WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3529/97 by José BARROS MOURA to the Commission. The Pintasilgo report
C 187/16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 6. 98 Given the differences that exist in the standards of commercial conduct operating within the EU, what can the European Union do to ensure that all Member States discourage bribery and corruption by firms operating within their territories and in their international operations? What can the European Union do to encourage all Member States to make bribery a criminal and civil offence, and to end tax breaks for bribery? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998) The Commission is giving its full attention to the problem raised by the Honourable Member. It sent a communication to the Council and Parliament in May 1997 on áa Union policy against corruptioní (1), the aim of which is to frame an anti-corruption strategy both within and outside the Community. It analyses the problems of corruption and criminal law and the tax deductibility of bribes and proposes practical measures. In addition it addresses the peculiar problems of corruption in external aid and cooperation. In its development cooperation policy the Commission is continuing work on combating corruption, notably by preparing a communication on good governance as part of the implementation of Article 5 of the fourth Lome· Convention and by seeking to strengthen the anti-corruption clauses in the Commissionís contractual links with aid recipients and bodies implementing aid programmes. This work is being coordinated by the OECD, the World Bank and the IMF. A Council common position of 6 October 1997 was adopted on the strength of Article K3 on the Treaty of European Union concerning negotiations on corruption within the Council of Europe and the OECD (2). The negotiation of an OECD convention on the fight against corruption by foreign officials in international commercial transactions, was completed on 20 November 1997. (1) COM (97) 192 final. (2) OJ L 279, 13. 10. 1997. (98/C 187/25) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3529/97 by Jose· Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission (12 November 1997) Subject: The Pintasilgo report In his reply to my Written Question E-2402/97 (1) Commissioner Flynn has failed to answer question 2 on whether the proposals set out in the Pintasilgo report have had any substantial impact on EU social policy. Will he now rectify this omission? (1) OJ C 82, 17. 3. 1998, p. 70. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (8 January 1998) The Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that it will continue in 1998 its reflections on the future of fundamental rights at Community level. This work will certainly take into account the recommenda- tions drafted by the committee chaired by Mrs Pintasilgo