# CE2004078EN.01065301.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/653 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/653

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(2004/C 78 E/0695)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3833/03

by Roberto Bigliardo (UEN) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject:   Provincial authorities' involvement in the management of EU Structural Funds

Subject:

In the context of EU Structural Fund programming, responsibility for the use of Community funds lies with the relevant regional authorities, with the involvement of local authorities — in this instance, at provincial level. In Objective 1 regions, including in Italy, provincial authorities have, under framework agreements concluded with the relevant regional authorities, taken on a significant role in the management of funds available under the Regional Operational Programme (ROP).

| 1. | Given the above, can the Commission state whether the authorities in Objective 1 regions in Italy should in fact provide for the involvement of provincial authorities in the management of ROP funds and whether this might not act as a barrier to the funds being used on schedule as a result of lengthy coordination procedures? |
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1.

Given the above, can the Commission state whether the authorities in Objective 1 regions in Italy should in fact provide for the involvement of provincial authorities in the management of ROP funds and whether this might not act as a barrier to the funds being used on schedule as a result of lengthy coordination procedures?

| 2. | Whether the involvement of local authorities in the management of ROP funds (at provincial level) is nominal or real, given that local authorities were not involved in the drafting of the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework? |
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2.

Whether the involvement of local authorities in the management of ROP funds (at provincial level) is nominal or real, given that local authorities were not involved in the drafting of the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2004)

(27 January 2004)

The Honourable Member's two questions relate to the principle of partnership involvement in the programming and management of assistance (part-financing) from the Community Structural Funds.

That principle is set out in Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1): ‘Community actions ... shall be drawn up in close consultation ... between the Commission and the Member State, together with the authorities and bodies designated by the Member State within the framework of its national rules and current practices ...’. Article 8 also requires Member States to ensure association of the relevant partners at each stage of programming.

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Accordingly the administrative authorities in charge of Operational Programmes must, if they are to ensure that the partnership principle is correctly and effectively applied, associate the local authorities in partnership if national rules require them to do so or if they consider it advisable to do so. This entails setting appropriate consultation procedures.

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(1)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

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