92001E1385

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1385/01

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 April 2001)

Subject: Unanswered questions

One of the stated aims of the present Commission is to increase transparency and openness. A second has been to improve relations with the European Parliament through increasing its performance in its dealings with Parliamentary Questions (PQs).

In the light of this, will the Commission confirm that it is due to release the answers to the following questions which have now been awaiting response for a considerable period of time:

- E-0488/01,

- E-0490/01,

- E-0313/01,

- E-0491/01?

Will it also make a statement on its plan for improving turn-around times for PQs?

What is its present:

(a) average response time;

(b) target response time?

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

First of all, the Commission would reiterate the importance it attaches to Members of Parliament fully exercising their right, enshrined in Article 197(3) of the EC Treaty, to turn to the Commission directly for information, thereby sustaining the political scrutiny which Parliament exercises over the Commission.

The Commission aims to answer the questions put to it by MEPs within the deadlines set by Parliament. It regrets not having been able to meet these deadlines in the individual cases mentioned by the Honourable Member. However, it can assure him that, in the meantime, it has answered the questions concerned.

More specifically, it sent the Honourable Member:

- the answer to Question E-0488/01 on 8 May 2001,

- the answer to E-0490/01 on 26 April 2001,

- the answer to E-0313/01 on 11 May 2001 and

- the answer to E-0491/01 on 14 May 2001.

Written Question E-0315/01 was not addressed to the Commission.

In 2000, the average response time was five weeks for priority questions and seven weeks for other questions. The Commission will seek to improve these times in 2001.