91999E2600

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2600/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Participation by Commissioners in direct political action by the parties or electoral coalitions to which they belong

In the past, Commissioners such as Neil Kinnock, Jacques Delors and Emma Bonino have played an active role, while in office, in election campaigns and other political activities organised by the political parties to which they belonged. On 26 November 1999 Romano Prodi, president of the Commission, took part in the closing rally of Arturo Parisi's election campaign in Bologna, appearing on the dais and in effect declaring his support for the candidate, as reported by the Italian press agencies Ansa, And Kronos, Dire and Agi and on 27 November 1999 by various newspapers, starting with Resto del Carlino, which is published in Bologna and distributed throughout the Emilia and Romagna regions.

Could the Commission state whether it considers that Commissioners should refrain, while in office, from taking part in direct political action and electoral campaigns organised by their own parties or electoral coalitions? Does it also agree that, by refraining from participating in direct political action organised by the parties to which they belong, Members of the Commission would uphold their role as representatives of all the citizens of the European Union?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2459/99, E-2600/99 and E-2628/99 given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2000)

As the Commission has had frequent occasion to recall in reply to written and oral questions by Members of Parliament(1), the Members of the Commission are politicians carrying out a political function, who, while honouring the obligations imposed by this function, remain free to express their personal opinions quite independently and on their own responsibility.

(1) The Honourable Members are referred in particular to the answer by Mr Rey to Oral Question No 10/68 by Mr Habib-Deloncle, and Commission answers to Written Questions No 44/83 by Mr Gendebien OJ C 197, 25.7.1983, No 1682/85 by Mr Vandemeulebroucke OJ C 55, 10.3.1986, E-1404/97 by Mr Pasty OJ C 391, 23.12.1997 and E-2617/98 by Mr Wibe OJ C 96, 8.4.1999.