WRITTEN QUESTION P-0568/02 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Fraud in respect of dairy-product exports to Andorra.
Date: 2002-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andorra, Spain, export refund, fraud, fraud against the EU, milk product

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/27

The tone and acrimonious nature of her views were sharply criticised in Greece and many were left to
wonder whether Commissioners could attend party functions, bitterly attack eminent individuals who take
a different view from their own and interfere in the political life of their country. It should be borne in
mind that six months ago Mrs Diamantopoulou also attacked the Archbishop of Athens, the Most
Reverend Christodoulos, who held a different view from the government on the matter of identity cards
and the protection of civil rights.

This issue, in fact, has no connection whatever with Mrs Diamantopoulou’s sphere of responsibility, which
is EU social policy, and her conduct has rightly raised questions in the Member States about her future and
her effectiveness following the Commission’s recent calculation that 20 million additional jobs must be
created (11 million of them for women) to achieve the EU’s target of full employment.

What is the Commission’s view of Commissioners interfering in party political debate in the Member
States? How does it react to Mrs Diamantopoulou’s scornful description of leading intellectuals (such as the
philologist Sarantos Kargakos) who command all-round respect for their progressive and democratic
credentials as ‘nationalists’. Is such an acrimonious tone consistent with the low-key, high-quality approach
to policy-making that the Commission is seeking to consolidate?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2002)

As the Commission has had frequent occasion to recall in reply to written and oral questions by Members
of Parliament, the Members of the Commission are politicians carrying out a political function, who, while
honouring the obligations imposed by this function, remain free to express their personal opinions quite
independently and on their own responsibility.

The Code of Conduct for Commissioners states that ‘Commissioners may be active members of political
parties or trade unions, provided that this does not compromise their availability for service in the
Commission.’

(2002/C 309 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0568/02

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Fraud in respect of dairy-product exports to Andorra

(22 February 2002)

At the end of last year the EU’s anti-fraud office (OLAF) carried out an investigation in cooperation with
the Spanish authorities in order to ascertain whether or not any fraud had been committed in respect of
certain dairy-product exports to third countries (specifically Andorra), and whether or not refunds had
been paid to Community companies.

Would the Commission say what stage has been reached in the investigation and whether or not Spanish
or Andorran companies are involved in the alleged fraud?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2002)

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) was informed in March 2000 by the competent Belgian
authorities of problems involving butter marketed in Andorra exported by a Spanish firm which had
collected the accompanying export refunds.

In effect the product sold was margarine fraudulently presented as butter.

C 309 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

OLAF notified the Spanish authorities, which started an investigation in order to determine the scale of the
fraud and to take appropriate action against the persons involved.

According to the information in OLAF’s possession, legal proceedings are under way in Spain and nine
people have been charged.

The necessary measures to protect the Communities’ financial
Spanish authorities.

interests have been set in train by the

(2002/C 309 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0571/02

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 March 2002)

Subject: Free movement of patients in the Union countries

The Spanish Health Minister has spoken about the possibility of patients from the 15 Member States being
free to undergo medical treatment in other Member States.

The President of the Commission, Romano Prodi, has mooted the future introduction of a ‘European
health pass’.

In this connection, can the Council say:

(cid:1) what kind of papers have been approved;

(cid:1) whether a deadline has been set for the project to become operational;

(cid:1) whether a budget has been drawn up for the execution of the initiative;

(cid:1) what stage has been reached in the work on the subject and how it is intended to involve the

individual countries, both institutionally and financially?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The European Council,

in Barcelona on 15/16 March 2002,

1.
the
Presidency’s conclusions, welcomed the content of the Commission Communication setting out an ‘Action
Plan for Skills and Mobility’ and, in particular, and in concrete decided that ‘a European Health Insurance
Card will replace the current paper forms needed for health treatment in another Member State. The
Commission will present a proposal to that effect before the Spring European Council in 2003. Such a
card will simplify procedures, but will not change existing rights and obligations’. The Council is not yet in
situation to answer to all the request for details as, this proposal has still to be presented.

in paragraphs 33 and 34 of

Furthermore, the European Council asked for work to be continued as a matter of urgency on the reform
of Regulation 1408/71, so that the new regulation can be adopted before the end of 2003.

2.
The Honourable Member will be aware that Member States’ ministers met in Malaga on 8 February
2002 for a Ministerial Seminar on Health, during which a preliminary discussion was held on the subject
of the free movement of patients in Europe. In order to improve information and co-ordinate action
among all Member States, the Spanish Presidency has organised a further informal meeting on ‘Health in
Europe: Movement of Patients’ in Menorca on 31 May to 1 June 2002, the agenda of which included
specific topics such as, inter alia, the proposed European health card.