WRITTEN QUESTION P-3512/00 by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission. Court of Auditors reports on the operating efficiency of the European Monetary Institute and the European Central Bank.
Date: 2000-11-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Central Bank, European Monetary Institute, budget, budget estimate, budgetary control, transparency in decision-making

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/147

As for the consideration of public interest with reference to the setting up of nature conservation
restrictions in certain areas, the Commission would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the
fact that there is no Community environmental
legislation that provides that the public should be
consulted prior to the setting up of nature parks by the authorities.

However, in general terms, the Commission supports the participation of the public in environmental
decision-making, as is evident in recent legislative proposals such as the environmental impact assessment
directive (3) and the strategic environmental assessment directive (4). Furthermore, the Community has
signed the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and
access to justice in environmental matters, which it will ratify as soon as legally possible.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(3) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of

certain public and private projects on the environment (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997).

(4) Proposal of the Commission for a directive of the Parliament and of the Council, on the assessment of the effects of
certain plans and programmes on the environment (Common Position of 30 March 2000 in OJ C 137, 16.5.2000).

(2001/C 163 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3512/00

by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 November 2000)

Subject: Court of Auditors reports on the operating efficiency of the European Monetary Institute and the

European Central Bank

The Commission has taken note of the reports published by the Court of Auditors in the years 1996-
1998, which have highlighted a number of problems regarding the proper use of public money by the EMI
and later the ECB.

The main points to have given rise to concern are:

(cid:129) The method of supervision is such that projects cannot be monitored on a sound and objective basis
and, moreover, there is no simple and coherent way to keep track of progress as regards implementa-
tion.

(cid:129) The use of external consultants has made it difficult to coordinate and oversee the different projects.

(cid:129) As regards the lack of transparency in the implementation of the budget for the year 1998, the
approach adopted at the time when the EMI was succeeded by the ECB was totally unsatisfactory. In
particular, the Court has pointed out that the EMI and ECB consolidated accounting results were not
available and consequently not sent to the Governing Council. Furthermore,
it maintains that the
accuracy of the information has been impossible to check in either bookkeeping or arithmetical terms.

(cid:129) Substantial special bonuses, up to 38 % of their annual salary, have been awarded to some employees

even though the Governing Council did not give the necessary permission.

Bearing in mind that the Commission regularly sends an observer to ECB Governing Council meetings, and
sometimes to its top-level meetings:

1. Can the Commission say whether the Governing Council has discussed the reports referred to above?
What measures have been laid down to avert a repetition of such occurrences? Will the culprits be
disciplined, and will the Executive Board members responsible for the areas in which the greatest
shortcomings have been revealed be publicly censured?

2. Will the Commission allow Parliament to inspect all the correspondence between the ECB and the
Court of Auditors as well as the ECB internal reports on the irregularities revealed by the Court?

3. What attitude has the Commission taken to the ECB regarding the irregularities that have been

brought to light and the ECB(cid:146)s internal management failings?

C 163 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

4. What are the reasons for the delay which has meant that the Court of Auditors report on the 1999

ECB accounts has still not been published?

5. Will the Commission supply Parliament with copies of the ECB(cid:146)s detailed estimates and final accounts

and the related documents approved by ECB bodies?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

According to Article 10.4 of the Statute of the European system of central banks (ESCB) the proceedings of
the meetings of
the European central bank (ECB) are confidential. The
the governing council of
Commission is not able to provide the requested information.

The Commission does not intend to intervene in the relationship between the Court of auditors and
the ECB.

The Commission considers that all institutions and bodies should ensure an efficient execution of their
tasks.

The Commission understands that the publication of the report of the Court of auditors on the 1999 ECB
accounts is not due until beginning of 2001.

The Commission cannot supply the Parliament with copies of the ECB(cid:146)s estimates. As far as the annual
accounts are concerned these documents are published on an annual basis according to Article 26.2 of the
Statute of the ESCB. These documents contain a profit and loss account as well as comments and
explanations on this account.

(2001/C 163 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/00

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2000)

Subject: Problems for German horticulture farms under glass

Germany(cid:146)s horticulture farms under glass have seen an increase of more than 200 % in the cost of heating
greenhouses since February 1999. A glaring mismatch exists in competition with the Netherlands, for
example, since firms there are required to pay only one third of the heating costs when compared with
their German colleagues. The higher costs in Germany cannot however be offset by higher prices in the
marketplace. This leads to distortion in the agricultural sector, which is a Community responsibility.

1.

How in the Commission(cid:146)s opinion can such a glaring distortion of competition be tackled?

2. What measures is it proposing to eliminate the existing imbalances?

3.
Does it harbour misgivings on grounds of competition law about transitional aid for this winter (cid:129)
e.g. in the form of cheap loans or other subsidies (cid:129) and about a comprehensive programme for rational
and efficient energy use?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

1.
The Commission is aware of the fact that there may be differences between Member States in energy
prices, in particular for the heating of glasshouses. These differences are mainly caused by divergent fiscal
systems and different policy options in the various Member States.