92001E0861

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0861/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Implementing committees

Will the Commission provide a list of all EU implementing committees set up under Article 202, together with their terms of reference (and the legislation from which they derive), the frequency of their meetings, the names of the current members, the availability of its papers and minutes, and indicate whether meetings are open to the public?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2001)

The Honourable Member will find most of the information he requests in the List of committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing

powers(1). The frequency of meetings varies depending on the committee and whether or not any implementing measures need to be taken; it would be impossible to provide any reliable information on this point. Nonetheless, partial information for 2000 will be available in the annual report which the Commission will submit in June 2001, in accordance with Council Decision 468/1999 of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(2). Delegates to meetings are appointed by Member States, sometimes for a fixed period and sometimes depending on the subjects to be discussed. Consequently, it is impossible to provide a meaningful and complete list of those attending. The availability of committee documents is governed by Article 7 of the above Decision, the agreement between Parliament and the Commission reached in implementation of the latter, and, where these are not applicable, by the framework agreement between the two institutions. The meetings are not public.

(1) OJ C 225, 8.8.2000.

(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999.