WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/03 by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission. The possibility for Commission translators to work in their home countries.
Date: 2003-09-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European official, administration of the Institutions, information profession, personnel administration, regulations for civil servants, teleworking, workplace

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/135

The Commission is working in close co-operation with competent authorities from Member States on the
choice of systems. The Honourable Member will understand that, for security reasons, the Commission is
unable to communicate any further details in the context of a Parliamentary question. However, the
Commission offers to inform the Honourable Member more comprehensively if he wishes to make direct
contact with the relevant Service.

(2004/C 70 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2740/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Recovery of small amounts under EU aid programmes

There have been many complaints recently that under EU aid programmes the calculations are so exact
that, in some cases, even tiny amounts such as a few cents have to be recovered.

Quite apart from the huge amount of work it creates, this results in excessively high costs. In the case of
comparable aid programmes at regional level, however, there is usually a certain discretionary margin,
meaning that small amounts do not have to be recovered.

Is the Commission aware of this problem?

Is the Commission considering organising aid programmes so that in future a certain discretionary margin
is allowed with regard to settling small amounts?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Under the system of direct management, the Commission applies the rules laid down in the Financial
Regulation (1) and the implementing rules (2) in matters relating to the recovery of its entitlements.

Article 79 of the implementing rules states that ‘to establish an amount receivable the authorising officer
responsible shall ensure that (…) g) the principle of sound financial management is complied with’. This
means specifically that the authorising officer will consider the foreseeable cost of recovery in relation to
the amount to be recovered and assess the impact a waiver might have on the Community’s image
(Article 87(1)(a) of the implementing rules).

This provision answers the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member, and the Commission’s
accounting officer regularly brings it to the attention of the authorising officers responsible for establishing
entitlements in the sectors assigned to them.

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the

implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 70 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/03

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 September 2003)

Subject: The possibility for Commission translators to work in their home countries

It has been put to me that Commission translators could be given more flexible opportunities than at
present to work from their home countries. Given modern technology, this would be perfectly possible.
Some Commission translators (cid:1) both officials and those on contract (cid:1) feel that ‘compulsory’ posting to
Brussels detracts from their quality of life.

C 70 E/136

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Aspects which are perceived as particularly problematic are the cost of housing and personal difficulties in
acclimatising to life in the big city. It may also be observed that if translators worked in their home
countries, this would cost the Commission less. More permanent residence in the home country would
also perform an important role in helping translators to keep in touch with their own culture and thus in
maintaining their professional skills.

Could translators be offered more flexible working conditions by making it the norm for them to work
from their home countries?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2003)

The Commission understands the considerations put by the Honourable Member but has to confirm that
officials working as translators have the same rights and obligations as other officials and they are
employed under the same terms and conditions of the ‘Regulations and Rules applicable to officials and
other servants of the European Communities’. They must, therefore, comply with Article 20 of the Staff
Regulations, which provides that:

An official shall reside either in the place where he is employed or at no greater distance therefrom as
is compatible with the proper performance of his duties.

As a result, to allow officials who do not originate from the country in which they are employed to work
on a permanent full-time basis from their home countries would not normally be regarded to be in
accordance with the requirements of the Staff Regulations. The same provision also applies to translators
employed in exceptional cases as auxiliary agents or temporary agents.

The Commission does not intend to derogate from this provision in the context of the introduction of
telework schemes.

(2004/C 70 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2757/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Nuclear crisis in North Korea

With a view to resolving the nuclear crisis in North Korea, negotiations attended by representatives of
North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the USA have recently been held in Beijing.

As is stated in the most recent Commission report on the Humanitarian Aid Office (1), the EU is the main
donor of humanitarian aid to North Korea, to which country it allocates much of the humanitarian aid
which it assigns to Asia.

In the conclusions issued at the recent Thessaloniki Summit the European Council Presidency emphasised
its ‘readiness to contribute to a multilateral diplomatic solution to the crisis’.

Can the Council explain why the European Union was not represented at the Beijing negotiations?

What action does the Council intend to take in order to ensure that EU representatives are involved in
future political and diplomatic negotiations on the delicate issue of nuclear disarmament in North Korea?

(1) COM(2003) 430.