91997E3579

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3579/97 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: Berlaymont

According to a report in 'Europe' No 7078 (n.s.) of 13/14 October 1997, the Commission's Berlaymont building in Brussels has been entirely recontaminated during renovation work.

Can the Commission shed light on this matter and provide information as to who is responsible for this recontamination and what the associated costs and consequences shall be?

In view of the current situation, what would the cost of a completely new building have been?

What will the real cost of renovation be?

Can one assume that the further renovation works now required will not leave the building once again completely contaminated?

What are the financial consequences of the fact that the move will now not take place in the year 2000 as planned?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1997)

The press articles on the subject of asbestos removal at the Berlaymont were inspired by a report commissioned by SA Berlaymont 2000, the company responsible, from Technip, a French company instructed to make an inventory and proposals for completion of the work. The report states that certain areas of the building have been recontaminated because the work has not been carried out to proper standards.

The Commission cannot be called to account for the management of the site. The Belgian State - via the Régie des bâtiments in the first place and secondly via SA Berlaymont 2000 - is responsible for the work. The Commission is no more than an observer, but it has on several occasions commented on the quality of the work.

The current operation to remove the asbestos is unavoidable, whatever the future of the Berlaymont - restructuring or demolition and rebuilding. Demolition is in any event impossible before removal of the asbestos. The only work currently in hand is the removal of asbestos. Restructuring work will start on completion of this phase of work and after a final decontamination certificate has been issued.

The main effect of delays in the work is that asbestos removal will probably not be completed before mid-1999, and the renovation before the end of 2001. Since the agreement with the Belgian State provides that all the costs of asbestos removal are to be borne by the Belgian State, which is also to provide replacement premises for at least six months after delivery of the renovated Berlaymont, there will be no impact on the Commission budget.

The Berlaymont Task Force was set up within the Commission to monitor the renovation project after removal of the asbestos, and to cooperate on the definition of the project with the SA Berlaymont 2000 team. The Commission undertaking to finance the restructuring of the Berlaymont - estimated at ECU 325 million plus ECU 50 million (value of the building before renovation) - and to become the owner on completion of the work is still subject to delivery of a decontamination certificate.