WRITTEN QUESTION E-0966/02 by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission. Internal Audit Service.
Date: 2002-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, audit, service

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/25

As part of the implementation of the SAAs, the issue of diagonal cumulation is currently being examined
with a view to establishing whether the necessary conditions have been fulfilled by both countries. This
examination is running parallel to the on-going extension of the Pan-European system of diagonal
cumulation to Mediterranean partners party to the Barcelona process.

The Commission supports the extension of diagonal cumulation of origin to the Western Balkans
countries, provided that the countries meet the necessary technical conditions, as it would constitute an
important element for further economic integration and co-operation between the countries and support
the political objectives of the SAp.

(2003/C 52 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0966/02

by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 April 2002)

Subject: Internal Audit Service

On April 1, 2000 the Internal Audit Unit of DG XX was replaced by the Internal Audit Service and several
internal audit capabilities in the DGs. The IAS has thus been functioning for almost two years and the
Commission should have a clear assessment of its achievements.

1.

2.

3.

How does the staffing of the new services compare to the previous one?

How many audit reports have been prepared by the new service and on which subjects?

How does this output compare to the previous service?

Is it correct that a large number of officials recruited by the IAS,

4.
including one supervisor, are
looking for new jobs or have left the service? How does this turnover compare to the previous service?
Is this a matter of concern to the Commission?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 2002)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its Internal Audit Report for 2000 and Internal Audit
Interim Report 2001, both of which have been transmitted to the Parliament. These have been up-dated in
the coming months by the Internal Audit Report 2001 which was finalised (cid:1) in common with all other
DG Reports (cid:1) before April 30th and is now being considered by the Commission. Those Reports will be
provided to Parliament in due course.

It is also relevant to draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that when I presented the Interim
Report to the Budgetary Control Committee on 20 February 2002, I covered a wide range of issues
affecting the Internal Audit Service (IAS), and answered questions on other matters,
including staff
turnover. A copy of my 20 February statement is being sent to the Honourable Member. References in the
statement which I made to the Legal Affairs Committee on 21 May and circulated to the Budget Control
Committee on 23 May are also relevant.

Any comparison with the situation of the previous internal audit unit is difficult to interpret: the previous
unit was much smaller (11 staff as against total staffing of over 80 in the new service), and was, until July
2001, part of the ex ante Financial Control Directorate General and had a much more restricted function,
duty, and outlook.

In the period since it formally came into existence on 1 May 2000, Internal Audit Service has focussed on
high-level, high-impact issues, which either affect many departments or are of critical importance to the
Institution, its reform and its governance. The IAS began its audit work with the Reform Progress Audits
of 34 services that were specifically required under the Reform programme’s Action 87. In addition, ten

C 52 E/26

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

thematic audits ranging from building management to expenditure of EDF ‘counterpart funds’ have been
undertaken. A detailed breakdown of activities is provided in the IAS Reports mentioned above. In 2001,
the IAS used 72,1 % of its resources on specific audit activities, while the remainder was used for support
activities across the Commission, and for the capacity building which is particularly essential in a new
service which will not reach its full complement of personnel until late 2002.

One supervisor will be leaving the service. The total number of officials leaving the IAS since it was set up
two years ago is six. Bearing in mind that there was a period of rapid expansion in a new service with
functions that have not been exercised in the Commission before, it is not surprising that some of the six
left because their expectations did not match those of the new service. Others left for promotion or
personal reasons. The Commission does not regard movements on this scale to be unexpected or to be a
matter for undue concern.

(2003/C 52 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0982/02

by Íñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: International adoption of Romanian children

(12 April 2002)

Romania has suspended international child adoption procedures which affect Spanish families, because of
possible irregularities.

Is the Commission aware of cases of adoption of Romanian children by families resident in the Member
States of the EU which have given rise to abuse, whether sexual or other, or traffic in organs? If so, what
are these cases and where did they occur? What steps has the Commission taken to investigate them and
inform the relevant authorities of the facts?

Is it true that the moratorium on international adoptions introduced by the Romanian Government
paralysed 1 197 adoption requests from Spanish families which were being processed? How many of these
cases have been resolved since, under the aegis of the Emergency Order of 6 December 2001?

Is it true that at the end of last year, there were 50 000 children living in children’s homes in Romania,
and that 15 700 of the children had been taken into care that year? What is the annual mortality rate for
children in these homes?

(2003/C 52 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0998/02

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: International adoption of Romanian children

(12 April 2002)

Is it true that the moratorium on international adoptions which has been imposed by the Romanian
Government has frozen 1197 current applications from Spanish families? How many of those applications
have since been processed under the 6 December 2001 emergency decree?

(2003/C 52 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0999/02

by José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: International adoption of Romanian children

(12 April 2002)

Is it true that, at the end of last year, 50 000 children were living in children’s homes in Romania, of
whom 15 700 entered such homes in the course of that year? What is the annual mortality rate amongst
children living in such institutions?