WRITTEN QUESTION P-0134/00 by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Influencing of staff of DG XX (Financial Control) during inquiries by the European Court of Auditors.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/181 Neither the conclusions of the European Council in Cologne nor the conclusions of the European Council in Helsinki include the implementation of a European Employment Policy within the mandate of the conference of representatives of the governments of the Member States which shall be called to amend the Treaties. (2000/C 280 E/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0125/00 by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Council (31 January 2000) Subject: Arms exports Is the Council aware that restraints on arms exports to countries such as Sudan are being evaded through licensing of arms manufacture to third country producers? What steps will the Council take about this? Reply (16 March 2000) The problem referred to by the Honourable Member has not been placed before the Council. However, the subject of arms brokering is currently being examined within the Councilís subordinate bodies. (2000/C 280 E/209) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0134/00 by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (20 January 2000) Subject: Influencing of staff of DG XX (Financial Control) during inquiries by the European Court of Auditors The web page of Renouveau & Democratieí includes the following questions to the Commission: ü Is it true that prior to checks by the European Court of Auditors on the DG for Financial Control the management of the DG distributes a list of possible questions and suggested answers? ü Is it true that staff are asked to report to management on the substance of the talks they have with the Court of Auditors? If the answers are in the affirmative can the Commission answer these questions: ü what were the ástandard questions and suggested answersí? ü does the Commission agree that this procedure is an impediment to proper checks by the Court of Auditors since it is impossible for staff to answer entirely freely? ü what action does the Commission intend to take in response to this procedure, and when? Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission (7 March 2000) The list of questions which was distributed was not ápossible questionsí but, at the request of the Court of Auditors, a questionnaire prepared by the audit team of the Court of Auditors. Also, what was put on the Intranet of DG Financial Control ü to be used as a basis for obtaining information ü were not ásuggested answersí but the answers to the same questionnaire by a unit of DG Financial Control. C 280 E/182 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Yes, the staff is required to report to management the substance of the talks they have with the Court of Auditors. The Commission must preserve the confidentiality of the work of the Court of Auditors. No, because the staff had and has both the duty to answer fully the requests or questions presented by the Court of Auditors and the freedom to express their opinion to the Court of Auditors in writing or orally. No action is required. (2000/C 280 E/210) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0135/00 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council (31 January 2000) Subject: Progress in setting-up the European Police College At the Tampere summit, the European Council decided to establish a European Police College, in the form of a network of existing national training institutes. 1. How far have the actual plans for establishing this European Police College progressed? 2. Within what timeframe is setting up of the college being planned and when is it to start work? 3. What will be the precise scope of the Collegeís activities, and what tasks is it to undertake beyond coordinating the national training systems? 4. How large a staff will be required in the Councilís view? 5. What expenditure will be involved? Reply (28 March 2000) On 14 December 1999 the Committee referred to in Article 36 of the TEU decided to commission a preliminary study on the future network of European Police Colleges. The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union is currently carrying out that study. It will be examined by the Article 36 Committee on 28 and 29 February 2000. Once the preliminary study has been examined, the next step will be to determine how the network design that is generally supported by the Member States is to be implemented in detail. The Finnish Presidency set 1 January 2001 as the target for the network to start operating. A detailed description of the networkís activities will be provided at a later stage. The tasks assigned to the network are currently expected to go beyond those now covered by the Association of European Police Colleges (AEPC). No precise information regarding staff requirements will be available until the preliminary study, or even the second study, has been completed. Precise information about the networkís financial requirements is not yet available