WRITTEN QUESTION E-1546/02 by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission. EU Commission Representation in Vienna.
Date: 2002-06-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European Commission, European official, administration of the Institutions, diplomatic profession, professional qualifications, recruitment, transparency in decision-making

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/135

Under the legal basis for the funding of the trans-European networks, the total amount of Community
participation may not exceed 10 % of the total cost of investment.

In its answers to Questions H-0203/00 (1) and H-0612/00 (2) (both by the author of the present question),
the Commission said that it had still not received any proposal concerning financing of the Madrid-
Valencia high-speed rail link from the Spanish authorities, and that it was not aware of the statements by
the economic affairs ministry of the Valencian regional government claiming that the project would be
funded almost entirely by the EU.

Can the Commission state whether it has received any proposal concerning financing of the Madrid-
Valencia high-speed rail link from the Spanish authorities, and whether funds are still available under the
headings applicable to this infrastructure project?

(1) Written answer of 14.3.2000.
(2) Written answer of 6.9.2000.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 2002)

The rail link between Madrid and Valencia, including the branch to Albacete, has been identified as a ‘line
to be specially built for high speed’ and included as such in Annex I to Parliament and Council Decision
No 1692/96/EC of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for development of the trans-European
transport network (1). Aid for it can be granted from the budget for trans-European transport networks
(TEN-T) and the Structural and Cohesion Funds.

The Spanish authorities have at present sent an application for assistance from the TEN-T budget for
planning of the high speed rail link Madrid/Castilla-La Mancha/Comunidad Valenciana/Murcia, of which
the Madrid-Valencia line will be part. The Community aid for the planning work is EUR 37 000 000 for
the period 2001-2006 out of a total estimated eligible cost of EUR 104 200 000.

The appropriations available from the European Regional Development Fund under measure 6,3 Railways
of the Operational Programmes Comunidad Valenciana and Castilla-La Mancha are EUR 249 700 000 and
EUR 156 500 000 respectively for the period 2000-2006. No project in connection with the abovemen-
tioned work has yet been notified to the Commission. However for Structural Fund assistance purposes
only projects of more than EUR 50 000 000 have to be notified to the Commission for approval.

Under Cohesion Fund rules 50 % of the available budget is devoted to transport. No request for part-
financing has yet been made for construction of this rail line.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2002/C 309 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1546/02

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: EU Commission Representation in Vienna

In spring 2002, the position of Head of the European Commission Representation in Vienna, vacant since
November 2001, was advertised throughout the EU. According to media reports, these advertisements do
not appear to have been based on objective criteria.

C 309 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

On 11 March 2002, it was reported in the Austrian newspaper ‘Der Kurier’ that the advertisements were
apparently aimed at Austrians, because extensive knowledge of the country’s political and social situation
was explicitly required. On 22 April 2002, it was reported in the same newspaper that the private office of
EU Commissioner Franz Fischler had confirmed that five candidates had applied to succeed Wolfgang
Streitenberger.

On 6 August 2001, the press reported that the most likely successor was Michael Reiterer and that the
Austrian official had confirmed that he was interested in the position.

Is it true that only five candidates applied for the position of Head of the Vienna Representation? If

1.
not, how many applications were received for the position?

2.
Can the Commission explain why there were so few applicants for the post in its Representation in
Austria, when the position of Head of the Representation is regarded as being well-paid and prestigious?

3. What professional requirements did the advertisement stipulate for applicants? Is it true that both
extensive knowledge of Austria’s political and social situation and excellent knowledge of German were
required? If so, is a similar knowledge of the national language and customs laid down as a requirement in
advertisements for corresponding positions in all the Member States?

Since 6 August 2001,

4.
long before the position was advertised, a certain person had been
favourite for the position (see press articles). How could the Commission ensure that this did not
discourage potential applicants? Does it not believe that the fact that a candidate was named so early
violated the objectivity and transparency of the advertising process?

i.e.

5.
How many applications have been received when the position of Head of a European Commission
Representation in other Member States has been advertised? More specifically, how many applicants were
there for the last five advertised positions of Head of a Commission Representation in Europe (including
positions which have yet to be filled)?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2002)

It is correct that five officials applied for the post of Head of Representation in Vienna following the

1.
publication of the post (1).

2. and 5.
Since 2000, for five similar vacancies published in the same way, there have been 25 valid
applications (cid:1) an average of five candidates for each Head of Representation vacancy. One published
vacancy, for instance, drew applications from eight candidates, another one from two. The fact that five
officials applied for the post in Vienna should not, therefore, be considered to be exceptional.

The requirements of the post are indeed quite demanding, as is always the case for management
3.
positions and especially for Heads of Representation.
the
representative of the Commission in a given Member State should have a thorough knowledge of Union
policies and Institutions, and of the political, economic and social situation of the Member State and a
good understanding of the local culture, media and institutions. Other Head of Representation vacancies
were drafted in exactly the same way.

is normal and logical

to require that

It

4.
It may happen that some names of potential appointees are speculatively circulated in the press
before a management position is filled, but the Commission could hardly prevent such speculations.
Moreover, the reliability of such information is questionable. Speculation does not, in any case, prejudge
the final decision of the appointing authority. There is no dependable evidence to suggest that press
rumours prevent candidates applying for the post and it would, of course, be impossible as well as
authoritarian to try to prevent a free press from playing guessing games about a presumed candidate for a
post. Meanwhile, the objectivity and transparency of the selection procedure is strictly maintained by the
service responsible for the filling of the vacancy.

(1) COM/031/02.