WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2676/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Transparency and openness in the sphere of justice and home affairs
C 96/132 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 (1999/C 96/189) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2670/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council (1 September 1998) Subject: EU aid programme for officials At present there are 11 different programmes for promoting various activities involving officials (training, exchange of officials, exchange of information, improved cooperation). This proliferation of cooperation programmes is not in conformity with the repeated demand for transparency, effectiveness and proximity to the general public. This fragmentation has also been criticized accordingly in many quarters. 1. What aims do the individual programmes pursue and what purpose do they fulfill? How exactly do they differ from one another? 2. 3. 4. Is a review of these programmes planned during the presidency? If so, what form is it due to take? If not, what are the reasons for not carrying out such a review? 5. Since these programmes have in part already been opened to the applicant countries as well, I have the following further question: Could the Council give a detailed breakdown showing in which of these programmes participants from the CEECs are already involved? Reply (22 October 1998) The Council would point out that the various Community programmes of actions for officials are administered by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States or the non-Member States concerned. Consequently, it is for the Commission to appreciate whether the aims pursued duly reflect needs in this area. To date, it has not submitted any proposal to review those programmes of actions for officials. (1999/C 96/190) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2676/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Transparency and openness in the sphere of justice and home affairs When they met within the Council in March 1998, the Ministers responsible for justice and home affairs issued a statement on openness and transparency. The object was to make details of measures more readily and rapidly accessible, provide regular exhaustive information to the Press, and organise open Council debates. In addition, the national parliaments were to be briefed at an earlier stage. To what extent and in what way is the Commission involved in implementing the above statement? How far 1. has the work progressed? 2. How will information (for the public and Press) be made more easily accessible? 3. What will be done to involve the national parliaments earlier in the day? 4. According to reports, the British Presidency, in collaboration with the Commission, drew up an exact list of legislation constituting the third pillar acquis, which is now to be used as a basis for the accession negotiations. Would it not be conducive to transparency to publish the list? If so, when can the list be supplied?