WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/01 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Recruitment of OHIM staff.
Date: 2001-05-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union Intellectual Property Office, competition (EU), personnel administration, recruitment, transparency in decision-making

C 364 E/126

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

However, a case has recently come to light revealing the manufacture and fraudulent trade of several
thousand tonnes of animal meal intended for cattle which appears to have continued after 1996.

Given the gravity of the situation and the public health risk involved, what steps will the Commission
take?

Does it still consider it appropriate to reintroduce animal meal, even for non-ruminants, as it has
previously suggested?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The French judicial authorities are investigating the allegation of fraud on meat and bone meal. The
European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) is being informed of developments.

Based on the results to date of the inspections carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office, and the
differing scale of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) testing in different Member States, it is the
Commission(cid:146)s view that it is premature to suggest lifting the complete suspension of the feeding of meat
and bone meal to livestock. The current suspension which was due to expire on 30 June 2001, has,
therefore, been extended. In the meantime, efforts are continuing towards the adoption by the Council and
Parliament, and implementation by Member States, of the Regulation on animal by-products not intended
for human consumption (1).

This Regulation requires:

(a)

that only animal by-products derived from animals fit for human consumption may be used for
animal feed;

(b) a complete separation during collection, storage, transport, processing and use of animal waste not

intended for animal feed;

(c) a complete separation of rendering plants dedicated to feed production from rendering plants

processing other animal waste; and

(d)

stricter rules for traceability of animal by-products (including control on the movement of specified
risk material by means of record keeping systems, accompanying documents or health certificates and
marking of animal proteins and fats intended for destruction).

(1) OJ C 96 E, 27.3.2001.

(2001/C 364 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Recruitment of OHIM staff

Given reports that:

(cid:129) the OHIM agency (Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market), which is responsible for
trademarks, designs and models and is based in Alicante, does not use competitions to recruit new
staff;

(cid:129) when new vacancy notices are published, candidates who submit applications that fulfil the stated

requirements are not invited to an interview;

(cid:129) in the last vacancy notice for category A staff (reference 00/24/A/CHR, closing date for submitting
applications was 15 October 2000), no document other than a curriculum vitae was requested;

(cid:129) in April 2001 an applicant was rejected without receiving any explanation;

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/127

How does the Commission propose to ensure the adoption of a procedure which would lend transparency
to staff selection criteria and provide appropriate justification for the process of exclusion?

Does the Commission intend to publish the original criteria for recruitment?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) applies the Staff Regulations and the
Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities (CEOS). However, the OHIM
enjoys a large degree of administrative autonomy including in its recruitment policy.

According to the instrument establishing the agency (cid:129) the Community Trade Mark Regulation (cid:129) the
Commission(cid:146)s role is limited to checking the legality of the decisions of the President and the Budget
Committee, for which no appeal is provided. Issues concerning recruitment of staff are subject to appeal to
the court of First Instance. The Commission does not hold voting rights in the Administrative Board of the
OHIM.

Without further detailed information the Commission is not in a position to comment on the reports
mentioned by the Honourable Member. However, the OHIM has informed the Commission that, on the
particular occasion referred to in the question, the Office erroneously sent out letters of rejection to
unsuccessful candidates without including the usual justification for rejection which was that other, more
suitable, candidates had been selected from among the applications received.

In the past,
Commission understands, however,
consideration.

the OHIM has chosen to use internal competitions for recruitment of officials. The
that procedures for external competitions are currently under

Additional information on the selection procedures of the OHIM is best obtained directly from the Agency.

(2001/C 364 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1493/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Management of biodegradable waste

The Commission(cid:146)s draft proposals for a directive on this subject have a primary aim of reducing the
amount of organic material going to landfill.

In what ways do they recognise and accommodate the need for certain sectors, such as packaging, to meet
EU recycling targets?

Answer given Mrs de Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2001)

treatment of biodegradable waste. The working document on the biological

The Commission has so far taken no decision on whether to adopt a Proposal for a Directive on the
biological
treatment of
biodegradable waste (second draft of February 2001), elaborated by Directorate general (DG) Environment,
outlines some of the issues that may be of relevance, should the Commission decide to propose a Directive
on the matter to Council and Parliament.

Insofar as packaging recycling is concerned, the Commission notes that the opinion of Member States
(as expressed so far in the Commission working groups on biodegradable waste management) on so-called
(cid:145)bio-plastics(cid:146)
is divided. While in principle recognising that packaging made of compostable plastics
fulfilling CEN standard EN 13432 on (cid:145)Packaging (cid:129) Requirements for packaging recoverable through
composting and biodegradation (cid:129) Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of