91999E0474

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0474/99

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Octopus programme

The Commission and the Council of Ministers of the European Union have launched the Octopus II programme and allocated EUR 2,4 million to it. Its purpose is to combat fraud in the countries of central and eastern Europe (the CEECs).

Would the Commission answer the following questions concerning the programme:

1. What concrete results and successes in terms of combatting fraud were achieved by the Octopus I programme?

2. Was a report drawn up on the implementation of the programme, and if so, could it be forwarded to me?

3. What concrete instances of fraud is the Commission aware of that would make such an extensive fraud-busting programme necessary and justifiable?

4. What is the Commission's estimate of the number of cases of fraud or the level of economic damage sustained as a result of corruption and fraud?

5. Have irregularities or fraud occurred in the countries due to receive support in connection with EU aid also? If so, would the Commission give details?

6. Does fraud in the CEECs mainly concern any particular area?

7. What measures have the CEECs themselves taken to combat corruption in their own countries?

8. Who conducts the seminars and workshops for the CEECs' administrative authorities, and what qualifications do the trainers possess?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1999)

1. A number of recommendations for tackling organised crime and corruption in the countries of Eastern Europe in transition were drafted under the Octopus I project. It is up to the sovereign states concerned to give effect to these recommendations, with support from the Octopus II project.

2. Reports on the results of the Octopus I programme were drafted on a country-by-country basis and are available from the Commission or the Council.

3. and 4. Octopus I and II are not fraud-busting programmes; they are intended to provide backing for legislative and institutional reforms to combat organised crime and corruption.

5. and 6. Regarding the increase in Community financial flows to the countries covered by the programme and the possibility of irregularities, we would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the Commission anti-fraud programme for 1998/99, which has a section devoted to protection of European financial interests in the context of enlargement and cooperation with non-member countries. The Commission has set up an operational "external measures" unit within its task force for coordination of fraud prevention.

7. The Central and Eastern European countries are gradually reforming their laws and institutions to tackle organised crime and corruption, with the applicant countries taking over the acquis of the EU and its Member States.

8. Seminars and workshops on the transfer and implementation of the acquis are conducted by representatives of the Member States' administrative and judicial authorities who work in the fields in question. Acts of the Council are also presented by the experts who were instrumental in drafting them.