WRITTEN QUESTION P-0409/02 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Enron.
Date: 2002-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, European Commission, drafting of EU law, environmental law, financial institution, lawyer, private sector

C 28 E/26

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The Committee issues a single opinion, which is more of a synthesis of the various positions than the
result of negotiations between the social partners.

Clearly, because of the progressive enhancement of the role of the social partners and their desire to retain
their autonomy vis-à-vis an organisation in which they are represented, the composition and role of the
Committee are changing. This is clearly reflected in the Treaty of Nice, with the shift towards broader
representation of civil society and structures which do not essentially represent the social and economic
partners. At the same time, with the prospect of enlargement, the Committee has an important role to play
in preparing civil society in the candidate countries, particularly in those cases where the Association
Council has set up a joint economic and social consultative committee.

These will enhance the complementary nature of the two consultation processes,
partners and the Committee.

involving the social

(2003/C 28 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0409/02

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

(11 February 2002)

Subject: Enron

Following recent revelations and allegations in the USA and UK regarding political and financial links
between Government representatives and Enron, would the Commission please clarify what links, if any,
exist between it and this company?

In particular, which members of the College of Commissioners, or their Cabinets, have held meetings with
representatives of Enron or its advocates in the past five years, when did each of these meetings occur, and
was a record kept of the discussion?

What input has Enron had into the framing of EU energy policy and legislation, and what assurances can
the Commission provide that in no way was any undue or improper influence brought to bear on
Community policy by this company?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2002)

The Commission can give the Honourable Member the following information as regards meetings attended
by the Members of the Commission or members of their private offices in the course of their duties and at
the request of representatives of Enron or the firm’s lawyers:

(cid:1) in the field of competition,

in May 2000, a Cabinet member of the Commissioner in charge of
Competition took part in a meeting of the Commissioner’s services with representatives of ENRON on
current competition cases;

(cid:1) the field of energy, there has been no direct contact with the representatives of ENRON or the firm’s
lawyers. A former member of the private office of the Member of the Commission responsible for
Transport and Energy met a delegation from the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) in
December 2000, of which ENRON is one of 50 full members; the purpose of this meeting was to
obtain EFET’s reaction to the Energy Green Paper approved by the Commission in November 2000.

ENRON had no input in the framing of Community energy policy and legislation aside from providing its
views into the process, through normal contacts with the Commission services, in the same manner as all
similar companies, in the policy-areas concerned.

Moreover, the Commission wishes to emphasise that ENRON has made no financial contribution of any
kind to Commission activities.