WRITTEN QUESTION No. 313/99 by Klaus LUKAS World Vision Austria
3. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 348/39 (1999/C 348/047) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0223/99 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (3 February 1999) Subject: ‘World Vision Austria’ and the misappropriation of funds In its reply to my Question P-3879/98 (1), the Commission failed to answer the issues I raised in a comprehensive and detailed manner. I am therefore taking this opportunity to be more specific in, and expand the scope of, my questions concerning ‘World Vision Austria’ and the misappropriation of funds. 1. In her answer, Mrs Bonino said that the Commission had looked into the matter but that it possessed no information on the basis of which it could confirm the truth of the statements made. Has it now secured new information concerning the affair to which I refer, and has its level of knowledge changed since I tabled my previous question? If so, in what way? If not, why not? In the light of the accusations concerning ‘World Vision Austria’, has the Commission carried out a 2. specific investigation, or is it planning to do so? 3. Was pressure applied, were preliminary discussions held or were other requests submitted so as to ensure that an EU aid project for Bosnia would be entrusted to the aid organisation ‘World Vision Austria’? 4. Who was responsible, in Austria and in the European Commission, for ensuring that the projects were properly implemented in Bosnia? 5. On another occasion, the wife of Karl Habsburg-Lothringen, MEP, said on Austrian TV that her husband could provide people seeking project aid with the right names to contact in the EU. Were such contacts used, or preliminary discussions held, with a view to securing EU aid for Bosnia, including in the case of ‘World Vision Austria’? 6. Are there any plans for the Court of Auditors or for the Commission’s internal audit bodies to verify that the projects were properly implemented and conducted? If so, by what date will their reports be available? If not, why not? (1) OJ C 207, 21. 7. 1999, p. 140. (1999/C 348/048) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0313/99 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (19 February 1999) Subject: World Vision Austria We have received information that World Vision Austria has concluded contracts with the Commission to the value of ECU 3,8 million for Phare and Tacis projects in Bosnia, Romania and Mongolia. Have any irregularities ? i. e. suspicions of embezzlement and corruption ? arisen in connection with these projects? Has the Commission performed audits? Have there been systematic on-the-spot inspections of the work allegedly carried out? If appropriate, were the projects cancelled promptly and repayment of funds demanded? If so, what amount was involved? Was any offence reported to the police? If so, who was the suspect, and why? If not, why not? Did the Austrian Public Prosecutor’s Office keep the Commission informed about its investigations into World Vision Austria? When did it do so? What information does the Austrian Public Prosecutor’s Office have about EU-funded projects?