WRITTEN QUESTION P-0350/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Cost to the budget of applying the weighting factor to Community officials' pensions.
Date: 2003-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, general budget (EU), pension scheme, regulations for civil servants, residence

C 192 E/174

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

Have additional contracts been signed between the Greek State and the Attica Highway consortium? If so,
in respect of which projects, with which budget and by which procedures?

Is it legal to levy tolls on a section of this highway before the entire project is completed?

Why is the adoption of a legal framework in Greece for projects co-funded by the European Union being
delayed?

Who protects the interests of European citizens? Do any bodies exist at EU level charged with doing so? If
so, what is their view on this matter? In the case of the Attica Highway, are the interests of the European
taxpayer being protected?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the answer given by the Commission to written question P-
0239 by Mr Hatzidakis (1).

By way of a supplement to that answer, the Commission is able provide further details on the basis of
information notified to it by the competent national authorities. The concession contract for the Attica
highway, which entered into force on 6 March 2000 for a period of 23 years, gives the concessionaire the
possibility of levying tolls on sections of the highway as soon as these are completed and open to the
public. The concessionaire does not necessarily have to wait for the entire project covered by the
concession contract to be completed. The Greek authorities have, moreover, told the Commission that the
project is expected to be completely finished by the end of 2003, within the contractual time limits.

The implementation of operations part-financed by the Structural Funds is mainly a matter for, and the
responsibility of, the Member States. In Greece, the relevant basic legal framework is Law 2860/2000 on
the management, follow-up and supervision of the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework, which
was adopted in November 2000.

The social and economic advantages to be gained from the Attica highway are seen in a positive light both
by the national authorities and the European Investment Bank, which is acting for the project in its
capacity as the Commission’s consultant.

(1) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 200.

(2003/C 192 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0350/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Cost to the budget of applying the weighting factor to Community officials’ pensions

At present a variable weighting factor is applied to the pensions paid to former Community officials on
the basis of their place of residence, with the base weighting being 100 for Belgium. In its proposal for a
regulation amending the Staff Regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European
Communities, the Commission has suggested that this weighting be adjusted.

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/175

Could the Commission indicate:

1. what the budgetary savings would have been for the financial year 2002 had these weighting factors

not been applied;

2. what the costs to the 2004 budget would be if:

(a) no weightings are applied;

(b)

the Commission’s proposal is implemented;

(c)

the current system continues to be applied?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

As the Honourable Member will know, the variable weighting factor (the ‘correction co-efficient’)
provided for in the Staff Regulations of the EU Civil Service.

is

In answer to his specific questions:

1.

2.

If correction coefficients had not applied in 2002,
the net budget savings would have been
EUR 39,4 million (EUR 44,7 million deriving from a reduction in expenditure and EUR 5,3 million
from a reduction in revenue).

In the three scenarios suggested in the question, the costs (expenditure minus revenues) of correction
coefficients in 2004 would be:

(a) Zero if no weightings were applied. However, since Pensioners’ legitimate expectations would
there could be a cost of up to

‘acquired rights’, (1)

seem to require the protection of
EUR 36 million to the budget.

(b)

If the Commission’s proposal, including the proposed transitional measures (2), is implemented,
the cost will be EUR 38 million.

(c)

If the current system was to continue to be applied, the cost would be EUR 42 million.

The Honourable Member is aware that this issue is receiving in-depth consideration in the Parliament and
in Council in the course of deliberations on proposals to make modernising amendments to the current
Staff Regulations. The above replies reflect the established conditions as well as the implications of the
Commission proposals as tabled.

(1) See Article 21, Annex XIII, Commission proposal (cid:1) OJ C 291, 26.11.2002.
(2) See Articles 20 and 21, Annex XIII, Commission proposal (cid:1) OJ C 291, 26.11.2002.

(2003/C 192 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0354/03

by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Future Commission initiatives

Can the Commission state what specific plans it has for the social sector including planned measures to be
implemented in the light of the enhanced social dialogue at EU level? Can it also state what future
measures are envisaged for adoption in relation to e.g. Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (1)?