WRITTEN QUESTION E-1447/03 by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission. Mrs Beate Winkler's former employment.
Date: 2003-04-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, European official, administration of the Institutions, appointment of staff, duties of civil servants, political parties

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/199

The transnationality aspects of the proposal submitted by the IAF were also weaker than in the case of the
IRENE proposal. Furthermore, monitoring and final assessment procedures were not clearly set out in the
IAF proposal.

Finally, the total budget put forward by the IAF was significantly higher than that required for the IRENE
proposal.

The selected proposal from the Associazione IRENE is being part-financed by the Commission to an
amount equivalent to 90 % of the project’s total eligible costs. This percentage is in line with what is laid
down in the calls for proposals for the establishing of networks under other ‘social’ programmes, namely
the ‘Article 13 (cid:1) non-discrimination’ and ‘social exclusion’ programmes.

(1) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 211.

(2003/C 268 E/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1447/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(28 April 2003)

Subject: Mrs Beate Winkler’s former employment

Since 1998, Mrs Beate Winkler has been director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and
Xenophobia (EUMC).

This agency has a great deal of influence on the immigration debate in the EU Member States, partly as a
result of a number of outspoken comments by its director. On several occasions she has stated that the
Centre is considering investigating statements made by the Danish People’s Party, (Dansk Folkeparti).

The Danish People’s Party is a socially liberal party which also gives parliamentary support to Denmark’s
coalition government. Nevertheless the director of the EUMC has on several occasions described the party
as belonging to the extreme right-wing.

If the EUCM is to continue its work, it is important that its director should be a person who is capable of
carrying out objective research and not merely of expounding particular political points of view.

Could the Commission please state what training, from what training institution, Mrs Beate Winkler has
received, and what posts she has occupied since completing her training. I should like to know exactly on
what bodies, in what capacities, she has worked. I should also like to the Commission to clarify whether
Mrs Winkler was politically active during the period before her appointment by the EU.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2003)

Dr Beate Winkler was appointed Director of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
in 1998, and re-appointed for a second term in 2002, by the Management Board of the Centre, from a
short-list put forward by the Commission. Her background and experience was of course a key element
which the board took into account in its deliberations. The curriculum vitae of the Director is publicly
available on the website of
the following address: http://www.eumc.eu.int/eumc/
index.php?fuseaction=content.dsp_cat_content&catid=3e4a5843e8631

the Centre at

C 268 E/200

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

include a doctorate in law from the University of Cologne. Her
Dr Winkler’s academic qualifications,
professional background has been largely in the public sector,
including at the office of the Federal
Government’s Commissioner for Foreigners’ Affairs in Germany. Prior to taking up her appointment at the
Monitoring Centre, Dr Winkler was the managing director of the Federation of German Architects. Dr
Winkler’s curriculum vitae does not give details of her political affiliations. The Management Board did not
raise this issue during their discussions on her appointment.

(2003/C 268 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/03

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 April 2003)

Subject: Acrylamide

There is evidence suggesting that the presence of acrylamide in potato products, especially chips, could be
linked to the adding of silicone oils to certain fats for frying.

Is the Commission able to provide information concerning such a connection? Are there studies or
opinions of scientific committees on this subject? Does the Commission intend to commission studies in
order to determine the facts?

What is the level of silicone oil permitted in the EU?

What steps does the Commission intend to take in order to ban the use of silicone in fats for frying?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Current knowledge indicates that acrylamide can be formed in high-starch foods when they are cooked at
formation of
high temperatures, such as frying, grilling, baking, roasting etc. The mechanisms of
acrylamide in food are complex and the Commission is in the process of gathering information. The
interaction of certain amino acids and sugars appears to be a major route for the formation of acrylamide
although other factors are involved. Based upon current knowledge it is unclear whether the choice of oils
for frying foods would be an important factor to prevent the formation of high levels of acrylamide.

With regard to the use of silicone oil
in frying oils, this substance is equivalent to E 900 dimethyl
polysiloxane and is authorised as an additive in food. Parliament and Council Directive No 95/2/EC of
20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (1) authorises the use of dimethyl
polysiloxane in fats and oils for frying up to a limit of 10 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). This limit was
set in line with the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food. The opinion indicated that toxicological
information showed no safety concerns at such levels of use and an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of
1,5 mg/kg bodyweight was set for this substance.

Dimethyl polysiloxane is used as an anti-foaming agent and as such it affects the release of moisture during
frying. The Commission is aware that one study has indicated a possible link between moisture and levels
of acrylamide. However, the link became apparent using unacceptably high levels of dimethyl polysiloxane
which would not be permitted in commercial practice.

Research is ongoing to help better understand how acrylamide is formed in food. The Commission has
constructed a database to summarise the various research activities and this is available on the website (2).
From our current understanding of the formation of acrylamide in food, the Commission is not aware of
information that dimethyl polysiloxane at permitted levels would be an important contributor. However,
this is an area to be considered further as more data on the mechanisms of formation of acrylamide in
food become available.

(1) OJ L 61, 18.3.1995.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/fcr/acrylamide/acryl_index_en.html.