WRITTEN QUESTION E-2360/99 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission. Salary, allowance, retirement and tax arrangements in the EU institutions.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/53 The manifold activities of the Commission ensure that environment is duly taken into account. They include financial assistance (in particular the Instrument for structural policies for pre-accession (ISPA)) and the definition of environmental approximation as a priority under the accession partnerships. More than that, the Commission publishes practical guides for approximation with and implementation of the environmental acquis. As regards transitional periods, the Commission took the following position in its composite paper accompanying the reports of progress towards accession by each of the candidate countries, as adopted on 13 October 1999 (1): For the areas linked to the extension of the single market regulatory measures should be implemented quickly. Any transition periods should therefore be few and short. For those areas of the acquis where considerable adaptations are necessary and which require substantial effort, including important financial outlays (in areas such as environment, energy, infrastructure), transition arrangements could be spread over a definite period of time, provided candidates can demonstrate that alignment is underway and that they are committed to detailed and realistic plans for alignment, including the necessary investmentsí. (1) COM(1999) 500 final. (2000/C 303 E/047) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2360/99 by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Salary, allowance, retirement and tax arrangements in the EU institutions At the beginning of its term of office the Commission announced that it intended to carry out a thorough reform of the EU institutions in order to increase the efficiency and the transparency thereof. In so far as they lay down salary and other conditions, the Staff Regulations play an essential role in the functioning of the EU institutions, for which reason I believe they should be made available to the public. In order to provide more concise and intelligible information, data relating to officials at one or other end of their career should be given: a new-recruited graduate official, a senior judge at the Court of Justice and a Commissioner. Would the Commission therefore supply the following information as applicable to the above categories of official: 1. 2. 3. Salary scheme; Expatriation allowance; Financial assistance in respect of official travel; 4. Conditions for retirement, including retirement on health grounds; 5. Tax arrangements. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (18 January 2000) The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat examples of remuneration (including allowances, taxes and charges) and daily travel allowances for a newly recruited graduate official (A8-1) and a member of the Commission, the conditions for retirement and invalidity of officials and the conditions for retirement of Commission Members. In addition the Commission draws the attention of the Honourable Member to Council Regulation No 422/67/EEC, 5/67/Euratom of the Council of 25 July 1967 determining the emoluments of the President and members of the Commission and of the President, Judges, Advocates-General and Registrar C 303 E/54 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 of the Court of justice (1) last amended by Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 2778/98 of 17 December 1998 determining the emoluments of the President and Members of the Commission, of the President, Judges, Advocates-General and Registrar of the Court of justice and of the President, Members and Registrar of the Court of First Instance (2) (system of remuneration for the members of the European institutions); the Commission report to the Council and the Parliament on the system of remunerationí (3). The question relating to the remuneration of a judge at the Court of Justice should be addressed to the Institution concerned. (1) OJ 187, 8. 8. 1967. (2) OJ L 347, 23. 12. 1998. (3) COM(1999) 650 final. (2000/C 303 E/048) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2371/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Assistance to Greece following natural disasters In view of: ü the recent disaster (8 November 1999), affecting mainly the southern Peloponnese, western Attiki and the prefecture of Magnisia, and the damage it caused, ü unauthorised building practices, together with poor and substandard workmanship (for example on the national road link between Athens and Korinthos), and the altering of water courses (for example the Kifisos) which form ecosystems, together with the major fire which destroyed the Penteli forests in 1998, all of which have had a disastrous impact on water drainage systems. How many flood protection measures in Greece have received funding from the Commission? Which 1. if any of these projects have been completed and if so when? Was Commission funding officially earmarked for afforestation utilised and where? Have the Greek authorities submitted any proposals to improve the state of the river Kifisos which overflowed in 1997, as requested by the Commissioner responsible for the environment in response to my written question (E-0188/97) (1)? Could the Commission provide indirect aid for infrastructural measures regarded as eligible for 2. funding by the local authorities, giving priority to areas affected by the recent bad weather? (1) OJ C 217, 17. 7. 1997, p. 122. Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (2 February 2000) The Commission part-financed a whole series of flood protection measures as part of the various regional operational programmes under the second Community Support Framework (CSF) for the period 1994 to 1999. Since September 1999, the project to alter the course of the Sarrantapotamos torrent has been part- financed from the Cohesion Fund. The Community aid amounts to € 2,48 million, 80 % of the total cost. It is also worth pointing out that, in almost all the projects approved concerning sewerage, the Cohesion Fund part-finances rainwater drainage systems, thus contributing to flood prevention. As far as forests are concerned, the Cohesion Fund has part-financed (85 %) three projects, the total cost of which amounts to € 14,21 million. The work has already been completed and consisted of technical and firebreaks, forestry work to protect mountain soil against erosion; reafforestation; construction of