WRITTEN QUESTION E-1065/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Coordination of the Sensus project

Coordination of the Sensus project is in the hands of a certain Stephan Bodenkamp. Officially he is employed by the Amt für Auslandsfragen in Munich. A ruling from a Munich court (20 December 2000) shows that Bodenkamp's real name is Christoph Kionowski and that he is an agent of the German state security service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, although apparently he has now been suspended.

1. Is the Commission aware that coordination of the Sensus project is in the hands of Stephan Bodenkamp/Christoph Kionowski, an agent of the German state security service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst? If so, why did the Commission put him in charge of the Sensus project?

2. Will the Commission relieve Stephan Bodenkamp/Christoph Kionowski of coordination of the Sensus project since he is an agent of the Bundesnachrichtendienst? If not, why does the Commission continue to entrust him with coordination of the project?

3. Will the Commission relieve Stephan Bodenkamp/Christoph Kionowski of coordination of the Sensus project in view of his sentencing by a Munich court for forging a contract with a German technology firm in the context of the Sensus project? If not, why does the Commission nevertheless entrust him with coordination of the project?

4. Will the Commission relieve Stephan Bodenkamp/Christoph Kionowski of coordination of the Sensus project in view of his suspension by the Bundesnachrichtendienst? If not, why does the Commission nevertheless continue to entrust him with coordination of the project?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2001)

Amt für Auslandsfragen (AfA) became the co-ordinator of the Sensus project at a late stage of the contract negotiation phase, at the suggestion of the other project participants. The responsible Commission services in charge of the project negotiation did not have objections to this suggestion, as in light of its participation in previous projects and as a government agency, AfA had the necessary commitment to the project, as well as the administrative ability and financial stability to manage a large and complex project such as Sensus. Similarly, Mr Bodenkamp as technical director of AfA, was considered to be suitable as project manager. The Commission was not informed at the time of the signature of the contract that Mr Bodenkamp was an official of the German Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND).

At the request of the Member of the Commission responsible for Enterprises and Information Society, the Information Society Directorate General has initiated an internal review on the management of the Sensus project. Depending on the results of the internal review and with due consideration of the information that has been brought to the attention of the Commission, the Commission will take further measures, if appropriate. These measures may include asking AfA to nominate another co-ordinator to the Sensus project.