WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/00

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Legal aid to sue Paul van Buitenen

Has the Commission, or has the Commission not, offered free legal aid (with a possible view to suing) to EU staff who feel that they have been slandered or discredited by Paul van Buitenen in his book?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

Under Article 24 Staff Regulations, the Communities shall assist any official, in particular in proceedings against any person perpetrating threats, insulting or defamatory acts or utterances, (mldr) by reason of his position or duties.

Based on this provision, the Commission can after due consideration be obliged to offer assistance to members of Community staff who have been slandered or discredited. The assistance granted can consist of the reimbursement of the legal fees due to a lawyer for suing the author of the defamation.

In relation to Mr. van Buitenen's book, assistance under Article 24 has, to date, been requested only once. It was granted after consideration of the fact that a pseudonym used in the book was identical to the name of an official. In this case, Mr van Buitenen officially presented his apologies to the official concerned.