92000E1470

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1470/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Internal reform of the Commission

In connection with the internal reform of the Commission a number of senior appointments are being made in apparent disregard for the principle

of geographical balance. Has the Commission forgotten about this principle which, by any reckoning, is essential to the balanced functioning of the institutions? Is it normal that, in certain Directorates-General, both the Director-General and some of the heads of the division should be of the same nationality?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

There is no evidence to substantiate the Honourable Member's assertion that In connection with the internal reform of the Commission a number of senior appointments are being made in apparent disregard for the principle of geographical balance. On the contrary, on 18th September and 8th December 1999 the Commission adopted rules and procedures governing senior appointments which it is following scrupulously.

Appointments are made according to basic principles of merit which means that thorough and objective assessment is made of the aptitudes of a qualified applicant for a specific post, with proper account being taken of the need to sustain the geographical balance which is an essential consideration in this multinational Institution.

For details of appointments to senior posts during the time that this Commission has been in office the Honourable Member is referred to the reply which Vice President Kinnock made to Oral Question O-52/00 from Snr Pomés-Ruiz in the Plenary of 3 May 2000 and to the full list of A1 and A2 appointments provided to Parliament at that time. The factual details demonstrate that the principle of geographical balance has been, and is being, respected in practice and not disregarded.