WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2916/98 by Jean BAGGIONI to the Commission. Missions by Community officials and representation of the Commission
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/137 (1999/C 135/167) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2916/98 by Jean Baggioni (UPE) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Missions by Community officials and representation of the Commission At official events one frequently meets officials from the various directorates-general claiming to be ‘representatives’ of the Commission. Can the Commission explain the extent to which these officials are empowered to represent it and to express their views on its behalf? Can it also state whether these officials are required to inform the political or administrative authorities of the regions or Member States to which they travel of their presence and of the fact that they are attending these events? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1998) Each official is required to fulfil the obligations written into the Staff Regulations under all circumstances. Naturally all these provisions apply to officials on mission. The Commission specifies that any official or other servant who takes part in an official event must be given instructions by his Director-General or Director, who will determine the role to be played − observer, speaker or organiser in advance. The official or other servant in question must be in possession of a travel order, duly completed and signed, whether the mission is within or outside the Community. In the event of a mission to a non- member country, particularly where the official travels to take part in international negotiations, provision has been made for coordination between the relevant external relations Directorates. The procedure includes, among others, checking and authorising the mission in the first place and then coordination with the Commission delegation in the country to be visited. (1999/C 135/168) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2925/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: Failure by Greece to implement Council Directive 92/43/EEC (Natura 2000) The Commission has forwarded a reasoned opinion to the Greek authorities for failure to implement Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Natura 2000). The Greek authorities have proposed a list of 196 conservation areas containing priority natural habitat types and species. 1. Does the Commission know the reasons for the delay by Greece in implementing the directive? 2. 3. Is the obligation to withhold authorisation for projects with an unfavourable environmental impact in the 196 listed areas being respected in practice? If the conservation regulations concerning these 196 areas are infringed, what effective action can be taken by ecological and other organisations or individual citizens in response to this? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7