92003E0798

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0798/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2003)

Subject: Airinc

Eurocost has been replaced with Airinc. Would the Commission give details of how much Airinc is receiving annually?

What were the grounds on which Airinc was awarded the contract to replace Eurocost?

Who are the principal directors of Airinc? Do any of the directors or owners of the company have links with either Eurocost or the European Commission?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

Airinc received a contract for the value of EUR 766 500 in 2000, EUR 781 500 in 2001 and EUR 796 500 in 2002.

Consistent with the general policy at that time of making outsourced work available to the widest number of interested entities, Eurostat decided to stop the grant agreements with Eurocost for financing the production of the

correction coefficients and to launch open calls for tender. Consequently, in 1999 an open call for tenders was launched for the production of the correction coefficients required under the Staff Regulations. The bid of Airinc was judged to be the best value for money by the evaluation committee, and the first contract was signed with Airinc in 2000.

According to information available, the directors of Airinc are:

- Arthur Nelson, Weston MA, United States;

- Carl Nelson, Weston MA, United States;

- James Reid, Concord MA, United States.

According to information available, the shareholders of Airinc are:

- Arthur H. Nelson, Weston MA;

- Carl F. Nelson, Weston MA;

- Francis N. McSherry, MA;

- Pamela B. Nelson, MA;

- Geoff Rowley, Cambridge, MA;

- Richard Downey, Cambridge, MA.

According to information currently available, the Commission is not aware of any links between the above persons and either Eurocost or the Commission.