WRITTEN QUESTION E-0646/01 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission participation in plenary debates.
Date: 2001-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commissioner, operation of the Institutions, parliamentary debate, public conduct of debates

C 318 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Natura 2000 sites to the Commission and their protection during operations which are part-financed by
the structural
funds and the rural development programme, mainly concerning the investments in
agricultural holdings.

(1) Written reply, 15.11.2000.
(2) Written reply, 13.12.2000.
(3) Oral reply, 16.1.2001.
(4) Written reply, 13.3.2001.
(5) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(6) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(7) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 318 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0646/01

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Commission participation in plenary debates

(6 March 2001)

The Framework Agreement calls on Commissioners to attend debates in plenary on their own business. As
I understand, it only provides for limited exceptions to this general rule.

Can the Commission say how many plenary debates came within the responsibility of each Commissioner
in 2000?

How many debates on their own respective portfolio did each Commissioner attend?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2001)

As requested by the Honourable Member the annexed table provides an overview on how many plenary
debates came within the responsibility of each Commissioner in 2000 and how many debates on their
own respective portfolio each Commissioner attended. It should be noted that joint debates on different
subjects or on a number of different reports are counted as one debate. Attendance of Commissioners in
urgency debates, in question time or when replacing another Commissioner have not been counted.

In the course of the investiture debate on 15 September 1999, President Prodi gave firm commitment to
Parliament to ensure the attendance of Commissioners at plenary debates falling under their competencies
as a general rule. This political commitment was subsequently codified in paragraphs 19, 20 and 21 of the
Framework-Agreement adopted the 5 July 2000. It was here agreed (cid:145)The Commission shall ensure, as
a general rule, that the Commissioner responsible is present whenever this is requested by the European
Parliament at plenary sittings for agenda items falling under his or her responsibility (point 19). With
a view to ensuring the presence of Commissioners, the European Parliament undertakes to do its best to
maintain its
its draft
agenda subsequently to the meeting of the Conference of Presidents that decides the final draft agenda of
a part-session, or where it moves items within the agenda within a part-session, the Commission shall use
its best endeavours to ensure the presence of the Commissioner responsible (point 21)(cid:146).

(point 20). Where the European Parliament amends

final draft agendas

The overall headline figure of 86 % attendance shows the Commission(cid:146)s determination to comply with this
commitment. However, as the Honourable Member himself notes, the Framework-Agreement does permit
some flexibility to accommodate the conflicting pressures on Commissioners(cid:146) schedules.

The Commission would also like to recall that the figure for attendance in plenary under point 19 of the
Framework Agreement gives only an incomplete picture of both overall presence and relations between
Commissioners and the European Parliament. To get a comprehensive view, attendance of Commissioners
in Committee meetings, meetings with parliamentary delegations, political groups, inter-groups, etc. also
needs to be taken into account.

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/95

Commissioner

Debates for
which responsible

Attended

Kinnock

de Palacio

Monti

Fischler

Liikanen

Bolkestein

Busquin

Solbes

Nielson

Verheugen

Patten

Lamy

Byrne

Barnier

Reding

Schreyer

Wallstr(cid:246)m

Vitorino

Diamantopoulou

5

28

6

25

17

29

5

15

18

5

35

2

19

11

10

19

28

26

20

4

22

5

23

15

28

5

12

17

5

28

0

15

11

10

19

19

23

16

Total

323

277

Based on Strasbourg sessions Monday to Thursday and Brussels sessions.

Excludes all debates attributed solely to President Prodi; Urgency debates; votes and Commission
declarations on the decisions of the day.

(2001/C 318 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0650/01

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Checks on the use of toxic products on Spanish oranges

(6 March 2001)

In reply to Written Question P-1189/00 (1) which I submitted to the European Commission,
it was
indicated to me that the Spanish authorities would withdraw authorisations for the use of colophony
in the treatment of Spanish
transformed using maleic anhydride and esterified with pentaerythritol
oranges.

Can the Commission say whether and when the Spanish authorities have withdrawn the above
authorisations?

If not, whether it considers it necessary to apply the provisions of Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the
EC Treaty?

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 158.