92001E3022

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3022/01

by Anne Van Lancker (PSE) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Commission's equal opportunities policy

In relation to the Commission's equal opportunities policy,

- could the Commission explain why a man without any relevant professional experience was appointed as head of the TAXUD-A3 unit, responsible for infringement proceedings and requiring a knowledge of the management of infringements and proceedings, despite the fact that there were three women candidates with the necessary qualifications?

- could the Commission also say how many male officials are employed in the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union in grades A2 and A3 and how many women there are in these grades?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Nine officials applied for the post Head of Unit TAXUD-A-3, COM/224/00, of which three were women. One of the three female applicants withdrew her application.

The applications were assessed by:

- a selection panel, which concluded that three candidates, one of them being a woman, could be taken into consideration at that level;

- the Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA), which concluded that two candidates possessed the required qualification; the female candidate was not one of the two (nevertheless the Committee noted her good general qualifications);

- the relevant Director General, who appointed one of the two candidates identified by the CCA (naturally, in agreement with the Member of the Commission in charge).

In view of the above, the Commission fails to understand on what basis the Honourable Member states that there were three woman candidates with the necessary qualifications and that the candidate finally chosen did not possess the necessary qualifications.

There are currently four A2 male officials and ten A3 male officials employed in the Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union. Three posts in the DG's organization chart are occupied by female officials. There are no female officials at A2 and A3 level, but two Head of Unit posts are occupied by women.