WRITTEN QUESTION E-3022/01 by Anne Van Lancker (PSE) to the Commission. Commission's equal opportunities policy.
Date: 2001-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, appointment of staff, equal treatment, gender equality, professional experience, professional qualifications

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/177

(2002/C 134 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3022/01

by Anne Van Lancker (PSE) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Commission’s equal opportunities policy

In relation to the Commission’s equal opportunities policy,

(cid:31) could the Commission explain why a man without any relevant professional experience was appointed
as head of the TAXUD-A3 unit, responsible for infringement proceedings and requiring a knowledge
of ‘the management of infringements and proceedings’, despite the fact that there were three women
candidates with the necessary qualifications?

(cid:31) could the Commission also say how many male officials are employed in the Directorate-General for
Taxation and Customs Union in grades A2 and A3 and how many women there are in these grades?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Nine officials applied for the post Head of Unit TAXUD-A-3, COM/224/00, of which three were women.
One of the three female applicants withdrew her application.

The applications were assessed by:

(cid:31) a selection panel, which concluded that three candidates, one of them being a woman, could be taken

into consideration at that level;

(cid:31) the Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA), which concluded that two candidates possessed
the required qualification; the female candidate was not one of the two (nevertheless the Committee
noted her good general qualifications);

(cid:31) the relevant Director General, who appointed one of the two candidates identified by the CCA

(naturally, in agreement with the Member of the Commission in charge).

In view of the above, the Commission fails to understand on what basis the Honourable Member states
that there were three woman candidates with the necessary qualifications and that the candidate finally
chosen did not possess the necessary qualifications.

There are currently four A2 male officials and ten A3 male officials employed in the Directorate General
for Taxation and Customs Union. Three posts in the DG’s organization chart are occupied by female
officials. There are no female officials at A2 and A3 level, but two Head of Unit posts are occupied by
women.

(2002/C 134 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3026/01

by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Infringement of the European Habitats Directive

Will the Commission investigate whether the Danish State is infringing the provisions of Article 6 of the
European Habitats Directive owing to the Danish Environment and Energy Ministry’s approval of plans for
the construction of a 3000 m2 adventure centre in the heart of one of Denmark’s most important habitat
areas (No 150 (cid:31) Klinteskoven)? Does it consider it right that the Storstrøm county authorities should
grant funds under EU Objective 2 for this purpose? To what extent is an EIA necessary in connection with
the construction of this adventure centre?