WRITTEN QUESTION P-0692/02 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Audit reports concerning renovation of the Berlaymont Building.
Date: 2002-03-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, access to EU information, administration of the Institutions, audit, budgetary control, confidentiality, interinstitutional relations (EU)

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/51

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

According to the obligations arising under Article 17(1) of the Habitats Directive, Council Directive
92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, the
Member States are required to draw up a report on the implementation of the measures taken under the
Directive every six years from the date of expiry of the period laid down in Article 23 of the Directive. The
reports currently due cover the first period of
the Directive (1994-2000). The
Commission has reminded the Member State delegates several times in the Habitats Committee of the need
for a timely transmission of their national reports.

implementation of

At present, the reports from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Finland,
Sweden and United Kingdom have been received. The Commission envisages taking appropriate initiatives
in order to ensure that Member States not having transmitted their reports yet, will meet their obligations
in the shortest delay.

On the other hand, if the analysis of this information leads to the conclusion that there is a failure to
comply with Community law protecting cetaceans, then the Commission will consider taking appropriate
measures to ensure proper fulfilment of national duties.

level

Notwithstanding these specific national issues, the Commission is increasingly aware that efforts deployed
the Habitats Directive in this regard may not be sufficient. Other
at national
Community initiatives might therefore be required, including an overall downsizing of the fishing effort to
reduce the pressure on the whole marine environment, and also more targeted measures aimed to avoid
significant impacts on some sensitive species, such as cetaceans.

to implement

The Commission organised in December 2001 a meeting of a sub-group of its Scientific, Technical and
Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) with a view to providing the Commission with the scientific
and technical basis for the setting up of measures to mitigate by-catch of cetaceans. The report of the
meeting is yet to be finalised by correspondence, and will be made available to the Parliament as soon as it
is completed.

As far as the results of the studies are concerned, these are reviewed and compiled by the relevant scientific
bodies, especially STECF and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). STECF reports
are regularly made available to the Parliament and ICES reports are publicly available through Internet. It is
expected that, by early summer, a new report from ICES and an extended report from STECF will become
available as the most updated information on the problem of fisheries and cetaceans.

On these bases, measures as those mentioned before could be drafted and proposed for adoption to the
Council.

(2002/C 301 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0692/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Subject: Audit reports concerning renovation of the Berlaymont Building

In Written Question P-0571/01 (1), I asked the Commission to forward the confidential audit reports drawn
up by Ernst & Young concerning the renovation of the Berlaymont Building.

In his answer of 3 April 2001, the President of the Commission informed me that the reports had already
been sent to the chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control in connection with the 1999 discharge
procedure.

The reports had indeed been forwarded by Vice-President Kinnock and Commissioner Schreyer to the
chairman of the Budgetary Control Committee on 9 February 2001, though with the proviso that only the
rapporteur for the 1999 discharge procedure was to have access to them.

C 301 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Is the Commission now prepared to remove this condition, imposed pursuant to the framework agreement
between Parliament and the Commission, so that all members of the Budgetary Control Committee may
have access to the documents, in accordance with Annex VII to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure?

(1) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001, p. 226.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2002)

The Commission considers that the reasons for which the reports were provided on a strictly confidential
basis only to the President of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the Rapporteur for the 1999
discharge are still valid.

(2002/C 301 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0724/02

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Temelin nuclear power plant (atomic energy)

(14 March 2002)

Are there any reports (technical and scientific data) based on the tests carried out at the Temelin nuclear
power plant under EU control which can be made available to MEPs?

Are there any statistics on the kinds of incidents leading to the shutdown of nuclear plants:

(a) without radioactive emissions?

(b) with radioactive emissions?

Are there any differences in the causes of the incidents in terms of shortage of materials, operational
defects or problems with safety equipment?

Which simulation models were used to assess the environmental pollution caused by the incidents,
particularly concerning the spread of (radioactive) pollution?

Are there any findings or comparisons of radioactivity measured and calculated at varying distances from
the accident?

Are there any records of effects on health or of recognised cases of illness caused by radioactive pollution
resulting from previous incidents?

What are the uniform safety standards that the Commission will require nuclear power plants to meet in
the future?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2002)

In the so-called ‘Melk Process’ regarding the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the Commission chaired
an expert group with trilateral participation, addressing 29 issues of Austrian concern. This role was part
of the good offices of the Commission offered as a mediator facilitating a bilateral dialogue. During the
work of
these
documents were addressed to the respective other party. It is therefore not at the discretion of the
mediator of a process that finally led to the settlement of an international dispute to release these
documents. The ‘Conclusions of the Melk Process and Follow-up’ reflect the agreement of 29 November
2001 reached between the Governments of Austria and the Czech Republic and are publicly available.

the expert group, both sides exchanged a host of

technical documents. Obviously,