91999E1695

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1695/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 September 1999)

Subject: EU coordinator Hombach

For weeks, the EU's international coordinator for reconstruction of the Balkans, Bodo Hombach, has been publicly suspected of involvement in bribery cases with considerable ramifications (relating to his private house in Mülheim and his luxury home in Canada). On 27 August 1999, in response to these serious allegations, he decided of his own volition to resign from his party posts.

In view of this situation, which still remains very unclear, as well as the utterly incomprehensible plan to locate his office in Brussels rather than in the immediate vicinity of the region to which his duties pertain, which will hardly be conducive to efficiency, the following question is surely inescapable: does the Commission intend to suggest to Mr Hombach that he should resign from his highly responsible post as EU representative for the democratic and economic reconstruction of the Balkan region?

Under the circumstances, it would moreover be desirable, in the interests of transparency, to announce publicly what remuneration was promised to Mr Hombach when he took up the post. Will the Commission do so?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1999)

According to the Treaty on European Union (Article 18 ex Article J8), the appointment of special representatives is the responsibility of the Council.

The requested elements relating to the remuneration of the special representative are established in a financial statement which, in accordance with Article M of the inter-institutional agreement regarding financing of the Common foreign and security policy of 16 July 1997, is communicated by the Council to the Parliament.