WRITTEN QUESTION E-2298/01 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE)and Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Appointment of new Director for Directorate D in DG External Relations.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European official, Western Balkans, appointment of staff, foreign policy

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/9

(2002/C 160 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2179/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Discrimination against two-wheel motor vehicles in Greece

(23 July 2001)

In Greece the Highway Code fails to distinguish between the various categories of vehicle although they
should be treated differently depending on their technical characteristics, namely size and weight.

An example of the ensuing discrimination is the latest increase in taxation which is approximately 10 %
for cars but 30 % for two-wheel motor vehicles. Furthermore, the road use taxes for two-wheel motor
vehicles are the same as for cars which weigh five times more, while protective gear - such as helmets -
is subject to 18 % VAT. Will the Commission say whether, as part of tax harmonisation in the EU, it will
take measures to address the unfair treatment of two-wheel motor vehicles?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, with the exception of common rules applying on annual taxes and
charges for heavy goods vehicles, there is little Community legislation, or harmonisation of national fiscal
provisions, applied by the Member States in the area of vehicle taxation,
including two wheel motor
vehicles.

The standard VAT rates provided for by Community legislation are currently applied in Greece on both
passenger cars, and two wheel motor vehicles. Therefore, there is no discrimination or any need for further
tax harmonisation in this area as both means of transport are subject to the same rate of 18 %.

As regards registration and annual circulation taxes charged on two wheel motor vehicles in Greece, and
their relation to the level of the same taxes imposed to passenger cars, the Commission should point out
that at present there is no Community legislation, or harmonisation of national fiscal provisions in
application by the Member States. It is for each Member State to establish and apply national legislation
provided that they respect the general provisions of the EC Treaty.

(2002/C 160 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2298/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE)
and Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Appointment of new Director for Directorate D in DG External Relations

One of the declared priorities of the Commission’s reform is that of ensuring that promotions are done on
the basis of competence and not on the basis of nationality, political affiliation or any other ‘casual’
combination. This concept is reiterated in the Infonote No 9/2001 of the DG External Relations, adopted
on 3 July 2001.

It would therefore be important to know what is the precise reason why the Commission made a notable
exception to this principle when appointing the new Director for Directorate D in DG External Relations,
Mr. Reinhard Priebe. In the ‘Inside DG External Relations’ Issue of April, May, June 2001 there is an
interesting interview of M. Priebe in which, with disarming sincerity, he admits to never having worked in
the area of external relations before, and that it is ‘by chance’ that he moved to the Western Balkans
Directorate.

C 160 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

Can the Commission indicate on the basis of which precise criteria Mr Priebe was nominated, since by his
own admission he has no experience in external relations - let alone in Western Balkans - and since this
openly contradicts its internal rules?

Does the Commission not believe that there are in its own services enough competent persons to cover
such a delicate post in this particularly difficult time in relations between the EU and the Western Balkans?

Does the Commission not consider that it is particularly inconvenient for its prestige and credibility to
appoint ‘by chance’ as Director a person with no relevant background - even if there are no reason to
doubt his professional qualities on other important issues of the Commission’s work?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2001)

The Commission makes senior management appointments on the basis of a number of criteria. In the case
of the recent vacancy for the post of Director, Western Balkans, the selection criteria included proven
management and negotiating experience, ability to develop complex programmes in a rapidly changing
environment, previous experience of
relations, as well as good organisational and
communication skills.

international

The candidate chosen for the post, after a series of interviews, was considered to have the best range of
experience and skills needed for this challenging position. Previous experience in an External Relations
Directorate General (DG) was not a requirement for the post and the other factors mentioned above were
considered more important in terms of the work to be done with the countries of the region. The
appointment in question was made therefore, not ‘by chance’ but after a careful selection procedure in the
course of which the Commission did not make any exception to its rules. The procedure was established
precisely to ensure that the best available competence from within the services of the Commission can be
identified and selected for the challenging positions like this one.

(2002/C 160 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2317/01

by Maria Carrilho (PSE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Cape Verde

Paragraph 15 of Parliament’s resolution on the Commission communication to the Council and the
European Parliament on the development of the external service, adopted in plenary on 14 June 2001,
refers to the need to ‘maintain delegations in those countries which play a positive role in encouraging
in the regional context concerned’. The Commission
democracy and respect
communication on the development of the external service of 3 July 2001 nevertheless refers to the
possibility of converting the delegation in Cape Verde into an information office.

for human rights

What are the Commission’s plans regarding its delegation in Cape Verde?

Is the Commission aware that, if it makes its representation in Cape Verde dependent on the delegation in
Senegal, this will have political significance in the region and will be a negative development for Cape
Verde?