WRITTEN QUESTION P-1724/03 by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Contracts between the Commission and companies owned by Mr Ojo, such as Eurogramme Limited, Eurogramme Limited (succursale), Eurogramme Sarl and Calethon Holdings SA.
Date: 2003-05-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, Eurostat, contract, payment, services company

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/89

Is the Commission prepared to take action to ensure that through train tickets are once again
4.
obtainable, for example by bringing the whole of the former Yugoslavia within Interrail zone G (Slovenia-
Greece) or ensuring that through train tickets for Greece are put back on sale in Germany, Austria and
Hungary?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

The Commission has taken note of the increased possibilities for the travel passes issued by European
Railway Undertakings, such as the Interrail, Scanrail, EuroDomino and Eurail cards, notably the possibility
for persons over 26 years to use this card, as well as the grouping of countries into different zones.
Validity, scope and conditions of use are determined by the European Railway Undertakings and the
provisions of the CIV/CIT, and have to be left to the decisions of the railway undertakings, whose
management independence should be ensured according to the provisions of Council Directive 91/440/
EEC of 29 July 1991 on the development of the Community’s railways (1), unless Member States have
imposed public service obligations under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1191/69 of 26 June 1969 on
action by Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in
transport by rail, road and inland waterway (2), providing for other terms of use.

It should be observed though that the Commission can table proposals to determine the framework
conditions under which the market for international rail passengers services can operate, as it has
announced in its workprogramme for 2003 (3). In line with the opinion of the Parliament on the second
railway package, expressed in its plenary session in January 2003, the Commission will look at the extent
to which freedom to provide international railway services inside the Union should be completed.
in the preparatory works for the proposal for a Regulation on Passengers’ Rights and
Furthermore,
Obligations in International Rail Services,
the Commission envisages to include provisions requiring
railway undertakings offering rail passenger services between major railway stations to co-operate in
offering throughtickets on a single transport contract to passengers.

(1) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, as amended by Directive 2001/12/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February

2001, OJ L 75, 15.3.2001.

(2) OJ L 156, 28.6.1969, as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1893/91 of 20 June 1991, OJ L 169,

29.6.1991.

(3) The Commission will table a proposal for a Regulation on Passengers’ Rights and Obligations in International rail
services as well as a proposal for a Directive to gradually open the market for international passenger services by
rail.

(2004/C 58 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1724/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject: Contracts between the Commission and companies owned by Mr Ojo, such as Eurogramme
Limited, Eurogramme Limited (succursale), Eurogramme Sarl and Calethon Holdings SA

Commission services have, to date, signed more than 70 contracts with different companies belonging to a
Mr Ojo. The first contract was signed in 1996 with Eurogramme Limited (UK), despite the fact that the
company gave false financial information (confirmed by an internal audit report and OLAF) Eurostat has
subsequently signed another 52 contracts with Eurogramme Limited.

In 1997, Mr Ojo created Eurogramme Limited (succursale) in Luxembourg, of which the legal base parent
company is registered in the UK. This company was closed down in 2002. In May 2001, Mr Ojo created a
new company in Luxembourg, Eurogramme sarl. However,
in 2003, the parent company in the UK
transferred its stockholding in the Luxembourg entity (Eurogramme Sarl.) to Calethon Holdings SA (former
My-Fal S.A.).

C 58 E/90

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

the background of

this confusing situation, Eurostat apparently suspended all payments in
Against
February 2003 to Eurogramme and Calethon and has undertaken not to sign any new contracts with these
companies.

Are all payments for the contracts between Eurostat and companies owned by Mr Ojo still suspended? If
not, why not?

Have other Commission DGs suspended all payments to these companies? If not, why not?

Which contracts does the Commission currently have with any of the companies referred to above
(including contracts that should have ended but in respect of which the final payment has still not been
made)? Please specify the contract number, the contracting company (according to the original contract),
and the amount still to be paid.

How much money does the Commission still owe Eurogramme Limited?

Does not the Commission agree that, since contracts have been concluded with Eurogramme Limited (UK),
payments should be made only to Eurogramme Limited (UK)?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2003)

The terms of the Commission’s undertaking of 28 February 2003 to Mr Casaca were that all payments
under current contracts to Eurogramme and Calethon would be suspended on a precautionary basis and
that the Commission would not engage in future in any contractual relationship with Calethon Sàrl/
Eurogramme Sàrl unless it is satisfied that it complies in all respects, without exception, with the
provisions laid down in the Financial Regulation.

As of 21 May 2003, all payments for the contracts between Eurostat and Eurogramme or Calethon are
suspended on a precautionary basis.

The two conditions to be met before the suspension could be lifted were specified in the Commission
undertaking of 28 February 2003:

(cid:1) examination of the circumstances of the transaction between Eurogramme and Calethon and of the

financial and operational capacity of Calethon;

(cid:1) analysis of the amounts contractually due compared to the work carried out.

Other Directorates General have suspended all payments to the companies concerned.

A table listing the contract numbers, contractors and amounts not yet paid is sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

The Commission has contractual obligations towards Eurogramme worth EUR 292 838.

Since the end of 1996, and prior to the creation of Eurogramme S.à.r.l. in 2001, contracts were concluded
with Eurogramme Limited (succursale Luxembourg) which in the Memorial
Journal of
Luxembourg) was referred to as ‘Sàrl’. Payments for these contracts were therefore made to that entity.

(the Official

(2004/C 58 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1738/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Energy agency for Malaga

The plan to create a provincial energy agency for Malaga (Spain)
is prompted by the objectives of
promoting and developing renewable energy sources, energy savings and efficiency and transforming
traditional structures.