WRITTEN QUESTION E-0424/01 by José Pomés Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Appointment of Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs.
Date: 2001-02-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, appointment of staff, competition (EU), personnel administration, regulations for civil servants

C 318 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

considered the possibility of paying increased subsidies towards a reduction in the numbers of suckler
cows in order to reduce subsidised exports and/or the destruction of beef while simultaneously maintaining
rural incomes?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2001)

The Commission, as part of its preparatory work for the presentation of a series of measures aimed at re-
balancing the beef market, has estimated the surplus of beef on the Community market to be 785 000
tonnes (t) in 2001, 360 000 t in 2002 and 80 000 t in 2003.

The package of measures, which was discussed at the Agricultural Council of 26 February 2001, consisted
of two main elements. Firstly, measures are proposed, which would have the effect of lowering the level of
production and discouraging intensive methods of production. This would be achieved through more
restrictive rules on suckler cow regime, but particularly in the special beef premium. Secondly, the
remaining surplus would be absorbed by increased levels of intervention, totalling 925 000 t over the three
years in question.

The Commission believes that, given the self-imposed budgetary limitations placed on the common
agricultural policy (CAP) in the Berlin Agreement, such an approach, coupled with the necessary health
protection measures put in place, appears as the only solution to the current crisis. The Commission
therefore considers that, owing to that budgetary limitation, it is not possible to reach the objectives of
reduced exportation and destruction of beef by increasing subsidy levels.

(2001/C 318 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0424/01

by JosØ PomØs Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Appointment of Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs

On 15 January 2001, Renouveau et DØmocratie reported that the post of Director-General for Economic
and Financial Affairs is to be filled by somebody currently working in a German ministry.

In view of this, will the Commission please answer the following questions:

(cid:129) Is there nobody currently working in the Commission who is qualified to occupy this post?

(cid:129) Why was the post not advertised internally before being opened to candidates outside the

Commission, in accordance with the normal procedure?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2001)

In order to widen its choice of candidates for the post of Director-General for Economic and Financial
Affairs the Commission decided to publish the post in question within the Institution, within the other
Institutions and externally, with advertisements in the national and international press as well as in the
specialised press. The Commission has proceeded in a similar manner since September 1999 on three
occasions when seeking applicants for the Heads of the European anti-fraud office (OLAF), the Joint
Research Centre and the Internal Audit Service.

The Consultative Committee for Appointments, assisted by three independent experts of international
reputation in economic and monetary policy, together with management consultants, established a short-
list of candidates which it considered to be those most qualified for the post.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/49

The short-listed candidates were then interviewed by the President, the Member of the Commission
responsible for Economic and Financial Affairs, and the Member of the Commission responsible for
Personnel and Administration, who together made a recommendation for appointment to the Commission.
In accordance with the rules set down in the Staff Regulations, the Appointing Authority had first to
consider the internal candidates before taking into consideration the external ones (1).

(1) According to Article 29.1 of the Staff Regulations the appointing authority is first obliged to consider whether
a vacant post (cid:145)can be filled by promotion or transfer within the institutions(cid:146). It shall (cid:145)then follow the procedure for
competitions(cid:146). Article 29.2 foresees that (cid:145)a procedure other than the competition procedure may be adopted by the
appointing authority for the recruitment of grade A 1 or A 2 officials, and,
in exceptional cases, also for
recruitment to posts which require special qualifications(cid:146).

(2001/C 318 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0427/01

by Massimo Carraro (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE)
and Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Transfer of Nuclear Safety personnel from the JRC in Ispra to Petten

On 7 December 2000, in response to a Written Question submitted by the European Parliament (P-3619/
00 (1)) the Commission declared its intention not to undermine the operation and role of the JRC in
Ispra and undertook to avoid any reduction in staffing levels.

Is Commissioner Busquin aware that in January 2001 a decision was suddenly taken to transfer Nuclear
Safety activities and staff working in this area from Ispra to Petten?

Can the Commission say why this decision was taken?

Why did the Commission not consider it necessary to consult Parliament prior to the decision being taken?

What will the effects of this decision be in terms of the availability of the staff in Ispra?

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 196.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2001)

In its answer to Question P-3619/00 of 7 December 2000, the Commission did not declare any intention
to avoid transferring staff.

Instead, in the process of reviewing its priorities, a project launched at the start of 2000, at its meeting of
26 July 2000 the Commission adopted the recommendations of the Steering Group set up to examine the
matter.

In this context, the Commission has requested that Commissioner Busquin should instruct the Joint
Research Centre (JRC) to carry out a feasibility study into closing the Petten site or eliminating 200 jobs by
scaling down JRC activities across the board.

The feasibility study into the closure of the Petten site has been completed and its conclusions have been
submitted to the Commission in the form of a communication which was adopted on 22 January 2001 (1).

The conclusions of the feasibility study include recommendations to transfer the activities relating to
research into reducing vehicle emissions from Petten to Ispra, and to transfer the Nuclear Safety unit from
Ispra to Petten. This arises from a commitment to achieve consistency between the portfolios of activities
of the various JRC sites.