Vol. 504 No. 4
39 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has for the reform of the European Commission to make it more democratic, transparent and accountable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12040/99]
The question of effective reform of the Commission is a matter of great importance to Ireland and to all the member states of the European Union. The Commission's role in the structures of the European Union is a vital one. In the view of the Irish Government, the Commission must be in a position to exercise its prerogatives under the Treaty with the full confidence of the governments of the member states and of the other institutions of the Union.
The Government fully endorses the statement by the European Council in Berlin that the new Commission should speedily put into effect the necessary reforms, in particular for the improvement of its organisation, management and financial control; that it ought to give urgent priority to launching a programme of far-reaching modernisation and reform; and that all means should be used in order to ensure that whenever community funds, programmes or projects are managed by the Commission, its services are suitably structured to ensure the highest standards of management, integrity and efficiency.
Of course, the reform of the Commission cannot have as its purpose or effect any reduction of the Commission's role as established by the Treaty.
