92001E0427

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0427/01

by Massimo Carraro (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Transfer of Nuclear Safety personnel from the JRC in Ispra to Petten

On 7 December 2000, in response to a Written Question submitted by the European Parliament (P-3619/00(1)) the Commission declared its intention not to undermine the operation and role of the JRC in Ispra and undertook to avoid any reduction in staffing levels.

Is Commissioner Busquin aware that in January 2001 a decision was suddenly taken to transfer Nuclear Safety activities and staff working in this area from Ispra to Petten?

Can the Commission say why this decision was taken?

Why did the Commission not consider it necessary to consult Parliament prior to the decision being taken?

What will the effects of this decision be in terms of the availability of the staff in Ispra?

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001, p. 196.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2001)

In its answer to Question P-3619/00 of 7 December 2000, the Commission did not declare any intention to avoid transferring staff.

Instead, in the process of reviewing its priorities, a project launched at the start of 2000, at its meeting of 26 July 2000 the Commission adopted the recommendations of the Steering Group set up to examine the matter.

In this context, the Commission has requested that Commissioner Busquin should instruct the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to carry out a feasibility study into closing the Petten site or eliminating 200 jobs by scaling down JRC activities across the board.

The feasibility study into the closure of the Petten site has been completed and its conclusions have been submitted to the Commission in the form of a communication which was adopted on 22 January 2001(1).

The conclusions of the feasibility study include recommendations to transfer the activities relating to research into reducing vehicle emissions from Petten to Ispra, and to transfer the Nuclear Safety unit from Ispra to Petten. This arises from a commitment to achieve consistency between the portfolios of activities of the various JRC sites.

Since this departmental redeployment measure was an internal matter, the Commission did not consult the other institutions on transferring personnel.

On the basis of the conclusions of the Steering Group the Commission will propose amending research staff tables as of 2002 to the budgetary authority.

A detailed audit of the other JRC activities has been carried out. The proposed concentration of activities is intended to ensure the long-term future of the JRC, within the scope of its mission to provide scientific and technical support for EU policies.

(1) C(2001) 125, 22.1.2001.