WRITTEN QUESTION E-1991/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Shedding of light on the circumstances relating to the organisation of the Commission that contributed to the death of Commission official Quatraro in 1993, and the secrecy surrounding the events.
Date: 2003-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European official, common organisation of markets, death, fraud against the EU, judicial inquiry, report, tobacco

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/65

(2004/C 78 E/0065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1991/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Shedding of light on the circumstances relating to the organisation of the Commission that
contributed to the death of Commission official Quatraro in 1993, and the secrecy surrounding
the events

Has an administrative report and/or an UCLAF report ever been published that clearly establishes the
1.
responsibility of the then Commission official Antonio Quatraro for fraud in connection with the EU’s
tobacco policy?

2. What does the Commission know of a network, referred to in connection with this matter by Robert
Dougal Watts, of persons within the EU institutions alleged to be involved in secretly diverting EU funds
and pursuing their own gain?

Could the Commission provide me with reports prepared by it on this matter, including the report

3.
written by Mr Hans-Helmut Wachter?

4. What did the Commission do to assist the Belgian police in establishing the causes of the death of
Mr Quatraro in 1993?

5.

Did the Commission allow, or refuse, the Belgian police access to Mr Quatraro’s office?

Did the Commission allow the Belgian police to interview the last Commission officials to have seen

6.
Mr Quatraro?

If not, what steps has the Commission taken to clarify the circumstances surrounding Mr Quatraro’s

7.
death?

8.

Has the Commission encountered opposition in seeking to establish the truth?

9. What guarantees does the Commission have that
Mr Quatraro’s work ten years ago can no longer occur today?

the problems arising in connection with

10. What additional measures does the Commission intend to take in connection with this matter?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

1.
An administrative enquiry report of Spring 1991 provided some grounds for suspecting the official
concerned of malpractice. However, the available evidence was not considered to be substantial enough to
justify immediate action. As a result, it was decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings in order to formally
examine the compatibility of the activities of the person concerned with his duties as a Commission
official. This procedure was abandoned following the death of the official concerned on 30 March 1993.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has found no elements of fact to substantiate the allegations

2.
referred to in the Honourable Member’s question.

3.
The Commission will consider transmission of this enquiry report to the European Parliament if and
when it receives a request for that under the appropriate procedures of Annex III to the Framework
Agreement of 2000 on the relations between our institutions.

4. and 5.
The Belgian police arrived at Commission premises shortly after the death of Mr Quatraro and
were given immediate and unrestricted access to the building and office where the deceased official
worked.

6. and 7.
In circumstances such as those prevailing in this case, it is clearly appropriate that the judicial
authorities of the Member State concerned investigate: the Commission would do everything necessary to
facilitate such investigation, including lifting the immunity where necessary. That was done in this case.
The Belgian police were able to take witness statements from anyone they wanted to interview.

C 78 E/66

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

There is no evidence available to the Commission to suggest that either the Commission in its initial
8.
enquiry or the Belgian police and the judicial authorities encountered any opposition in seeking to
establish the facts in this case.

9. Where substantial amounts of money are at stake in complex subsidy schemes, it is impossible for
the Commission or any other body to absolutely guarantee that fraud will not be attempted or occur. It
should be noted, however, that since 1992 the Common Organisation of the Market (COM) of the raw
tobacco sector has been profoundly reformed. Among other changes, the three mechanisms which had
given rise to fraudulent activities (cid:1) and in particular intervention and sale by auction, export refunds and
differential primia according to variety (cid:1) have been stopped. See Regulation (ECC) No 2075/92 (1).

The structure of the COM was later simplified in 1996 and in 1998. See Regulation (EC) No 415/96 of
4 March 1996 (2) and Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 of 20 July 1998 (3).

The Commission regularly carries out discharge exercises and preventive audits.

An external independent assessment of the tobacco sector is underway and will be finalised in the
10.
course of
the coming weeks. The Commission is currently working on the framework for further
substantial reform of the COM in raw tobacco which should be in line with the objectives laid out in the
Commission communication on sustainable development presented at the European Council Meeting in
Göteborg (15 and 16 June 2001).

The Commission will put forward a proposal to Parliament and Council in the course of autumn 2003.

(1) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 59, 8.3.1996.
(3) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998.

(2004/C 78 E/0066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2001/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE)
and Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 June 2003)

Subject: Radioactive discharges from Sellafield

The ‘Fisheries Section Committee’ of the International Transport Federation (ITF) has called on North Sea
states to demand that the UK stop radioactive discharges from Sellafield. Several national transport unions
have adopted this request. The problem is not limited to the UK; Cogéma in La Hague causes widespread
radioactive pollution of the local environment.

One of the isotopes that concerns the ITF the most is Technetium-99 (Tc99). This isotope is discharged
into the Irish Sea, although it is technically possible for it to be filtered out and collected before the waste
water is discharged in to the sea.

1.
Is the Commission aware of the threat to the maritime environment connected with the discharge of
radioactive waste from plants such as Sellafield and, in particular, to fish and shellfish and the consumers
thereof.

Is the Commission aware of the impact on fishermen and other crew on board vessels which

2.
frequently fish these areas close to the pollution source (Sellafield and La Hague)?

3. What is the Commission’s view of the ITF proposal that the Technetium-99 should be filtered out of
the waste water from Sellafield and La Hague?