92001E0480

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Availability for questioning of Commission official by Swedish legal authorities

The former head of the Commission's Stockholm information office is now based at the Commission in Brussels. The Public Prosecutor in Stockholm wishes to question the official about irregularities at the Stockholm information office which have been exposed in the Swedish media for over a year.

The former head of the office has, however, announced that she does not have time to travel to Stockholm and is therefore unable to attend the inquiry. The Stockholm Public Prosecutor therefore wishes to travel to Brussels to question the official but this requires authorisation from the Belgian legal authorities, which takes time to obtain.

To the Swedish public, it appears absurd that Commission officials can sidestep a legal inquiry in this manner.

Can the Commission instruct the former head of the Stockholm information office to assist the Swedish Public Prosecutor with his investigation into irregularities at the Stockholm information office so that the entire affair can be clarified and laid to rest once and for all?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

At the request of the law enforcement authorities in Sweden, the Commission withdrew the immunity of the official in question, and the prosecutor then approached the official direct asking to be allowed to interview her in connection with the matter of the Commission Representation in Sweden. No formal application was made to the Commission in this regard.

The situation described by the Honourable Member is consequently the result of a personal decision by the person concerned, for which the Commission is in no way responsible.

There is no common Union policy in criminal matters, and it is not surprising, therefore, that the Swedish law enforcement authorities should have to obtain the authorisation of the Belgian authorities in order to conduct investigations in Belgium. If they have do so, it is not because the person concerned is a Commission official, but solely because of the rules that currently govern cooperation between criminal law enforcement authorities.