WRITTEN QUESTION E-2952/02 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Hearing of Pascal Lamy by the Commission's Anti-Fraud Unit.
Date: 2002-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Anti-fraud Office, European Commissioner, access to EU information, administration of the Institutions, confidentiality, corruption, fraud against the EU, judicial inquiry, report

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/135

Should the FYROM government define water management measures in the lake as one of their priorities
for assistance then the Commission would be prepared to consider to what extent the existing financial
instruments could be used to help.

Regardless of any eventual Community assistance,
the responsibility for implementing any remedial
the Commission is
measures would remain with the two governments concerned.
encouraged by the declaration ‘for salvation of the Dojran lake as well as for sustainable management and
development of Axios River and the surrounding areas’ made in Athens on 5 July 2002. This is an
encouraging sign that the two parties are prepared to work together to solve this issue in common.

In this respect

(1) Parliament and Council Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action

in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2003/C 137 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2952/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: Hearing of Pascal Lamy by the Commission’s Anti-Fraud Unit

In its answer to my Written Question E-1771/02 (1), the Commission once again ducked out of giving an
answer to my query as to whether or not minutes were kept of the meeting held on 20 November 1997
between Pascal Lamy and UCLAF officials. During his hearing by the European Parliament in the summer
of 1999 prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Mr Lamy made no reference to that meeting when he
was asked, inter alia, about what is known as the security services affair and called upon to supply a list of
all the meetings that he had held with Commission officials when he was a member of the Board of
Directors of Crédit Lyonnais.

In response to my question about the minutes of that meeting, the Commission simply answered that
OLAF did not have any such minutes. However, that does not necessarily mean that no minutes of that
meeting were kept. As the Commission is aware, when UCLAF became OLAF, a number of sensitive
documents were lost in mysterious circumstances, a situation which apparently also resulted in internal
inquiries being conducted (see my Written Question E-0963/02 (2)).

Accordingly, I am obliged to repeat the questions I asked in my Written Question E-1771/02:

1. Has the Commission checked directly with Commissioner Lamy and with the Commission officials

involved whether or not minutes were kept of the meeting of 20 November 1997?

2.

If it has not done so, will the Commission immediately and directly ask Commissioner Lamy and the
officials involved whether or not minutes were kept of that meeting and, where appropriate, what has
become of them?

In its answer to my Written Question E-1771/02, the Commission confirmed its refusal to forward to me
certain documents connected with the security services affair. According to the Commission, current
investigations must not be hampered. At the same time, the Commission informed me that investigations
initiated by order of the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office had resulted in the procedure being suspended.
Can the Commission indicate which investigations are still up and running in this instance?

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 159.
(2) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 63.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Yes, the Commission has undertaken to find out whether minutes were kept of the meeting of

1.
20 November 1997.

See point 1 above and the answers to the Honourable Member’s Written Questions E-1771/02 (1) and

2.
E-0645/02 (2).

C 137 E/136

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

investigations,
The Commission has already informed the Honourable Member of the various internal
disciplinary procedures and judicial proceedings related to the contract concluded with Group 4 Securitas.
The Commission’s lawyer lodged an appeal against the decision taken on 19 March 2002 by the Chambre
du Conseil of the Brussels Court of First Instance to dismiss the case. The Brussels Court of Appeal’s
Chamber for Indictments confirmed in a ruling of 28 May 2002 that the case had been dismissed.

As for requests for access to certain documents relating to the security service affair, the Commission has
already replied to the Honourable Member’s Written Questions E-2489/01 (3), P-3450/01 (4), E-0645/02
and E-1771/02.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) now confirms that there are no longer any investigations under
way within OLAF concerning relations between Group 4 Securitas and the Commission, and that the legal
case opened by the Belgian authorities is also closed. However, two cases related to the Security Office
dossiers are currently pending before the Court of First Instance.

(1) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 159.
(2) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 183.
(3) OJ C 115 E, 16.5.2002, p. 99.
(4) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002, p. 233.

(2003/C 137 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2958/02

by Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: Commission Decision 2002/525/EC of 27 June 2002 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC

on end-of-life vehicles

Pursuant to Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC of 18 September 2000 (1) on end-of life vehicles, the use of
lead balance weights is to be prohibited from 1 July 2003 for vehicles type-approved after that date and
for all vehicles after 1 July 2005. Lead balance weights constitute an important safety element for vehicles
by preventing wheel vibration and knocking.

Can the Commission indicate whether prior inquiries were made to ensure that alternative materials for
balance weights are available which can guarantee the same safety level as lead balance weights?

(1) OJ L 269, 21.10.2000, p. 34.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2002)

The Commission has carefully prepared Commission Decision 2002/525/EC (1) amending Annex II of this
Directive in light of an elaborate scientific and technical assessment. This assessment included a technical
study completed by an independent consultant as well as investigations carried out directly by the
Commission. The Commission also benefited from several meetings with the concerned economic
operators, as well as discussions with the Member States experts within the Technical Adaptation
Committee referred to by Article 11 of the Directive.

the following address: http://
The technical study is available on the Commission’s web site, at
europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/heavy_metals.pdf. Pages 12-20 of this study analyse the situation
for lead in wheel balance weights. This study confirms the availability of substitutes for lead in wheel
balance weight and states that some substitutes are already in use. It concludes that a temporary exemption
until 1 July 2004 seems adequate, in order to allow for the necessary adjustments and to leave time for the
‘alternative market’ to grow.