WRITTEN QUESTION E-0573/04 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Start of construction work on the Brenner base tunnel.
Date: 2004-02-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, EU financing, Italy, environmental impact, noise protection, tunnel

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/811

(2004/C 84 E/0905)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0568/04

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(19 February 2004)

Subject: Final report concerning Eurostat

The Internal Audit Service’s final report on the awarding of contracts at Eurostat was announced for
February 2004.

Is that still the case, and when will the report be forwarded to Parliament?

According to information from Mrs Schreyer, the investigation into former UCLAF and OLAF officials for
neglect of duty (including in connection with Eurostat) is nearing completion. When is the report likely to
be submitted?

In the six months before the Eurostat affair became public in May 2003, the firm Planistat obtained no
fewer than 20 new contracts from Eurostat which were subsequently terminated in summer 2003. Is that
latest and last batch of contracts the subject of OLAF investigations, or is OLAF confining itself only to
events in 1999, 2000 and 2001?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the report by the Internal Audit Service
supplementing the examination of the contracts conducted in 2003 has now been finalised. Internal Audit
Service reports are normally intended for the party being audited, in this instance the Commission and its
departments.

However,
in order to help Parliament perform its supervisory work and since the Budgetary Control
Committee is likely to ask to see the report in due course, the Commission is prepared to forward the
report to your institution. It will send the report to the Chair of the Budgetary Control Committee,
Ms Theato, for the attention of Mr Bayona, who is the rapporteur for the 2002 discharge, and of Mr Bösch,
to the
fraud, on the terms laid down in Annex III
who is the rapporteur for the fight against
Interinstitutional Framework Agreement signed by Parliament and the Commission in June 2000.

The internal investigation to which the Honourable Member refers and which concerns former officials of
the anti-fraud coordination office, UCLAF (now the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF), is currently being
finalised by OLAF. Once the final investigation report is ready, it will be forwarded in accordance with
Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 (1).

As regards the contracts awarded to Planistat by Eurostat during the six months prior to May 2003 and
subsequently terminated, OLAF confirms that there is no investigation under way.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning

investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0906)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0573/04

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Start of construction work on the Brenner base tunnel

After years of negotiations, building work on the Brenner base tunnel
is due to start in 2006. This
infrastructure project will involve diverting traffic and will therefore have negative repercussions on people
living near the route, including greater noise nuisance, both during and after construction of the tunnel.

C 84 E/812

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

What steps is the Commission envisaging to protect local people during the building work?

Is the Commission providing funds for the construction of noise barriers?

Does the Commission intend to do anything to reduce the nuisance while construction work is going on?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

According to the current timetable of the Brenner base tunnel the construction of a pilot tunnel to explore
the geological situation on the entire tunnel length may start in 2006.

Any environmental impact during and after the construction phase is subject to a detailed Environmental
Impact Assessment required by the Italian and the Austrian law.

Initial environmental studies have revealed certain potential conflicting matters. The responsible environ-
mental authorities in Italy and Austria have already requested the close examination of those issues.

The measures necessary to minimize or avoid environmental nuisances during and after the construction
phase will be defined in the environmental impact statement on either side of the border. Those measures
will become part of the tunnel project and will in so far be subject to potential EU financial support.

In addition, the Commission-proposal of July 2003 to amend the ‘Eurovignette’ directive (1) suggests
explicitly that ‘any infrastructure costs designed to reduce nuisance related to noise’ be considered eligible
cost factors in calculating user fees.

As the Commission is not conducting the project, the measures will have to be implemented by the
project promoter,
i.e. the Brenner Base Tunnel EEIG (and future BBT SE) and followed by respective
national authorities.

(1) Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the

charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures.

(2004/C 84 E/0907)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0575/04

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Electioneering activities of Mrs Diamantopoulou

According to press reports, Mrs Anna Diamantopoulou plans to resign temporarily from the Commission
so that she can campaign in the parliamentary elections in Greece. The Commissioner is apparently to play
an important role in the socialist party PASOK. Press reports suggest that during the campaign she will no
longer receive her salary as a Member of the European Commission. In the intervening period, her duties
in the Commission would be taken over by somebody else.

Is it usual for members of the European Commission to leave office temporarily in order to take part in
election campaigns in their home country? Are there precedents for this and, if so, what are they?

Does the Commission regard situations of this kind as good for its work?