92002E2016

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2016/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(9 July 2002)

Subject: Determining the location of European agencies' seats

The choice of location for certain European agency seats, such as that of the European Food Agency or the European Satellite Agency, has long been the subject of debate.

Discussion has focussed in particular on the relative benefits of either decentralising the seats or concentrating them in Brussels.

1. Does a comprehensive list exist of all the agencies or similar bodies for which a seat will be decided upon in the next few months or years?

2. Does a precise timetable exist for decisions on the location of seats?

3. Are there documents on this matter?

Answer given by Mr. Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2002)

The Treaties specify neither the criteria for deciding the location of an agency's headquarters nor the procedures to be adopted to this end. Article 289 of the EC Treaty merely states that the seat of the institutions is to be determined by common accord of the Governments of the Member States.

Various practices have consequently been followed in the past for determining the seat of the agencies that currently exist. Mostly, Article 289 of the EC Treaty has been applied by analogy, and the government representatives accordingly adopted a decision by common accord. More rarely, the location of some agencies has been decided by the Council, in the regulations establishing them.

The Commission has no established any list or calendar for the designation of the headquarters of agencies or similar structures. At the Laeken European Council (14-15 December 2001), Member State governments discussed the issue of location of several, future European agencies and bodies on the basis of a list provided for by the Council Presidency, but did not arrive at a common accord.

It does not exist a precise timetable for this kind of decisions. In principle, when an agency is created by a legislative act, a decision should be taken on its location, at least provisionally, in order to make the agency operational.

The Commission is not aware of any specific document on this matter.