(2004/C 70 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2374/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 July 2003)

Subject:   Contracting and subcontracting by the Commission

In view of the recent OLAF investigation into the alleged misappropriation of about EUR 900 000 by senior Eurostat staff, the fact that the Commission has launched a reform of the accounting system, which is deemed to be inadequate, and that Eurostat subcontracted services to Eurogramme, Eurocost and Planistat, can the Commission specify what services have been contracted out and subcontracted in the last five years, how much they cost, and what the mechanisms for allocating contracts and selecting successful contractors are?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 2003)

The Commission's modernisation of the accounting system aims to provide the institutions by 2005 with an accrual accounting system that complies with the most recent international accounting standards for the public sector in accordance with the Financial Regulation (1).

On the other matters raised, the Commission is collecting the very extensive information needed to answer the Honourable Member's question. It will communicate its findings in due course. It should be noted that, as part of the follow-up to the discharge for 2001, the Commission has mandated the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to examine the legality and the regularity of contracts awarded by Eurostat since 1999 and to include in its investigation contracts awarded by other Commission departments. Its findings will be announced in the autumn.

With regard to Planistat, the Honourable Member is invited to refer to the answer to Written Questions P-1705/03 by Ms Stauner (2), P-1807/03 by Mr Bösch and P-1978/03 by Ms Stauner.

(1)  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2)  See page 56.