WRITTEN QUESTION E-3905/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Eurostat enquiry: OLAF task force disbanded.
Date: 2003-12-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Anti-fraud Office, Eurostat, administration of the Institutions, administrative transparency, financial control, fraud against the EU, management audit, operation of the Institutions

C 84 E/262

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3900/03 and E-3968/03
given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2004)

In order to promote sustainable mobility in the enlarged Europe, the Commission proposed a revision of
the Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) on
1 October 2003. 29 priority projects were identified in this Commission proposal on which the Transport
Council reached a political agreement on 5 December 2003. The Commission’s proposal follows broadly
the recommendations of the Van Miert High Level Group. The High Level Group examined the possibility
to include among the priority projects the construction of a high speed line between Trieste and Ljubljana
(Trieste-Divaèa). The Group concluded that at this stage it was premature for a new section to be
considered as part of the Community priority project No 6 (i.e. the Lyon-Trieste/Koper-Ljubljana-Divaca-
Budapest mixed rail line).

However the Commission would like to recall that although the Trieste-Divaca railway line is not included
as a section of the priority project No 6 in the Commission proposal of 1 October 2003, this line was
identified in the TEN-T guidelines (railway section) adopted in 1996 as a project of common interest
(see Decision of the Parliament and Council No 1692/96/EC of 23/07/1996 on ‘Community guidelines for
the development of the trans-European transport network’ (1)). The revised Guidelines’ proposal confirmed
the entire line as a project of common interest. As such, studies on this section, if they fulfil the conditions
provided by Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the
granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks (2), can be co-financed
through the TEN-T budget up to 50 % of their total cost.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.
(2) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.

(2004/C 84 E/0310)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3905/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject: Eurostat enquiry: OLAF task force disbanded

As is stated on its official web site, the ‘mission of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is to protect the
interests of the European Union, to fight fraud, corruption and any other irregular activity,
including
misconduct within the European Institutions. In pursuing this mission in an accountable, transparent and
cost-effective manner, OLAF aims to provide a quality service to the citizens of Europe’. In view of these
noble intentions, one cannot but be dismayed to hear from the lips of the OLAF Director, Franz Hermann
Bruner, that the task force which President Prodi announced had been set up to carry out an in-depth
enquiry into the Eurostat affair has been disbanded at the behest of Mr Prodi himself. Mr Bruner also said
that he had not had enough staff or resources to conduct the enquiry in a proper fashion.

Given the above, would the Commission say:

1. why its President, Mr Prodi, disbanded the task force?

2. whether, during its existence, the task force was able to carry out the task set for it, namely to conduct

an in-depth, conclusive enquiry into the Eurostat affair? If it was, what were its findings?

3. why it took Mr Bruner so long to make known the difficulties his organisation was experiencing? Did
the Commission monitor the work of the task force which it set up? If it did, how did it fail to notice
the problems to which Mr Bruner has referred?

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/263

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2004)

The mission of the Eurostat Task Force (TFES) was set by the Commission on 23 July 2003. The TFES was
required to report to the Commission on the financial circuits applying in Eurostat, the authorisation
procedures, the day-to-day arrangements for dealing with outside contractors and the remedial instructions
given by management and the action taken on these instructions.

The TFES reported to the Commission on 24 September 2003 and this report was made available to the
members of the Committee on Budgetary Control
to the
confidentiality arrangements laid down in accordance with Annex III of the framework agreement of 5 July
2000 on relations between Parliament and the Commission (1).

(Cocobu) on 24 September 2003 subject

The Commission accordingly decided on 8 October 2003 to terminate the secondment of the Head of the
Task Force and to temporarily suspend the secondment of the other members.

It should be added that by decision of the Director of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) of 18 July
2003 a Eurostat Task Force was set up within OLAF for the anti-fraud investigations which were within
the jurisdiction of the independent office. The two Task Forces worked in parallel and jointly, each
pursuing its specific objectives and with due respect for their autonomy.

OLAF considers that an administrative inquiry on top of the current judicial investigations and OLAF’s
own investigations is not necessary at the present time.

The TFES worked satisfactorily and the Commission transmitted its findings to Parliament (Committee on
Budgetary Control) as agreed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Commission.

In response to the request made by the Commission on 21 May 2003 to coordinate the various aspects of
the case, the Secretary-General set up an interdepartmental coordination group, made up of representatives
of the principal departments and cabinets concerned by the ESTAT affair.

This group met regularly from June to September 2003. The Director of OLAF was able to inform the
group of the problems encountered by his departments. OLAF was then provided with support from the
administration to install the resources required (staff and offices).

It should be noted that the Commission has considered the difficulties encountered by OLAF with utmost
attention, in particular in the allocation of resources exercises. This is done in the light of the resources
provided by the budgetary authority.

(1) When President Prodi attended the Conference of Presidents, enlarged to include the members of Cocobu, on
25 September 2003, the report of the TFES and the 2nd interim report of the IAS were made available to the
members of Cocobu subject
the meeting on
25 September were individually given an envelope containing the summaries of these reports and an information
note from OLAF providing a summary of the Eurostat affairs currently closed.

to the above condtions of confidentiality;

those present at

(2004/C 84 E/0311)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3907/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 December 2003)

Subject: Commission proposal to reduce fishery catches in 2004,

in Galician waters and those of the

Iberian peninsula in general

A few weeks from the beginning of the new year, the Commission, as it does every year, displaying
behaviour which in any other economic sector would be absurd and unacceptable in equal measure,
has just announced its proposed reduction of fishery catches in Community waters for 2004.

The Commission proposal is unacceptable for three reasons. Firstly, the massive cutback in catches and
fishing effort which it proposes (cid:1) which could lay up three hundred vessels and throw 3 500 fishermen
out of work in Galicia (cid:1) cannot be implemented by the industry without running the risk of full scale