WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Availability for questioning of Commission official by Swedish legal authorities.
Date: 2001-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, European official, Sweden, criminal procedure, information centre, judicial cooperation, judicial inquiry

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/225

Does the Commission consider that Turkey(cid:146)s (cid:145)economic retaliation(cid:146) against France, and its unilateral
termination of contracts are politically and legally compatible with the EU-Turkey customs union or that
such conduct is consistent with the criteria laid down by the European Council in Copenhagen?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

The Commission is monitoring closely the Turkish reaction to the law (cid:145)recognising the Armenian genocide
by the Turkish army between 1915 and 1917(cid:146) adopted by the French Parliament. In the light of this
reaction, it will consider whether and, if so, what measures are called for.

(2001/C 187 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Availability for questioning of Commission official by Swedish legal authorities

The former head of the Commission(cid:146)s Stockholm information office is now based at the Commission in
Brussels. The Public Prosecutor in Stockholm wishes to question the official about irregularities at the
Stockholm information office which have been exposed in the Swedish media for over a year.

The former head of the office has, however, announced that she does not have time to travel to Stockholm
and is therefore unable to attend the inquiry. The Stockholm Public Prosecutor therefore wishes to travel
to Brussels to question the official but this requires authorisation from the Belgian legal authorities, which
takes time to obtain.

To the Swedish public, it appears absurd that Commission officials can sidestep a legal inquiry in this
manner.

Can the Commission instruct the former head of the Stockholm information office to assist the Swedish
Public Prosecutor with his investigation into irregularities at the Stockholm information office so that the
entire affair can be clarified and laid to rest once and for all?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

At the request of the law enforcement authorities in Sweden, the Commission withdrew the immunity of
the official in question, and the prosecutor then approached the official direct asking to be allowed to
interview her in connection with the matter of the Commission Representation in Sweden. No formal
application was made to the Commission in this regard.

The situation described by the Honourable Member is consequently the result of a personal decision by the
person concerned, for which the Commission is in no way responsible.

There is no common Union policy in criminal matters, and it is not surprising, therefore, that the Swedish
law enforcement authorities should have to obtain the authorisation of the Belgian authorities in order to
conduct
is not because the person concerned is
a Commission official, but solely because of the rules that currently govern cooperation between criminal
law enforcement authorities.

investigations in Belgium.

they have do so,

If

it