Community is not legally competent to regulate the internal organisation of Member States(cid:146) public
services, including methods of recruitment. Furthermore, it is for the Member States to ensure that their
national rules on access to the public sector are correctly applied. Therefore, the Commission does not
intend to present a proposal for Community legislation aimed at harmonising the Member States(cid:146) methods
of recruitment of civil servants.

However, the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, monitors the correct application of the right of free
movement of workers in the public sector as interpreted by the Court of Justice.

(2001/C 113 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2858/00

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

Subject: Funding of the Danish referendum campaign

(5 September 2000)

The European Movement (Copenhagen Chapter) is reported to be acting as the lynch pin of the pro-euro
campaign in the Danish referendum. The UK chapter is similarly reported to have acted as the channel for
funds for the lobby group Britain in Europe.

Its Brussels head office receives € 300 000 per year from Item A-3021 which is intended to support named
(cid:145)organisations advancing the idea of Europe(cid:146).