WRITTEN QUESTION E-0333/02 by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Resources for enforcing Laeken decisions on nuclear energy.
Date: 2002-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: activity report, competence of the Member States, enlargement of the Union, nuclear energy, nuclear safety, self-employed person

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/75

Reply

(26 June 2002)

The Council is seriously concerned at the extreme gravity of the situation in the Middle East and has called
for an end to the current spiral of violence and the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian people. The
European Council of Laeken set out the measures required by both parties in order to permit a resumption
of political dialogue. On the occasion of its meeting in Barcelona, on 15/16 March 2002, the European
Council made a declaration in which it stated that the Middle East is in the grip of on extremely grave
crisis, ant it called on both sides to take immediate and effective action to stop the bloodshed. The
European Council warmly welcomed the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1397, which reflects the strong
commitment of the international community in this regard and considered that it should be urgently
implemented in order to allow two States, Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security and play their
full part in the region.

This declaration gives the framework within which the European Council considers EU should play its role
together with the Parties within the framework of a two-fold objective: the creation of a democratic, viable
and independent State of Palestine, bringing an end to the occupation of 1967 and the right of Israel to
live within safe and secure boundaries, guaranteed by the commitment of the international community and
in particular the Arab countries.

The EU has called on the Palestinian Authority and President Arafat to do everything to put an end to
terrorism and the armed Intifada, dismantle all the terrorist networks and arrest and prosecute the
perpetrators of terrorist acts. It has called on the Israeli Government to withdraw its military forces and
stop the extra-judicial executions, lift the closures and all the restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people
and its leadership, and freeze the settlements.

The Council is fully committed to a continuing strong engagement by the EU in efforts to resolve the
conflict and find a just and lasting peace. To this end, continuous contact has been maintained at the
highest level with both the Palestinians and the Israelis. The President of the Council, Foreign Minister
Piqué, visited the region at the beginning of this year. High Representative Solana was there already twice
this year while Special Representative Moratinos has been pursuing his efforts on the ground. Visits by
Ministers from Member States ensure that the EU continues its ‘relay’ diplomacy.

Within the international community, the EU plays a key role in ensuring close contact and coordination
among the key players, at high level and on the ground. The EU considers resolute and concerted action
by the EU, the United States, the United Nations, the Russian Federation and the Arab countries most
concerned to be essential for progress.

Internally, the EU continues to actively explore ideas which might contribute to progress on the security,
political and economic fronts. The EU also maintains its financial support for the Palestinian territories in
order to alleviate the difficult socio-economic situation of the Palestinians, with a view to supporting the
Middle East Peace Process.

Due to the recent evolution of the situation, EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs have met in Luxembourg on
3 April 2002.

(2002/C 229 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0333/02

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Resources for enforcing Laeken decisions on nuclear energy

What extra financial and personnel resources will be committed B and over what period of time B to
putting into practice the decisions on nuclear energy at paragraph 59 of the European Council at the
Laeken summit in December 2001 in respect of (1) analysis of the safety and security reports to be
delivered to the Commission by Member States’ own atomic energy experts; and (2) the presentation of
reports by accession states on the safety status of their respective nuclear programmes?

C 229 E/76

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Reply

(25 June 2002)

The Council, as a preliminary remark, would like to point out that the safety of nuclear power plants is
not of Community but of national competence, as the EAEC Treaty does not contain specific provisions
giving powers to the Community in this respect.

Regarding the implementation of paragraph 59 of the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council
meeting in Laeken, the Honourable Parliamentarian should therefore address her question directly to the
Member States.

Regarding in particular the second part of the question of the Honourable Parliamentarian, the European
Council ‘calls for regular reports from Member States’ atomic energy experts, who will maintain close
contact with the Commission.’ Accession States do not, at this stage, fall within the category of Member
States.

(2002/C 229 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0340/02

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

(12 February 2002)

Subject: Whistleblowers

It has been argued that so-called whistleblowers can save companies (and governments) a great deal of
money by putting a stop to fraud and mismanagement. The USA, reportedly, has legislation in the pipeline
that will protect whistleblowers from negative repercussions.

Could the Commission please state the current situation and how it intends to deal with whistleblowers?

Does the current system offer, in the Commission’s view, adequate protection for both whistleblowers and
those accused of fraudulent behaviour?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

The Commission introduced a system for establishing the duty of EU civil servants to report any suspicions
of wrongdoing and for providing officials with means of fulfilling that duty in 1999 (1). The action was
motivated mainly by the sensible considerations to which the Honourable Member draws attention in his
question. The system inter alia offers protection from adverse consequences of ‘blowing the whistle’ to
officials who fulfil their obligation to report concerns about suspected serious wrongdoings in good faith.

In addition, under the provisions of the Commission’s Administrative Reform strategy, a specific Decision
on the subject was adopted by the Commission on 4 April 2002 (2). That Decision completes the current
legal framework by providing for the possibility of reporting evidence of serious wrongdoings outside the
Commission, under certain conditions. Officials who meet these conditions will be protected from adverse
consequences. A copy of the Decision will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s
secretariat for information. The Decision will apply until the modifications to the Staff Regulations that are
necessary to extend this regime to officials of all EU Institutions are adopted. For further information, the
Commission refers the Honourable Member to the consultative document on this matter. A copy of that
document will also be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s secretariat.