WRITTEN QUESTION P-1039/04 by Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Commissioner Reding standing in the European elections.
Date: 2004-03-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Commissioner, European election, election campaign, regulations for civil servants, rules of procedure

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/277

(2004/C 88 E/0281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1039/04

by Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Commissioner Reding standing in the European elections

(29 March 2004)

Commissioner Reding will be standing in the European election, without taking any leave, for the duration
of her electoral campaign, from her current duties, as agreed with former Employment Commissioner
Mrs Diamontopolou.

Why is there no general rule that applies during electoral campaigns within the College of Commissioners?
Is it because the Commission does not think it appropriate to draw up an unambiguous rule within its
interest between the Commissioners’ duties and the
college because it wishes to avoid conflicts of
candidates’ interests?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

Current practice within the Commission requires Members to give the President sufficient notice of their
intention of standing for elective office and of their intended level of participation in the electoral
campaign. If their intention is to play an active part in the election campaign, they must withdraw from
the work of the Commission for the duration of the campaign (1). This avoids the risk of conflicts of
interest and ensures that the Member of the Commission concerned can speak and act as freely as possible,
while respecting the principle of collective action by the Commission.

As regards the situation of Members of the Commission who appear on an electoral
list but do not
participate actively in the electoral campaign, Members must decide, in consultation with the President,
and taking account of the particular circumstances of the case, whether this is compatible with their
participation in the work of the Commission.

Since Ms Reding agreed with the President not to participate actively in the election campaign, it was felt
that her standing for office would not interfere with her availability to work with the Commission and that
there would be no conflict of interests. Her undertaking means that there is no reason why Ms Reding
should not continue her duties at the Commission during the period in question.

This conclusion is compatible with the Code of Conduct for Members of the Commission, which provides
that Members of the Commission may be active members of political parties provided that such activities
do not affect their availability to carry out their duties as Members of the Commission.

The future President of the Commission will be able to decide whether, in light of experience, is necessary
to lay down general rules governing election campaigns by Members of the Commission.

(1) See answers to Written Questions No 124/68, OJ C 83, 23.8.1968, No 858/76, OJ C 70, 21.3.1977 and No 2752/

94, OJ C 88, 10.4.1995.

(2004/C 88 E/0282)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1051/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2004)

Subject: Reaffirmation of the Commission’s position on the validity of Article 15 of Regulation (EC)

No 1954/2003

On 12 March, the Council’s Legal Service [Note 7327/04] reaffirmed its position recognising the validity
of the whole of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 (1).