91999E2086

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2086/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Irregularities in the European call for tenders by the Rome municipal authority for the supply of uniforms for the municipal police

In February, the Chinese company YuYi won the European bidding for the supply of uniforms for the municipal police in Rome. Despite the presence of textile experts and production test samples and despite the impartial opinions of the Chamber of Commerce, the fabric of the sample uniform was found to be different from that described in the procurement order, which, it would appear, is impossible to create! Furthermore, other swindles have been uncovered, such as the 90 % price increase for the reams of paper and the 80 % increase for staples. The matter is all the more cause for concern in that the Chinese company is a front for the much better-known company Balloon, in which the former brother-in-law of the Mayor of Rome, Mr Rutelli, is a partner.

Can the Commission intervene in order to investigate the irregularities in the above procurement procedure and subsequently inform Parliament of its findings?

Can the Commission adopt the necessary measures for monitoring European tenders to ensure that they are conducted in compliance with the rules and to ensure that the contracts are awarded to specialist firms rather than firms that are unable to carry out what is required of them?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1999)

As a result of the honourable Member's information, the Commission plans to ask the Italian authorities for all relevant information in order to assess the compatibility of the supply contract for police uniforms for the City of Rome with Community law on public contracts. With this in mind, the Commission is preparing a letter to be sent to the Italian authorities requesting clarification of the exercise.

If, in the light of this information, it turns out that the procedures applied are incompatible with Community law, the Commission could start the proceedings for failure to fulfil an obligation laid down in Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

At any rate, the Commission will of course inform the honourable Member of the outcome and of the conclusions it might reach after considering the information provided by the Italian authorities.