92002E2717

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2717/02

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Administrative cases brought by officials and other staff of the European Commission

The initial answer of 24 May 2002 to Written Question E-0661/02(1) states that a substantial number of the cases brought by Commission staff (30,5 % before the Court of First Instance and 13,2 % before the Court of Justice) during the period from 1 January 1996 to 20 June 2001 were deemed to be well founded and were considered admissible, if only in part, by the two courts.

However, this information is insufficient to determine the full impact on human and financial resources, bearing in mind that in such cases the Commission is usually ordered to pay the legal costs, including the fees of the plaintiffs' lawyers and, on occasion, of those acting for the Commission.

Will the Commission give details of the total number of legal cases during the period in question in which the Commission had to pay legal costs, together with the average cost of each case?

Will it give details of the total number of persons employed in-house or externally for the management of administrative disputes covered by Articles 90 and 91 of the Staff Regulations?

(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 117.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.