WRITTEN QUESTION No. 619/98 by Gijs de VRIES to the Commission. Fighting corruption in international public procurement
21. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 323/55 (98/C 323/73) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/98 by Graham Mather (PPE) to the Commission (9 March 1998) Subject: Directive 91/439 on driving licences Under the provisions of Directive 91/439/EEC (1) diabetes sufferers taking insulin and seeking to renew their licences in the UK for driving category C1 and D1 vehicles will not be able to, except in ávery exceptional circumstancesí. Relevant interest groups maintain that this will severely damage the economic situation and quality of life of many individuals. 1. On what statistical evidence is this aspect of the legislation based? 2. What are the precise criteria for determining the exceptional circumstances referred to above? Is the Commission considering more general derogations from the provisions of the Directive, subject to 3. periodical medical examination? (1) OJ L 237, 24. 8. 1991, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to written questions E-113/98 by Mrs Waddington and E-539/98 by Mr Nicholson (1) and oral question H-60/98 by Mrs McIntosh during question time at Parliamentís February 1998 part-session (2). The Commission is not considering any general derogations from the provisions of the Directive. As stated in the above-mentioned replies, Member States have to decide on what constitutes ávery exceptional casesí and on the frequency of the medical examination. (1) OJ C 310, 9. 10. 1998, pp. 23 and 24. (2) Debates of the Parliament (February 1998). (98/C 323/74) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/98 by Gijs de Vries (ELDR) to the Commission (9 March 1998) Subject: Fighting corruption in international public procurement Corruption tends to play a role in the award of contracts for public sector infrastructure in developing countries. Companies sometimes are reluctant to desist from offering bribes for fear of losing contracts to competitors. Corruption could be dealt a serious blow if EU Member States were to agree that certain classes of sales would be subjected to supervised competitive bidding practices. Under these procedures, the World Bank, for example, could be asked to supervise open competitive bidding for all sales supported by EU export credit and guarantee agencies in certain agreed project categories. The Bank already has in-house expertise in handling such procedures for Bank-funded projects and could develop a fee-based service for export credit agencies. Similar screening arrangements could be envisaged for direct suppliers of equipment and services to public sector projects. In the interest of good governance, fair competition, and the fight against international crime, will the Commission explore the is idea › supported by the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs › with the EU Member States?