WRITTEN QUESTION E-3329/03 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Eurobarometer poll according to which Israel is the greatest threat to world peace.
Date: 2003-11-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Israel, Palestine question, international security, opinion poll

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/523

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

In 1993 the Parliament resolution on European and international protection for Nazi concentration camps
as historical monuments (1) called ‘on the Member States, the Council and the Commission to give financial
and other support to all measures designed to preserve the special significance of the Nazi concentration
camps and to place them under European and international protection’.

The 1995 budget accordingly made provision for grants for ‘the preservation of the main sites and
archives associated with the deportations, symbolised by the memorials which have been raised on the
sites of the former camps’. This provision has been renewed every year since, and is line 15.04.01.02 in
the preliminary draft budget for 2004.

In May 2003 the Commission proposed on the basis of Article 151 of the EC Treaty a new legal basis for
the grant scheme (2) as part of a proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community
action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of culture.

Projects are selected for these grants on the basis of calls for proposals. No proposal has hitherto been
received for a project in connection with the camp or from the organisation to which the Honourable
Member refers. The call for 2004 proposals will be published in the Official Journal and on the internet.

As regards the request to contact the responsible authorities, the Commission has no competence to do
this as, by virtue of the principle of subsidiarity, the matters cited fall within the exclusive responsibility of
the Member State.

(1) OJ C 72, 15.3.1993.
(2) COM(2003) 275 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0544)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3329/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Eurobarometer poll according to which Israel is the greatest threat to world peace

According to the Eurobarometer poll commissioned by the Commission, EU citizens consider Israel to be
the country that presents the greatest threat to world peace.

Does the Commission know what the criteria were for the wording of the questions?

Is the Commission aware of the fact that in the answers offered to those questioned two democratic
countries, the United States and Israel, were put on the same level as dictatorships and theocratic regimes
that deny freedom?

What steps will the Commission and its President Romano Prodi take to prevent the European institutions
from legitimising thoughtless initiatives which may aggravate tension in Europe and the Middle East?

What steps will the Commission take to prevent leaks of information on such sensitive subjects, as in the
case of the findings of the Eurobarometer poll published in ‘EL País’?

Does the Commission not consider that Europe, mindful of the tragedy of the Holocaust, should take on
greater responsibility for the quest for peace in the Middle East?

C 78 E/524

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answer it gave to Written Question
P-3334/03 by Ms Muscardini (1).

(1) See page 263.

(2004/C 78 E/0545)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3340/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Request for verification of information concerning President Prodi

The Italian press has reported that, at least a year before the end of his term of office, the President of the
Commission Romano Prodi is taking steps to have his close associates appointed to prestige posts, giving
them all roles to ensure that their careers continue and that their high status is maintained even after the
current administration comes to an end.

For example, Riccardo Franco Levi, the President’s former spokesman, would become head of the EU’s
policy services; Michel Petite, former Head of Cabinet, is supposed to have been appointed head of the
Community’s Legal Service; Fabio Colasanti, the President’s deputy, would become Director-General of the
Enterprise department.

Even people directly or indirectly linked to the regrettable Eurostat case are to occupy illustrious positions:
David O’Sullivan was removed from the office of deputy Director-General of the Statistical Office, but is
now the Secretary-General of the Commission.

The press also claims that Commissioner Pedro Solbes is to be given a post in a Spanish public
corporation.

Can the Commission say whether these reports are true?

the fact

In view of
that on previous occasions the allocation of EU posts to persons close to
Commissioners caused the Santer administration the crisis which led to the resignations, does the
Commission not consider that similar behaviour on the part of President Prodi, if that is the case, should
be avoided, in order not to arouse pointless suspicions and so as to safeguard the transparency of the
institutions?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 January 2004)

The Honourable Member refers to appointments that, according to her information, were made at least
one year before the end of Mr Prodi’s term of office and asks whether her information is correct.

The Commission wishes to point out that some of that information is incorrect, that most of the
appointments referred to were made some time ago and that all the appointments complied with the
procedures for appointing senior Commission officials.

Mr Riccardo Franco Levi was appointed Director of the Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA) on 16 May
2001; Mr Michel Petite was appointed Director-General of the Legal Service on 1 June 2001; Mr Fabio
Colasanti was appointed Director in the Enterprise DG on 1 January 2000 and was appointed to his
current post of Director-General of the Information Society DG on 1 July 2002; Mr David O’Sullivan has
never been deputy Director-General of the Statistical Office but was Director-General of the Education and
Culture DG before becoming Chef de Cabinet to Mr Prodi and was appointed Secretary-General of the
Commission on 1 June 2000. Of these four posts, two were filled by transfer in the interest of the service
(Article 7 of the Staff Regulations) while two were filled as a result of publication of a vacancy notice
(Article 29(1) of the Staff Regulations).