WRITTEN QUESTION E-0441/01 by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission. Recruitment of permanent officials at the European Commission.
Date: 2001-02-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European official, administration of the Institutions, competition (EU), recruitment, unpaid leave

C 261 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

The Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that on 2 February 2001 the Council
adopted a negotiating mandate authorising the Commission to negotiate the setting up of this new
Regional Fisheries Organisation.

(2001/C 261 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0437/01

by Martin Callanan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: The BP Trent tragedy in June 1993

In June 1993, nine British sailors were killed when the Panamanian registered vessel the (cid:145)Western Winner(cid:146)
collided with the British fuel tanker the (cid:145)BP British Trent(cid:146) near the Belgian port of Ostend.

Maritime investigations into the accident have shown that the Korean captain and crew of the (cid:145)Western
Winner(cid:146) were to blame, having failed to comply with essential maritime safety laws. In spite of this, neither
the captain and crew of the ship nor its owners, Alpha Beta Investments, have been prosecuted for
malpractice.

What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 2001)

The Commission takes the view that it has no jurisdiction to prosecute the captain, the crew or the owner
of the ship. Nevertheless, the Commission asked the Belgian authorities for information regarding the facts
referred to by the Honourable Member. From the information received it appears that the case is still
pending before the Criminal Court of Bruges and that the Belgian authorities thus cannot interfere with the
judicial process.

(2001/C 261 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0441/01

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Recruitment of permanent officials at the European Commission

Can the Commission indicate:

1. How many permanent officials it has recruited since 1 January 1991 through open competitions,

broken down by nationality, category and grade?

2. How many of these new officials broken down by nationality, category and grade, have since
terminated their employment with the Commission on a permanent basis? How many are presently
on unpaid leave (CCP), broken down by nationality, category and grade?

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/117

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(11 April 2001)

The Commission has recruited 5 119 permanent officials through open competitions from January 1991
until end of February 2001.

Year

Number

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001 (two months)

316
305
361
543
562
731
565
493
480
627
136

Total

5 119

The table comprises the officials recruited on the Operational Budget (budget de fonctionnement) and it
includes figures for the Office for Official Publications and the European anti-fraud office (OLAF).

A table concerning the breakdown by nationality, category and grade is being sent direct
Honourable Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

to the

Of these officials, 171 (3,34 %) have terminated their employment with the Commission on a permanent
basis since 1991. The main reasons are resignation (94), transfer to another European Institution (54) and
invalidity (15). A table concerning the breakdown by nationality, category and grade is being sent direct to
the Honourable Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

Currently (as of early March 2001), 194 (3,79 %) of these new officials are on unpaid leave (CCP). A table
concerning the breakdown by nationality, category and grade is being sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 261 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: The labelling of animal extracts in medicines

Ingredients of animal origin are essential to the manufacture of a large proportion of medicines. Since this
is a matter of concern to some vegetarians, what plans has the EU(cid:146)s Pharmaceutical Committee to indicate
on the labels of medicinal products whether they contain material extracted from animals?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2001)

Medicines are products administered to humans to either prevent or treat illnesses or to make a medicinal
diagnosis (1).

The purpose of Community legislation is to guarantee that safe and effective medicines are placed on the
market and to provide information for patients.