WRITTEN QUESTION E-0255/00 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. McDonald report.
C 26 E/24 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 On the information side, the first invitation resulted in eleven projects being selected for a Community contribution of € 5,5 million, the second in seven projects being selected for a Community contribution of € 7,9 million. None of the projects submitted in response to the above invitations for proposals has been carried out entirely in Greece. 2. As regards the deduction in favour of the fund for the 1999 harvest, the Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 of 20 July 1998 ü which amends Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 ü stipulates the deduction to be made and applies as from the 1999 harvest. Consequently, there is not a regulatory void with regard to implement- ing the deduction provision. (1) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (2001/C 26 E/028) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0255/00 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: McDonald report What assessment has Commissioner Kinnock made of the McDonald report, as referred to in the Sunday Times of 3 October 1999, in formulating his reforms relating to the Commission, with particular reference to (a) the allegations of fraud (b) the working mentality and has any Communities money funded the research? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (22 March 2000) The work to which the Honourable Member refers was done as a follow-up to a similar investigation on the same matter in 1993, in order to evaluate whether, and how far, the intervening enlargement or other events had altered the perceptions of Commission staff about their employer, about their own roles, and about those of their colleagues. Assessments of that kind can obviously contribute usefully to reflections on how to manage recruitment from future new Member States, or to making productive changes in personnel policy. The general conclusion from Dr McDonald was that there had been little change that was specific to Commission employees because most alterations in such perceptions are largely attributable to broad societal changes, for example on the duties of employers, the status of women in the workplace, and social norms. However, the work was taken into account in the compilation of the White Paper on Reforming the Commissioní (1). One example concerns staff motivation or working mentality, an issue which the Honourable Member explicitly addressed in his question. The emphasis put on merit-based promotion and on improved management is, among other changes, specifically related to efforts to recognise meritorious performance and to achieve conditions similar to those recommended by Dr McDonald. The áallegations of fraudí to which the Honourable Member refers in his question were described by the Sunday Times as ádark but often unsubstantiatedí. Where allegations are made and suspicions are supported by reasonable evidence, they are invariably subject to proper investigation and proceedings. Dr McDonald worked under contract and was paid accordingly by the Commission. (1) COM(2000) 10 final