WRITTEN QUESTION E-3129/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Guinea-Bissau, Commission support.
Date: 2003-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Guinea-Bissau, aid policy, political situation

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/731

Is the Commission aware of the developments surrounding the primary school at Rizokarpasso? What
representations will it make to the Denktash regime and the Turkish government, in accordance with its
obligations under the partnership agreement for the accession of Turkey, to avert the prospect of such an
inauspicious future for Greek Cypriot families living in this enclave in occupied Cyprus?

(1) See page 729.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2003)

The Commission is fully aware of the school situation in the enclaved Greek Cypriot community of
Rizokarpasso. Only recently the Commission replied to several written questions (1) of and letters by
Honourable Members regarding the situation in Rizokarpasso.

Within the framework of the Council, the issue was also discussed in the last COCEN-COSEE (2) meeting in
the Council and Greece provided its own extensive information on the obstacles to the operation of the
primary school.

The Presidency has instructed its Embassy in Nicosia to gather further information including an assessment
by the Government of the Republic. The Presidency stated that the issue would have to be discussed in
depth before any form of action could be considered by the Union.

The Honourable Member will appreciate, as earlier indicated in the replies,
the Commission’s
responsibilities in the field of education are restricted and limited in accordance with Article 149 of the EC
Treaty.

that

Joint reply to E-1983/03 by Mr Alavanos and E-2033/03 by Mr Hatzidakis.

(1)
(2) Central and Southeast Europe Working Party in the Council.

(2004/C 84 E/0823)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3129/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject: Guinea-Bissau, Commission support

The media have reported that the former Portuguese Foreign Minister, at the end of a meeting with his EU
counterparts, asked the Commission to ‘focus particularly on cooperation programmes with Guinea-
Bissau’, a country which recently experienced a coup d’état and is now making the transition to
democracy.

The Commission:

(cid:1) how does it intend to examine the Portuguese Government’s request;

(cid:1) what information does it have to the way the Guinean political process is developing;

(cid:1) what measures has it taken or does it intend to take to collaborate in the transition process in Guinea-

Bissau?

C 84 E/732

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Commission is carefully monitoring the political transition process in Guinea-Bissau, further to the
reference to the EU Presidency declaration
military coup of 14 September 2003, with particular
condemning this coup.

In the Framework of the Cotonou Agreement, the Commission is currently exploring the possibilities to
positively influence developments in Guinea-Bissau.

(2004/C 84 E/0824)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3142/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Career movements of Directors-General

(17 October 2003)

Could the Commission submit to the Parliament a full analysis of all career movements of Directors-
General since 1999 including a full list of all people who have held that office for any part of that period,
details about when they first became a Director-General, any subsequent positions in the institutions they
have held, any reasons for excluding someone from the mobility policy, their ages and their anticipated
retirement date?

(2004/C 84 E/0825)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3311/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Rotation principle in Directorates-General

The Commission operates a system whereby senior officials are moved from one Directorate-General to
another after a certain period (around five years). This is based on the (in my view correct) assumption that
a certain form of mobility among officials is desirable, and that the rotation principle reduces the risk of
irregularities.

However, it has emerged from the recent publicity concerning the problems at Eurostat that the Director-
General there was no longer subject to the mobility requirement because he was approaching retirement
and it was no longer felt appropriate to move him.

How many officials are currently exempt from the mobility requirement?

Apart from impending retirement, are there other grounds for waiving this requirement? What are they?

In view of the Eurostat affair, will the Commission in future cease to exempt officials from the mobility
requirement?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-3142/03 and E-3311/03
given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2004)

Upon coming into office in September 1999, this Commission established guidelines for the appointment
of its senior officials. Under those provisions, Directors-General are subject to mobility after five years and
would not normally stay in a post for longer than seven years. The detailed provisions on selection and
appointment of Directors-General are available to Parliament and have been published for all staff in the
Administrative Guide.