WRITTEN QUESTION P-2338/02 by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission. Shortcomings in the Commission's financial control and accounts.
Date: 2002-07-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, administration of the Institutions, budgetary control, financial management, image, interinstitutional relations (EU), management audit

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/15

European Migrants Forum

(in euros)

Year

1999

Amount committed

Budget line

52 338

B3-1010

This adds up to a total of EUR 213 047.

EUR 131 119 of this amount were allocated to the budget line A-3029, which covers part of the operating
costs of international non-governmental youth organisations.

EUR 81 928 under budget line B3-1010 (YOUTH Programme) were committed for the following two
projects:

1. Young European Federalists: ‘Putting the Euro in Action (cid:1) Options for European Youth’:

(cid:1) project number: 2001-2275;

(cid:1) amount committed: EUR 29 590;

(cid:1) type of activity: youth exchange (cid:1) programme countries;

2.

European Migrants Forum: ‘Empowering migrant and ethnic minority youth leaders’:

(cid:1) project number: 1999-1375;

(cid:1) amount committed: EUR 52 338;

(cid:1) type of activity: training course providing for practical skills to develop youth activities aimed at

migrant and ethnic youth.

As the Honourable Member will understand, Members of the Commission support a wide range of
organisations and networks, including the European Movement, that provide information about the Union
and communicate with citizens, empowering people to participate in a dialogue about European issues.
The amount of time and energy devoted by Members of the Commission is naturally for them to decide as
individuals.

(2003/C 155 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2338/02

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(22 July 2002)

Subject: Shortcomings in the Commission’s financial control and accounts

‘Finance safeguards are “seriously weak” says chief auditor’ says a headline in the weekly paper ‘European
Voice’ of 4 July 2002. The paper claims that Jules Muis, Director-General and head of the Commission’s
internal audit service, has strongly criticised the Commission’s accounting system. Mr Muis is also said to
have criticised the Commission for avoiding setting up the post of a central financial controller, thus
making it harder to create clear responsibilities.

Can the Commission send me a copy of Mr Muis’s letter from which the European Voice quotes
extensively?

Can the Commission also provide me with a copy of the answer sent by the Director-General for the
Budget?

Does the Commission agree that Mr Muis’s criticism is largely identical to the critical statements by
Mrs Andreasen, who was subsequently relieved of her duties as the Commission’s accounting officer?

Can the Commission tell me when Commissioner Schreyer complied with the call by the Committee on
Budgetary Control (letter from Mrs Theato to Mrs Schreyer of 6 June 2002) and asked Mrs Andreasen to
put her criticisms in writing so that they could be forwarded to Parliament?

C 155 E/16

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2002)

The letter to which the Honourable Member refers was based on preliminary findings of an on-going audit
and, in keeping with normal practice in organisations of all kinds, it should not have been circulated
outside the Institution. Neither the Financial Regulation nor the relevant professional standards for internal
auditing provide that preliminary results of ongoing internal audit work are shared outside the institution.
This is to protect the relationship between internal auditor and auditee, which is essential to an effective
internal audit function. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for the Commission to communicate
material which it does not consider to be proper for others to communicate.

As provided for by the Financial Regulation, the Parliament regularly receives reports by the Internal
Auditor, which summarise audit findings, recommendations and follow-up.

The internal notes referred to by the Honourable Member were preparatory to the establishment of the
Annual Activity Report and Declaration of the Director General for Budgets. As the Honourable Member
will have observed, the Budget Director General’s Annual Activity Report and Declaration, as well as the
Internal Auditor’s Annual Report, both of which have been transmitted to Parliament, contain ample
indications of the problems in the Commission’s accounting system which have been previously identified
by the Court of Auditors and the Commission and are, consequently, the subject of ongoing reforms.

During a recent meeting of Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee,
in which the Member of the
Commission in charge of the Budget and a Member of the European Court of Auditors participated, the
Internal Auditor stated that in his opinion there was a clear convergence of views on these problems
between all parties. This was confirmed by the statements made by the different parties during the
meeting.

The Member of the Commission in charge of the Budget wrote to Mrs Andreasen on 29 May 2002
inviting her to put her criticisms in writing and to substantiate one allegation in particular. Mrs Andreasen
explicitly refused to do that in an e-mail dated 30 May.

(2003/C 155 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2348/02

by Bastiaan Belder (EDD) to the Council

(24 July 2002)

Subject: Activities of Laskar Jihad in Papua

More and more rumours are circulating about increasing activities by the Laskar Jihad in Papua (Indonesia).
Even though these are only rumours, they are becoming more and more persistent. In view of the
escalating role played by the Laskar Jihad in the Moluccas and on Sulawesi, it is urgent that these rumours
should be taken seriously. There must be a thorough,
independent investigation of this organisation’s
activities in Papua. If these rumours are constantly denied, they may prove, too late, to have been true.

Will the Council of Ministers cast any light on the role of the Indonesian government as regards the
following questions:

(cid:1) Is Indonesia prepared to carry out an independent and thorough investigation on the activities of this

organisation in Papua?

(cid:1) Is the Indonesian government prepared to take the necessary measures, should it become clear that

Laskar Jihad is preparing action against Christians?

(cid:1) Will the Council urge Indonesia to take all possible action to prevent the situation in Papua from

escalating?