WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3369/97 by Giacomo SANTINI to the Commission. European Community Sports Club - Euroski
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/177 (98/C 117/241) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/97 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: Combating fraud Will the Commission say which Member States of the European Union have already ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Financial Interests of the EU? Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997) Up to now, none of the Member States have ratified the Convention on the protection of the financial interests of the Community. The Commission would point out that the target date of mid- 1998 was introduced for the ratification of this Convention in the action plan to combat organized crime (1) adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 April 1997. This action plan was subsequently approved by the European Council of Amsterdam. Moreover, the Commission would observe that it is of the utmost importance to recommend Member States not only to ratify the Convention (as well as the protocols to this Convention and the Convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the Community or officials of Member States) but also to take the necessary measures for their transposition into national law. (1) OJ C 251, 15. 8. 1997. (98/C 117/242) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3369/97 by Giacomo Santini (UPE) to the Commission (22 October 1997) Subject: European Community Sports Club › Euroski The European Community Sports Club › Euroski organizes skiing weeks for EU officials three times a year in Bormio, Courmayeur and San Domenico. What is planned as a programme for the 1997/1998 season is actually a repeat of previous such holidays, since the Sports Club has been taking EU officials to the same resorts for around ten years. When I proposed a change of venue to allow equal opportunities for all European tourist resorts, I was politely told that they were grateful for my suggestion but could not change the venue as this would be unfair to their friends in Bormio, Courmayeur and San Domenico. Will the Commission investigate this matter to guarantee transparency and ensure that there are no private interests behind the choice of a venue? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1997) Under the staff welfare policy, 50 sports and cultural clubs meeting certain criteria are recognised by the Commission. The Euroski club is not one of these and therefore cannot be regarded as a Commission sports club. Members of this group are acting in a purely private capacity, and there is absolutely no ground for the Commission to make an inquiry nor intervene in their activities