WRITTEN QUESTION P-3771/02 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Threat of terrorist attack.
Date: 2002-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU institution, professional qualifications, public safety, terrorism

C 161 E/140

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3771/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2002)

Subject: Threat of terrorist attack

Given the serious concerns about possible terrorist attacks on EU Institutions:

(cid:1) What is the Commission’s assessment of the security risk and how does the Commission propose to

improve security given the real possibility of terrorist attacks on EU Institutions?

(cid:1) Could the Commission give the following details about the team in charge of security for the EU
Institutions including their background and credentials: how long have these employees held their
positions for and what is their former experience?

(cid:1) When were the heads of security for the EU Institutions put in place?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

The Honourable Member will understand that the Commission cannot provide detailed information on
specific measures taken to improve security without taking the risk of compromising that security. The
situation created by the murderous attacks on the USA on 11 September 2001 did, however, prompt the
Commission to undertake a full review of its security arrangements. That review led to tightened security
rules and practices which are still in force.

The Commission is only responsible for the security of its own personnel, buildings and assets. The
Honourable Member will therefore have to seek information relating to the other Institutions from the
relevant administrations. Naturally,
the Commission’s Security Directorate has close interinstitutional
relations with the security offices of other Union Institutions.

This Directorate is within the Directorate General for Personnel and Administration and is responsible for
the security of all staff, property and activities of the Commission. In carrying out its functions, the
Security Directorate works in co-operation with the relevant services in the Member States and has their
assistance in assessing potential or possible threats to Commission personnel and premises. The
Commission implements the necessary security measures on the basis of these assessments.

For legal and security reasons, the Honourable Member will understand that no personal details can be
given about staff
the Commission has recruited specialists with
professional experience in security matters gained in police forces, in armed forces, or in national security
services. Those specialists are operationally in charge of security provisions.

in the Security Service. However,

According to section 11 of the Commission Security Provisions, as Member of the Commission responsible
for Security I am supported in my function by the Security Policy Advisory Group, the Commission
Security Board and the Commission security office (Security Directorate). The post of the Director of this
Directorate became available when Security was separated from the Protocol Service on 1st March 2002.
The recruitment procedure for the Director’s post is ongoing and its conclusion is planned for the first
quarter of 2003. In the meantime, a senior and professionally experienced staff member of the Security
Directorate is in place as acting Director.