# CE2004078EN.01064702.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/647 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/647

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(2004/C 78 E/0688)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3814/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 December 2003)

Subject:   Judicial inquiry by the Palermo Prosecutor's Office into EUR 6,5 million fraud against the European Union

Subject:

An article appeared on 7 November 2003 on the website of the daily newspaper ‘La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno’ entitled ‘EUR 6,5 million fraud against the EU to finance Cosa Nostra’. According to the article:

| — | three people charged with fraud against the EU amounting to EUR 6,5 million were arrested by the ‘Guardia di Finanzia’ police in Palermo; |
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three people charged with fraud against the EU amounting to EUR 6,5 million were arrested by the ‘Guardia di Finanzia’ police in Palermo;

| — | the money was used to pay for illegal activities of Cosa Nostra; |
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the money was used to pay for illegal activities of Cosa Nostra;

| — | the three individuals had, through a number of companies, applied for EU funds from the Ministry for Industry to set up new companies at a cost of approximately EUR 6 million; of this amount, around EUR 2,5 million was granted and paid out; |
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the three individuals had, through a number of companies, applied for EU funds from the Ministry for Industry to set up new companies at a cost of approximately EUR 6 million; of this amount, around EUR 2,5 million was granted and paid out;

| — | investigations begain in 2001; to obtain the amounts in question the three individuals produced totally fictitious documents; |
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investigations begain in 2001; to obtain the amounts in question the three individuals produced totally fictitious documents;

| — | the three persons under arrest, who own various businesses dealing with tyre sales, had requested and obtained almost EUR 2,5 million to set up a tyre recucling plant in a shed. However, there was no machinery in this shed — which had been the object of a preventive confiscation order in previous years — and nothing had been produced. |
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the three persons under arrest, who own various businesses dealing with tyre sales, had requested and obtained almost EUR 2,5 million to set up a tyre recucling plant in a shed. However, there was no machinery in this shed — which had been the object of a preventive confiscation order in previous years — and nothing had been produced.

Will the Commission state:

| — | whether it is aware of these facts and, if so, what action it has taken or intends to take on the matter? |
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whether it is aware of these facts and, if so, what action it has taken or intends to take on the matter?

| — | whether OLAF has been informed of the matter and, if so, whether it has initiated or intends to initiate an investigation? |
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whether OLAF has been informed of the matter and, if so, whether it has initiated or intends to initiate an investigation?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2004)

(27 January 2004)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the European Antifraud Office (OLAF) is aware that the Italian authorities are conducting a judicial investigation into alleged instances of fraud against the Union.

As judicial proceedings are already in motion in Italy, at the Prosecution Service for Palermo, OLAF is available to provide the judicial authorities with all such assistance as they may request.

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