# CE2004088EN.01066002.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/660 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/660

---

(2004/C 88 E/0678)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4012/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject:   Implementation of PHARE project BG 0102.06 in Bulgaria: late announcement of decisions and controversial payment arrangements

Subject:

| 1. | Why was the start of the projects approved under the social participation programme BG 0102.06 postponed from November 2002 to December 2003, and were organisations whose projects had been approved on the morning of 1 December 2003 given only until 17.00 the same day to sign contracts? |
| --- | --- |

1.

Why was the start of the projects approved under the social participation programme BG 0102.06 postponed from November 2002 to December 2003, and were organisations whose projects had been approved on the morning of 1 December 2003 given only until 17.00 the same day to sign contracts?

| 2. | Was the Roma youth organisation in Sliven, which is situated 300 km from Sofia, informed only at 14.00 on 1 December 2003 that it had been granted a subsidy, with the result that a proportion of the funding available ended up in the hands of individuals outside that organisation's control? |
| --- | --- |

2.

Was the Roma youth organisation in Sliven, which is situated 300 km from Sofia, informed only at 14.00 on 1 December 2003 that it had been granted a subsidy, with the result that a proportion of the funding available ended up in the hands of individuals outside that organisation's control?

| 3. | Is funding for job-creation schemes being allocated to persons who are known for their expansive, nouveau-riche lifestyle, but not for their ability to create normal forms of productive employment? |
| --- | --- |

3.

Is funding for job-creation schemes being allocated to persons who are known for their expansive, nouveau-riche lifestyle, but not for their ability to create normal forms of productive employment?

| 4. | Have there been cases of Roma organisations which have enquired about the possibilities for EU co-financing being asked first of all to repair cars for or supply cheap cars to private individuals, creating the impression that they must first bribe the officials responsible, and even then not receiving the funding in question? |
| --- | --- |

4.

Have there been cases of Roma organisations which have enquired about the possibilities for EU co-financing being asked first of all to repair cars for or supply cheap cars to private individuals, creating the impression that they must first bribe the officials responsible, and even then not receiving the funding in question?

| 5. | In its answer to Written Question £-1647/03 (1) the Commission wrote that the appropriate involvement of the Roma and the organisations which represent them in the work of identifying needs and preparing and implementing projects is fundamental to the success of such projects. Does the Commission still stand by this view? |
| --- | --- |

5.

In its answer to Written Question £-1647/03 (1) the Commission wrote that the appropriate involvement of the Roma and the organisations which represent them in the work of identifying needs and preparing and implementing projects is fundamental to the success of such projects. Does the Commission still stand by this view?

1

| 6. | What improvements in the situation outlined above does the Commission regard as possible and desirable? |
| --- | --- |

6.

What improvements in the situation outlined above does the Commission regard as possible and desirable?

---

(1)  OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 378.

1

---