91997E3349

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/97 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission (22 October 1997)

Subject: Combating fraud

Will the Commission say which Member States of the European Union have already ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Financial Interests of the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997)

Up to now, none of the Member States have ratified the Convention on the protection of the financial interests of the Community.

The Commission would point out that the target date of mid- 1998 was introduced for the ratification of this Convention in the action plan to combat organized crime ((OJ C 251, 15.8.1997. )) adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 April 1997. This action plan was subsequently approved by the European Council of Amsterdam.

Moreover, the Commission would observe that it is of the utmost importance to recommend Member States not only to ratify the Convention (as well as the protocols to this Convention and the Convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the Community or officials of Member States) but also to take the necessary measures for their transposition into national law.