8.4.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/659

1.

Is the Commission aware that concern is growing in Bulgaria about the distribution and management of EU funds for civil society development, which is reflected in a campaign by members of Parliament entitled ‘Clean hands for the non-profit sector’, the drafting of a law on transparency and involvement of NGOs in the distribution of EU funds, publicity in Bulgarian newspapers, an e-mail bombardment under the title ‘Isabel must go’, plans for legal action against the official concerned and proposed wider campaigns in January 2004?

2.

Is the Commission aware that the concern referred to above and the consequent campaigns are particularly directed against the conduct of the civil society adviser at the EU delegation in Sofia, who is accused of interfering unnecessarily with the internal decision-making of Bulgarian NGOs, basing her decisions on the allocation of funds primarily on her own preferences, excluding critics of her policy from the allocation of funds a priori and behaving in an arrogant and intimidating manner towards everyone who disagrees with her?

3.

Does the Commission agree that, while this adviser's behaviour may be said to have a positive aspect, namely that she has succeeded in uniting Bulgarians, Turks and Roma in such a way that they are of one opinion, it would be preferable for this to be achieved in some other manner than by inspiring unanimous indignation at the conduct of one or more officials representing the EU?

4.

What will the Commission do, in so far as possible and at the earliest opportunity, to assuage the growing annoyance about the approach to the EU's involvement in Bulgaria?