WRITTEN QUESTION P-0118/02 by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission. Economic and Social Committee (ESC).
Date: 2002-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Economic and Social Committee, drafting of EU law, institutional balance (EU), interinstitutional cooperation (EU), interinstitutional relations (EU)

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/25

announced that the Commission would put forward a proposal to the Council for an ad hoc budgetary-
neutral scheme to allow 600 officials to take early retirement from the Commission in the interests of the
service.

(1) OJ L 40, 14.2.2000.
(2) OJ L 56, 26.2.2001.
(3) OJ L 29, 31.1.2002.

(2002/C 301 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0118/02

by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 2002)

Subject: Economic and Social Committee (ESC)

Can the Commission assess exactly what impact the ESC has had on development of European policy and
legislation? What mechanisms are used to test the effectiveness of the ESC? What percentage of issues
proposed by the ESC are adopted prior to presentation to Council and the Parliament? What sort of
measures would the Commission support to improve the situation?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2002)

It is difficult to trace the history of the impact that the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) has had
upon Community legislation. Generally speaking,
its
suggestions are favourably received by the Commission or integrated into legislative procedures. Two
thirds of ESC opinions are either directly or indirectly taken into account in the Commission’s proposals.
This figure, whilst fairly significant, must instead be seen as more of an indication, as it includes all
decisions, even when the ESC is in agreement with the Commission on the proposal submitted. Parliament
also often takes account of ESC opinions when preparing its decisions. Furthermore, preparatory opinions
from the ESC constitute fundamental tools for the Commission’s work on very important matters, such as
European Governance.

the most recent analyses show that many of

Every four months the Commission produces a document summarising the ways in which it intends to
respond to the opinions delivered by the ESC. These documents can be used to demonstrate the efficiency
of the ESC. The results we glean from them are somewhat uneven, but nevertheless many ESC opinions do
create added value for institutional debate. The recent increase in consultation requests generated by the
different Directorates-General of the Commission, even where consultation is optional, gives us another
method by which to assess the efficiency of the ESC.

The Commission has no accurate statistics on the cases in which the ESC delivers its opinion before the
legislative procedure begins. This is because the quarterly analyses carried out on all responses are based
on content rather than on which stage the proceedings have reached. During the second half of 2000 and
the first half of 2001, the ESC delivered 72 opinions on Commission consultative documents and reports,
notably in its capacity as a watchdog for the internal market. Over the same period, the ESC delivered 109
opinions on Commission proposals for legislation.

In September 2001 the Commission signed a cooperation protocol with the ESC.

Two key measures concerning the efficiency of
implemented:

the ESC were considered and are currently being

(cid:1) improving the editorial quality of opinions with the aim of ensuring clearer comments, especially

where legislation is concerned;

(cid:1) offering the Institutions the possibility of requesting exploratory opinions and reports from the ESC in
order to advise them even before the Commission has adopted its proposals or guidelines. The
Commission has already requested seven exploratory opinions, five of which will be ready at the
beginning of the summer. Only then will it be possible to evaluate this particular aspect of the ESC’s
activities.

C 301 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

in its White Paper on Governance, the Commission stressed the ESC’s importance as an
Moreover,
intermediary and generator of contact with civil society, especially concerning legislative consultation and
reflections on the future of the Commission and the Institutions in general. Two upcoming events will
reveal whether Governments and the Institutions are ready to move in this direction: the renewal of the
ESC in October 2002, and the debates held under the auspices of the Convention on the Future of Europe,
in which three ESC observers will participate.

(2002/C 301 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0167/02

by John Corrie (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2002)

Subject: Progress of the national peace and reconciliation dialogue in Côte d’Ivoire

Is the Commission satisfied with the overall progress of the national peace and reconciliation dialogue in
Côte d’Ivoire, in particular the reconciliation forum that ended on 18 December 2001? If so, when does it
intend to undertake a resumption of full economic aid and cooperation with that country?

(2002/C 301 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/02

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Côte d’Ivoire

Since the EU belongs to the donors group that supports the planned human rights training of Côte
d’Ivoire’s armed forces, how does the Commission envisage this programme? Will
include the
combatants who have been fighting for General Guei as an extension of efforts to rebuild public trust
and promote political stability?

it

(2002/C 301 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/02

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Côte d’Ivoire

The question of Mr Ouattara’s nationality has gravely contributed to the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire.
Does the Commission think that
this issue, as recommended by the National
Reconciliation Forum that ended on 18 December, will guarantee Mr Ouattara’s natural right to stand in
the next elections?

the resolution of

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0167/02, E-0213/02 and E-0214/02
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Consultations with Côte d’Ivoire, under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement were concluded on 25 June
2001 with a decision to gradually re-launch Community co-operation in parallel with progress of the
national reconciliation process, of the fight against impunity, of the reform of the judiciary and of the fight
against xenophobia.