Answer given by Mr Oettinger on behalf of the European Commission
20.8.2019
Concerning the reference to the preparation of the replies given to the European Parliament, the Commission has provided comprehensive information to the European Parliament on this matter.
Reference is made to the Commission’s reply to the European Parliament of 4 April 2018[1], and in particular the reply to question 10, in which the Commission confirmed that, ‘All answers were drafted under the authority of the Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources with the support of the Directorate-General in charge of Human Resources and Security, the Commission’s Legal Service and the Cabinet of the President. It was also the Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources who, in agreement with the President, approved the final version of the replies and sent them to the Budgetary Control Committee.’ Mr Selmayr was only involved in order to help make sure that the replies concerning him were correct and complete.
Concerning the suicide of Commission staff, when it occurs it is a tragic loss of life with a profound impact on colleagues and on the organisation. The institution offers a wide range of services in the area of psychosocial support to reduce the risk of suicide, and to reduce the impact on colleagues and on the organisation.
These include training in developing resilience, the provision of professional help and advice (Psychosocial support team), the promotion of healthy living and working (Fit@Work programme), as well as training and raising awareness of management to the prevention of psychosocial risks.
The Commission continues its efforts in this area and it is for example in the process of developing an ‘Integrated approach for promoting mental wellbeing at work’.
In the tragic individual case referred to by the Honourable Members, the passing of our brilliant colleague, Director in the Legal Service, was a shock to all of us who had the privilege and the chance to know her and work with her.
The Commission published a reaction to the various unfounded allegations made by Libération, as referred to by the Honourable Members in their question[2].