WRITTEN QUESTION E-0520/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Team Europe.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, European Commission, communications policy, information network, promotion of the European idea

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/135

Can the Commission explain why it does not consider that the Agency has specified its environmental
criteria in the proper manner?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2001)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that, in the specifications for the contract in question,
Statskontoret provides for the exclusion of bidders whose tenders do not meet certain minimum technical
requirements concerning the presence in the plastic mechanical parts of the computers of certain heavy
metals, such as cadmium and antimony, and certain substances such as brominated flame retardants. Only
insofar as including these criteria in specifications had discriminatory effect would the Commission have to
consider them unlawful pursuant to Articles 28-30 (ex articles 30-36) of the EC Treaty.

The Commission notes that at least one of the substances that the Swedish authorities do not accept,
antimony, is unregulated both at Community level and in Sweden. Other substances are only partially
regulated. Consequently, products containing this and other substances forbidden in the tendering
procedure can be legally sold and marketed in all Member States (cid:129) including Sweden, and no information
has so far been presented to justify the exclusion of this substance. Against this background, such a
limitation, which could favour or eliminate certain suppliers or products, may be contrary to Articles 28-
30 of the EC Treaty.

The Commission still has to examine the various supplementary pieces of information conveyed to it by
the interested parties in this case before taking a position on the action to be taken and proposing, if
appropriate, to initiate infringement proceedings on the basis of Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC
Treaty. In its examination, the Commission will also take account of the Proposal for a Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic equipment (1).

Applying criteria bound up with considerations relating to tenderers(cid:146)
in
evaluating offers is only compatible with the rules on public supply contracts (2) if these criteria concern
the deliverables or the implementing rules and contribute to the choice of the tender offering the best
value for money.

(cid:145)environmental capacities(cid:146)

(1) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.
(2) Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts

(OJ L 199, 9.8.1993).

(2001/C 261 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0520/01

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

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Team Europe

Can the Commission provide details of the current situation of Team Europe? How many people in
Sweden are currently involved in information work? Who are they? What is the recommended lecturer(cid:146)s
fee? How is Team Europe marketed? What was the Commission(cid:146)s expenditure on Team Europe for the
financial year 2000 and what are the estimated costs for the year 2001?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2001)

Team Europe has 540 speakers throughout the Member States. They tend to be academics, researchers,
consultants or people from different economic sectors, specialising in various aspects of European policy.
The Team members give lectures on the various aspects of Community policy, by request only, to schools

C 261 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

and universities,
associations, agricultural organisations, etc.).

the voluntary sector and trade organisations (chambers of commerce, professional

The Swedish Team Europe is made up of 25 speakers.

The members of Team Europe are not paid by the Commission and there are no hard and fast rules on the
subject. Their fees, if any, are in theory agreed in advance, on a case by case basis, between the organiser
of the event and the Team Europe lecturer. Some talks are given free of charge, to schools or to the
voluntary sector, for example.

Team Europe is marketed in several ways. At EU level, the Europa website includes a Team Europe
webpage which is updated regularly and lists speakers by national team and by specialisation. Some
Representations also have their own Team Europe page on their Internet site. Brochures on Team Europe
have been produced and translated into all Community languages. They may be distributed by speakers in
the course of their lectures. Finally, speakers take charge of their own publicity through networks of
acquaintances and contacts.

The Commission provides support for the network in particular through its Help Desk (the Team Europe
Information Service or TEIS) for lecturers. Its aim is to provide them with the documentation, information
and training needed to ensure a top-quality network. The TEIS budget for the financial year 2000
(December 1999 to November 2000) was € 667 148.30. There was also a meeting of all network members
in September 2000 (cost: € 139 098,26). The current financial year covers the period from December
2000 to September 2001; the budget allocated is € 525 118.39.

(2001/C 261 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0523/01

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

(23 February 2001)

Subject: Sponsorship of Council meetings in Sweden

The Swedish media have published reports concerning sponsorship agreements (cid:129) some already concluded
others under negotiation (cid:129) to provide various services during Council meetings in the first half of 2001 in
Sweden. There have been negotiations and agreements on everything from the provision of soft drinks and
the arrangement of dinners to transport of various kinds.

Can the Council publish a list of the sponsors whose services have been engaged for all manner of things
in connection with the Council(cid:146)s meetings in Sweden? Is any calculation available of the total financial
value of the sponsorship agreements?

Reply

(31 May 2001)

The State holding the Presidency is responsible for organising all meetings, including informal ministerial
meetings, held in the country of the Presidency.

As a result, only the Swedish Government is in a position to provide information on the organisation of
these meetings.