WRITTEN QUESTION E-3713/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Former Commission employees' consultancies.
Date: 2002-01-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commissioner, European official, business ethics, duties of civil servants, political morality, regulations for civil servants, restriction on competition

C 205 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

The need to help Pakistan was discussed at the General Affairs Council of 8 October 2001. It was
promptly taken up by the Commission which has proposed trade measures on two fronts: tariffs [zero
duty for clothing by adding Pakistan to the list of countries benefiting from the drug regime under the
Generalised tariff preferences (GSP) as of 1 January 2002] and quotas [15 % increase under the bilateral
agreement initialled on 15 October 2001].

The drug regime provides duty free access for all
industrial products included in the GSP general
arrangements (1), and for many agricultural products, some of which are not included in the general
arrangements. However, preferential treatment does not apply to sectors which are graduated. Pakistan is
presently graduated in leather and textiles, but not in clothing.

In accordance with the agreement (2), the Community increased all Pakistani quotas for the year 2001 by
15 %. Following this increase the quota levels for the years 2002 to 2004 will be calculated on this new
base level for 2001. On its side, Pakistan bound its tariffs on textiles and clothing on 17 December 2001
in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at a level
is 10 %-points lower across the board in
comparison to tariffs applied at the beginning of 2001 when negotiations started. They also have given
commitments not to implement non-tariff barriers.

that

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 of 10 December 2001 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences

for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004, OJ L 346, 31.12.2001.

(2) Council Decision 2001/935/EC of 17 December 2001 on the signing, on behalf of the Community, and provisional
application of an Agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Community
and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on transitional arrangements in the field of market access for textile and
clothing products, OJ L 345, 29.12.2001.

(2002/C 205 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3713/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Former Commission employees’ consultancies

The former Commissioner Martin Bangemann went into the private sector and became a highly paid
consultant and board member of Telefonica, the Spanish telecoms business. Mr Bangemann’s network of
contacts and the knowledge he gained as a Member of the Commission were considered very valuable and
naturally gave Telefonica an advantage. A debate started up on the posts it was appropriate for former
members of the Commission to hold.

However, former directors-general and their deputies also go on at least as often to become highly paid
consultants in industry straight after leaving the Commission, and there are also straight exchanges
between the Commission and industry. A former Commission employee is, of course, not the property of
the Commission. But there must be some requirements ensuring that confidential information such people
obtain when working for the Commission is not used in such a way as to distort competition in the
internal market after they have left the Commission.

Has the Commission come up with an ethical rule governing the jobs former directors-general and their
deputies may hold after leaving the Commission?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

The obligations of integrity and discretion that have to be observed by all former permanent officials and
other servants who have left the service are clearly set out in Articles 16 and 17 of the Staff Regulations.
They provide the main definition of ethical principles to be adhered to by former Staff.

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/57

When retiring, staff are reminded of these principles in the Vade Mecum associated with the pension
scheme, which specifically requires permanent officials and other servants not to accept any position or
task which would be incompatible with the interests of the Union. If, within the first three years after
departure from employment, a retired permanent official or other servant has any doubts about whether a
planned activity conforms with these rules,
they must notify the Commission accordingly. Such
notifications are considered on a case by case basis and the process for doing that includes consideration
by the Legal Service, the Secretariat-General and the relevant Directorates-General, particularly the one in
which the official/other servant in question last worked. The Commission only approves of a former
official or other servant undertaking an activity if it concludes that the activity planned by the person will
not conflict with the interests of the Commission.

In the context of its proposed Reform of the Staff Regulations the Commission has concluded that the
present system is not always easy to apply in practice and that, accordingly, Article 16 of the Staff
Regulations needs substantial revision. On 20 December 2001 the Commission adopted a draft proposal
includes modifications to
for a Council Regulation amending the Staff Regulations and the proposal
Article 16 (1). That proposal would require the creation of a general obligation to inform the Institution
about the activity or occupation that the official proposes to take up after leaving the service, and the
development of criteria for determining whether the proposed activity could involve a conflict of interest.

As required by law, the Commission transmitted its draft proposal on 1 February 2002 to the Inter-
institutional Staff Regulations Committee requesting the Committee’s opinion before the end of March
2002. The Commission will take due account of the opinion before formally transmitting its proposal, in
revised form if necessary, to the Council and to the Parliament.

(1) The text is available on the Commission’s reform site (http://www.cc.cec/home/admref/en/index.html).

(2002/C 205 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0012/02

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Council

(23 January 2002)

Subject: MEDA funding and culture

The MEDA I and MEDA II regulations make express provision for the promotion of cultural cooperation
as part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. To date this policy has been implemented through the
Heritage programme, which primarily focuses on the partners’ cultural heritage and architectural traditions.

In view of the current political situation, which makes mutual comprehension and the strengthening of
relations between the peoples of the European Union and the partner countries a necessity, does the
Council believe that a new programme for cultural cooperation should be designed and implemented,
dealing with the dissemination of art, history, philosophy and religion? If so, does the Council think that
new structures and opportunities should be created to enable Euro-Mediterranean cross-cultural dialogue
and cooperation to gain renewed impetus and drive and to become a factor contributing to
rapprochement, trust and stability in the region?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

The Council fully supports the Honourable Member’s suggestions. Indeed, at the Euro-Mediterranean
1.
ministerial meeting in Brussels on 5 and 6 November 2001, the Ministers acknowledged the importance of
the Barcelona Process as a relevant and recognised instrument for promoting a dialogue of equals between
cultures and civilisations. They agreed to continue to combat all forms of racism, religious prejudice and
stereotyping and to work on deepening the existing dialogue between cultures and civilisations, focusing
on youth, education and the media.