WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/02 by Jo Leinen (PSE) to the Council. Bank guarantees for non-governmental organisations supporting Russian media as part of the TACIS programme.
Date: 2002-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU programme, Russia, aid system, company constituted under civil law, democratisation, guarantee, non-governmental organisation, press, technical cooperation

C 155 E/82

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Article 2 of which stipulates that under normal or foreseeable conditions of use such materials and articles
must not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in quantities that could:

(cid:1) endanger human health,

(cid:1) bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs or a deterioration in their

organoleptic characteristics.

The use of certain epoxy derivatives, notably of BADGE, BFDGE and NOGE, in materials and articles
intended to come into contact with foodstuffs is regulated by Commission Directive 2002/16/EC of
20 February 2002 on the use of certain epoxy derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into
contact with foodstuffs. Consumer health is protected provided that the producers of the epoxy resins
comply with the provisions of Directive 2002/16/EC.

Therefore, the Commission considers that any material or article which complies with these Directives can
be used for the storage of any type of food and this applies to concrete containers.

Article 37 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2392/89 laying down general rules for the description and
presentation of wines and grape musts (2) sets rules applying to the storage of wines and musts that do not
specify any particular nature or composition for the inner surfaces of storage containers. Nor is there any
more precise Community rule elsewhere.

The disagreement between the Italian authorities and the Ecocert organisation does not point to a need for
further European arrangements on the use of epoxy derivatives, as their use in materials and articles
intended to come into contact with food is regulated at Community level in Directive 2002/16/EC.

(1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.
(2) OJ L 232, 9.8.1989.

(2003/C 155 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/02

by Jo Leinen (PSE) to the Council

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Bank guarantees for non-governmental organisations supporting Russian media as part of the

TACIS programme

TACIS service contracts provide for bank guarantees for Commission funding in terms of the scale of the
contract. This means that non-governmental organisations, working without profit, are in practice
excluded from these invitations to tender. Is this in line with the Commission and Parliament’s efforts to
promote civil society and make use of the expertise of NGOs in relevant projects?

The case in question concerns projects for promoting democracy and human rights in Russia, carried out
in accordance with the general Tacis rules. NGOs are generally speaking not able to obtain loans or bank
guarantees in the EUR 700 000 to EUR 2 million bracket. This would automatically exclude NGOs from
such projects. Can the Council remedy this situation?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

TACIS assistance will be totally effective only if progress is made towards the establishment of free and
open democratic societies in which human rights are respected. The development of civil society is one of
the cooperation priorities financed by the TACIS Programme.

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/83

Non-governmental organisations certainly have their place in projects for the development of democracy
and human rights in Russia. The management of actions financed under the TACIS Programme is a matter
for the Commission, which must abide by the TACIS Regulation but also by the Financial Regulation
applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, and in particular the principles of found
financial management, economy and profitability.

It is for the Commission to provide explanations concerning the rules governing such invitations to tender,
and in particular on the bank guarantees required.

(2003/C 155 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3060/02

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(25 October 2002)

Subject: European Convention

In an interview published in the Financial Times on 7 October 2002, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, chairman of
the Convention on the Future of Europe, which has a remit to draft a European Constitution, stressed that
he was opposed to any increase in the powers of the Commission and was in favour of
‘greater
cooperation between the governments’ of
the Member States, which must remain sovereign. This
unmistakably shows that the chairman of the Convention advocates a confederative model.

Does this confederationist approach espoused by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing coincide with the Council’s
approach?

What is the Council’s view of the suggestion by the chairman of the Convention that the name ‘European
Union’ could possibly be replaced with the name ‘United Europe’, which according to Valéry Giscard
d’Estaing would be ‘closer to the citizens’?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

The Council never comments on statements made to the press. It has not taken a view on the discussions
currently underway within the Convention, nor would it be appropriate for it to do so. The choice of a
model for a future Europe or the suggestion of a possible change to the name of the European Union were
put forward by the President of the Convention on his own initiative. The Council has neither discussed
nor taken a view on these issues.

(2003/C 155 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3061/02

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Commission officials on leave

The Bulletin Quotidien Europe 8308 of 30 September 2002 contained a report on some Commission
officials who were granted leave of absence for ‘personal reasons’, only to end up working for a lobby
company. This same company was to have received a EUR 23 million contract from the Commission, but
this has been put on hold for the time being.

This case raises a number of questions:

(cid:1) Under what conditions is it possible to obtain leave for personal reasons at the Commission? Is it
possible in principle to be granted leave repeatedly and return to the Commission only for short
periods at a time?

(cid:1) How long do officials have a right to return to the Commission?