WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866/03 by Anne André-Léonard (ELDR) to the Council. The European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office of the Church of Scientology.
Date: 2003-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU institution, image, interest group, religious sect

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/149

The latter avoid presenting themselves as members of the Church of Scientology, and use satellite
organisations to infiltrate the European Institutions.

In this situation, how does the Commission handle firstly, the arrangements for selecting and accrediting
scientologist sub-organisations, and secondly, scientologist lobbying?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

The Commission has always adhered to the principle of open and transparent dialogue with all external
parties without, however, entering into any registration or accreditation system.

This has been emphasised in several documents: the Communication ‘An open and structured dialogue
between the Commission and special interest groups’ (1), the White Paper on Administrative Reform (2),
White Paper on European Governance (3) and, the latest, Communication on general principles and
minimum standards for consultation of interested parties (4). The Communication on consultation aims in
particular at encouraging greater
through a more transparent
consultation process.

interested parties

involvement of

In this open functional framework, the civil society database Coneccs (5) (formerly the lobbies database),
provides information on about 700 civil society organisations operating at European level. It is a voluntary
information tool, in which the organisations can register themselves and update their information. To be
included in the database organisations must fulfil some conditions of transparency and themselves provide
information on their statutes and membership. This voluntary information is one basis on which the
Commission can assess the civil society organisations asking to be included in the database. As the
Coneccs database is intended only for information,
inclusion in the directory does not constitute an
accreditation or registration on the part of the Commission. Until now, the organisation mentioned in the
question has not asked to be included in the Coneccs database.

(1) OJ C 63, 5.3.1993.
(2) COM(2000) 200 final.
(3) COM(2001) 428 final.
(4) COM(2002) 704 final.
(5) http://europa.eu.int/comm/civil_society/coneccs/index_en.htm

(2004/C 70 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2866/03

by Anne André-Léonard (ELDR) to the Council

(26 September 2003)

Subject: The ‘European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office’ of the Church of Scientology

The setting up of the Church of Scientology’s European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office in
Brussels, and the Church’s lobbying threatened to lead to confusion between the work of the European
institutions and those of scientologists.

The latter avoid presenting themselves as members of the Church of Scientology, and use satellite
organisations to infiltrate the European institutions.

What does the Council think of the lobbying practices of Scientology, which uses religion as a commercial
product?

C 70 E/150

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Reply

(8 December 2003)

The Council has not discussed the question raised by the Honourable Member.

(2004/C 70 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2870/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(26 September 2003)

Subject: Judicial inquiry into the use of funding from the Region of Lombardy for vocational training

Knowing that:

(cid:1) a judicial

inquiry is under way into the use made of funding from the Region of Lombardy for

vocational training;

(cid:1) on 17 September 2003 the authoritative daily newspaper ‘Il Corriere della Sera’ published an article

according to which:

(a)

the owners of the company Eapa (cid:1) Francesco Guerrini and Manuela Chiossi (cid:1) have been under
house arrest
since 12 September on charges of aggravated fraud involving a sum of
EUR 2,3 million;

(b) during the initial investigations Guerrini apparently claimed that he had merely ‘transferred’ pupils
from one course to another in order to ensure that even the least frequented courses were
provided for the benefit of all. His partner, who used to be the secretary of a former member of
Lombardy Regional Council belonging to the AN party and was chosen as a director of Eapa
because of her political connections, went further and confirmed that some of the courses
financed by the Region were never actually held;

(c)

in order to prove their good faith the two claim that the Regional inspectors knew about and
even approved the device of ‘filling up’ the courses by means of false enrolments from pupils and
teachers who had never actually been seen;

(d) another source of embarrassment for the Region was the statement made by a young Milanese
woman, who was the first to report the alleged fraud. Discovering that she was enrolled for a
fictitious course she personally reported the anomaly to the Region’s chief inspector in 2002.
The only response she received was an unpleasant letter from Eapa reproaching her for informing
the Regional authorities and threatening to sue her for damages. At this point she reported the
whole affair to the Public Prosecutor’s office.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of the events described and what steps it has taken or intends to take to tackle the

situation;

(cid:1) whether OLAF has been informed and whether it has launched or intends to launch an inquiry?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 2003)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is
aware that the Italian authorities are conducting a judicial inquiry into EAPA in connection with the use of
funding from the Region of Lombardy and the involvement of ESF Community funds for vocational
training.

OLAF is ready to lend any assistance it can to the judicial authorities concerned.