WRITTEN QUESTION E-2094/01 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. EU Food and Veterinary Office.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Food and Veterinary Office, seat of institution, transparency in decision-making

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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treatment in Athens (EVDAP) at a total cost of € 125,32 million. It is currently considering a request to
amend these projects to permit additional work amounting to € 10,94 million. No project was part-
financed under the Community support framework (CSF) during the 1994-1999 programming period.

The Commission has not yet received the proposals by the Greek authorities concerning drainage projects
and projects to modernise the water distribution network and combat drought in Attica to be part-
financed by the CSF in the current programming period, 2000-2006. When they are sent
to the
Commission, these proposals will be examined on the basis of the priorities laid down in the environment
operational programme of that CSF.

(2002/C 81 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2089/01

by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: Press freedom in Laos and the funding of the magazine (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146)

The Government of the People(cid:146)s Democratic Republic of Laos has a total monopoly over the written and
audiovisual media. The laws governing the media envisage prison sentences of between five and 15 years
for any journalist who does not report events in a (cid:145)constructive(cid:146) way or reports them in a way which
(cid:145)obstructs(cid:146) the work of the Communist Party. On 8 June last the Minister for Education and Culture,
Mr Phandouangchit Vongsa, promulgated a law setting out in detail the criteria which all journalists are
now obliged to respect when reporting a piece of news, and stepping up the monitoring of information
published on the Internet. Furthermore, the weekly magazine (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146), which is published in French
and is funded by the Intergovernmental Agency for French-speaking Communities, in no way escapes the
control of the authorities and its content does not distinguish it from any other publications, since it
merely prints the official French translation of texts produced by the Ministry for Information, and its
editor is also the editor of the (cid:145)Vientiane Times(cid:146) (the English edition of one of the national newspapers
published in the Lao language).

Is the Council aware that the Member States (cid:129) in the context of their participation in the Intergovern-
mental Agency for French-speaking Communities (cid:129) are funding a publication which serves as the organ of
the only political party in the country? Does the Council not consider that funding of this kind, even if
indirect, by the Member States is in blatant contrast with the Union(cid:146)s official policy of promoting freedom
of the press? If so, does it intend to include this issue on the agenda for one of its future meetings and,
more generally, what practical and effective measures will the Council take to promote true freedom of the
press in Laos?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

The Council has not been informed about the funding of the publication (cid:145)Le RØnovateur(cid:146). It attaches
importance to freedom of the press and upholds it everywhere, whether it be in the People(cid:146)s Democratic
Republic of Laos or elsewhere. Through the procedures of the Council, the concerns of the Honourable
Member have been brought to the attention of the Member States concerned.

(2002/C 81 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2094/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: EU Food and Veterinary Office

It has been decided to relocate the EU Food and Veterinary Office to Grange, County Meath in Ireland. Has
the Commission ever assessed Grange for its suitability as a location for such an institution and could the

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Commission outline the results of this survey, or the reasons why it was not carried out as the case may
be? Is the Commission, in particular, satisfied with the level of public transport available and the quality
and adequacy of facilities to cater for staff of different European Member States and their families? Is the
Commission of the view that Grange is a town?

Could the Commission explain how the choice of Grange came about and whether there were any
alternative options proposed?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

The process for determining the seat of the Office for Veterinary and Plant Health Inspection and Control
(subsequently renamed the Food and Veterinary Office) is set out in the Decision of 29 October 1993 by
the representatives of the governments of the Member States on the seats of certain bodies and services of
the European Communities (1). The first article of this Decision provides inter alia that:

(c) The Office for Veterinary and Plant Health Inspection and Control will have its seat in Ireland in a

town to be determined by the Irish Government.

By letter of 27 March 1995 the Irish Government informed the Commission that the Office would be
located at Grange, Dunsaney in Co Meath. On 10 December 1996 the Commission decided to arrange the
transfer of the Office to a building to be provided by the Irish authorities at Grange. This decision was
approved by the Dublin European Council of 13 and 14 December 1996. The Commission subsequently
signed a contract with the representatives of the Irish Government for the lease purchase of the building at
Grange.

It is clear from the Decision of 29 October 1993 that it is for the Irish Government alone to determine the
seat of
the Decision of 29 October 1993 gives
considerable discretion to the Irish Government and that it is not for the Commission to explain the Irish
Government(cid:146)s choice of Grange.

the Office. The Commission takes the view that

The Commission considers that its responsibility is to ensure that the seat designated by the Irish
Government and the facilities provided there, meet the conditions necessary for the smooth operation of
the Office. In this context it does not see the literal
interpretation of the word (cid:145)town(cid:146) as particularly
significant.

The construction of the building began in 1999 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2001. The
construction work is being carried out under the guidance and control of the Office of Public Works,
which is responsible for managing the property assets of the Irish State. The work is monitored regularly
by the Commission. It intends to occupy the building as soon as is practicable after the construction work
has been completed to its satisfaction and the building has been formally accepted in accordance with the
terms of the contract.

Joint Committee which
The Commission and the Irish administration have established a high level
discusses issues relating to the move of Commission staff from their present building in Dublin to Grange.
The Commission(cid:146)s staff are represented in this Committee. It provides a forum for discussion of matters
related to the building itself and other relevant issues. The aim is to find solutions for problems which arise
in the period up to completion of the project. One issue before the Joint Committee is that of public
transport. The current public transport service from Dublin to Grange is inadequate. Possible new
arrangements, including the provision of a new shuttle service, are therefore being considered.

It is the Commission(cid:146)s intention to discharge its responsibility in relation to the Grange project so as to
ensure that the buildings and associated services are provided in accordance with the terms of the contract
and to ensure the smooth operation of the Office.

(1) OJ C 323, 30.11.1993.