WRITTEN QUESTION E-2350/01 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. JRC in Ispra.
Date: 2001-08-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Anti-fraud Office, Joint Research Centre, administrative procedure, corruption, disciplinary proceedings, fraud against the EU

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/117

The audits of Union development projects in Cambodia, and in particular the Rehabilitation and Support
Programme for the Agricultural Sector of Cambodia (Prasac) projects, are not intended to assess the overall
situation in the country as regards corruption and fraud. Their remit is limited to determining whether the
project funds have been used correctly, on the basis of effective financial management and control systems.
Many of the projects do however support the application of good governance and sound and efficient
management in the field in which they operate. Furthermore, the auditors have, in the case of the Prasac
projects, detected no instances of fraud or corruption in their execution.

(2002/C 93 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2350/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: JRC in Ispra

In 1999, a dossier prepared by Mr Augusto Fichtner, a former employee of the JRC in Ispra, was submitted
to OLAF, which pointed towards serious irregularities at the Centre pre-1997.

Can the Commission provide details of steps that have been taken to investigate this case? Has the current
or the previous Commission conducted its own investigations into the allegations of corruption and
mismanagement?

Can the Commission confirm whether a senior official at the JRC was also a managing director of various
companies located in northern Italy at this time and, if so, is this in line with the provisions of the Staff
Regulations?

Were contractors of the JRC paid on time, and were the findings of research undertaken on contract by the
JRC divulged at any time to third parties?

Answer given by Mr. Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

An administrative enquiry has been conducted within the Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) in order to verify
the allegations brought in the dossier referred to by the Honourable Minister.

Concerning the senior official at the JRC suspected of involvement in unauthorised external activities with
companies located in the north of Italy, the Commission would point out that a disciplinary procedure had
already been opened before the dossier concerning this case was produced. It was shown that the senior
official was in fact involved in such activities. In the course of the disciplinary procedure, the appointing
authority (AIPN) was informed by the Commission’s medical service that, owing to his state of health, the
senior official was unable to attend the hearing provided for by the staff regulations. He died a shortly
afterwards.

As far as the other matters raised are concerned (in his dossier the writer mentions, among other things,
delays in the payment of bills caused by the behaviour of the above-mentioned official), the administrative
enquiry concluded that there was not sufficient evidence for effective action.

The results of the administrative enquiry carried out by the JRC have been communicated to OLAF
(European Antifraud Office). OLAF has announced that an examination of this dossier has not led to the
opening of an enquiry.

(2002/C 93 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2351/01

by Marie-Arlette Carlotti (PSE) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Implementation of technical and financial assistance measures for ACP banana producers

In 1999 the European Union adopted a set of technical and financial assistance measures for a period of
ten years (until 2008) in favour of traditional ACP banana suppliers (Council Regulation (EC) 856/1999 (1)
and Commission Regulation (EC) 1609/1999 (2)) to improve their competitiveness and promote their
adjustment to new market conditions which will enter into force in 2006.