WRITTEN QUESTION E-0248/04 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Roma children in Bulgaria.
Date: 2004-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bulgaria, Roma, access to education, accession to the European Union, adoption of a child, child protection, ethnic group, protection of minorities, social integration, social services

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/693

(2004/C 88 E/0711)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0221/04

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(30 January 2004)

Subject: Investigations by the Milan public prosecutor into the auditors Grant Thornton and Deloitte in

connection with the Parmalat scandal

The Milan public prosecutor is investing auditors Grant Thornton and Deloitte in connection with the
Parmalat affair. The charge relates to a breach of law 231 on legal persons, which is based on a European
Community directive. On 31 December 2003 two Grant Thornton auditors were arrested and the
investigations subsequently focused on two Deloitte and Touche auditors who were charged with market
rigging, false auditing, false company statements and aggravated fraud.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

If it has any connections with Grant Thornton and/or Deloitte, does it intend to contact the Milan judicial
authorities to ascertain the reasons for the investigations and the nature of any breaches of law and the
involvement of the companies, not least in order to protect the Community institutions against damage
from possible illegalities?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Commission is closely following the developments in relation with the Parmalat corporate failure.
However, it is too early to draw any final conclusions from this very complex case as judicial enquiries are
on going.

As far as audit work that needs to be performed by Grant Thornton and Deloitte in relation with specific
projects funded by the Commission, the Commission will continue to monitor such work so as to ensure
that it is carried out to the highest standards.

(2004/C 88 E/0712)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0248/04

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(3 February 2004)

Subject: Roma children in Bulgaria

Is the Commission aware that a very large number of children leaving Bulgaria for countries abroad are
healthy infants with at least one traceable parent and that 90 % of the total number are from ethnic
minorities? Furthermore, 65 % of children in institutional care are of Roma origin.

The 2003 EU Accession Partnership Agreement states that Bulgaria must ‘ensure the childcare system is
reformed so as to systematically reduce the number of children in institutional care and in particular
through developing alternative social services aimed at children and families’.

Could the Commission be specific about how Bulgaria’s accession process is helping to ensure support will
be given, in particular to Roma children and their families, and what steps the Commission proposes if
demonstrable improvements in the situation are not seen in the lead-up to accession in 2007?

C 88 E/694

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2004)

The Commission is aware of the information the Honourable Member provides on the high proportion of
Roma children in a number of institutional care facilities. The Commission is also aware of the situation
regarding international adoption in Bulgaria.

In the 2003 Regular Report on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession, the Commission has described the
situation and issues concerning child welfare and the Roma minority. The Commission is closely
monitoring progress in these areas and holds regular consultations with relevant Bulgarian authorities in
this respect. The Bulgarian authorities have launched efforts to reduce the high number of children in
institutional care. Reforms to the legal framework for child protection and anti-discrimination policy have
been adopted; the challenge now is to ensure full enforcement of this new legislation and the recently
adopted de-institutionalisation action plan. Furthermore, a new Action Plan for the implementation of the
‘Framework Programme for Equal Integration of Roma into Bulgarian Society’ provides specific budgetary
support for measures such as improved access to, and quality of, education of Roma children as well as
social protection of Roma families. The Commission has emphasised that determined and sustained efforts
are needed to fight the widespread social disadvantage affecting the Roma community.

The Commission has raised the need for better regulation of the rules concerning adoption, including
international adoption.
In 2003, amendments to the Law on Family provided for a clearer system.
However, further efforts are necessary to ensure that inter-country adoption should remain a measure of
last resort, used only when in the best interests of the child.

The Commission has supported Bulgaria’s efforts in these areas through pre-accession funding under the
PHARE programme. On child welfare, assistance has been provided to improve policies and the provision
of care for socially marginalised children (cid:1) including a significant number of Roma children. It provided
support and training to the national State Agency for Child Protection, the new Bulgarian body charged
with overseeing child welfare reform, and local Child Protection Departments. It also aimed to support the
Bulgarian Government in the design of alternative forms of child care and in the reform of management
and care of children in a number of selected homes. Other projects are being implemented to improve
social services for the disabled, to increase school attendance by Roma children and social integration of
vulnerable groups.

Further relevant pre-accession assistance to Roma children and their families is envisaged in the framework
of multi-annual programming for the 2004-2006 period currently under discussion with the Bulgarian
authorities.

The Commission will continue to closely monitor Bulgaria’s respect for human rights and freedoms,
including in relation to the Roma community and child welfare.

Assessment of Bulgaria’s progress towards accession and the accession negotiations will continue on the
same basis and principles that applied to the ten Acceding States.

(2004/C 88 E/0713)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0312/04

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 February 2004)

Subject: Development aid

What is the EU budget’s total contribution for overseas aid, both as an amount and as a percentage of
Gross National Income (GNI)? Can the Commission provide an equivalent figure for the United States?

When the individual national budgets of the Member States of the EU are taken into account in addition to
the contribution of the EU budget, what is the total contribution by the EU for overseas development aid,
as an amount and as a percentage of the EU’s GNI?