# CE2004078EN.01064701.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/0687)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3813/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(11 December 2003)

Subject:   Judicial inquiry by the Venice Prosecutor's Office into use of Community funds for the agricultural sector

Subject:

An article appeared on 26 November 2003 on the Vivacity Belluno website, entitled ‘Puglia businessman arrested for fraud against the EU’. According to the article:

| — | three people were arrested for involvement in aggravated and repeated fraud to obtain national and Community funding, aggravated and repeated falsification by a private citizen in an official act, with the aggravating circumstance of causing serious prejudice to the body concerned; |
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three people were arrested for involvement in aggravated and repeated fraud to obtain national and Community funding, aggravated and repeated falsification by a private citizen in an official act, with the aggravating circumstance of causing serious prejudice to the body concerned;

| — | the three individuals concerned had, according to the information gathered by the Guardia di Finanza police, set up and managed many organisations and companies in the Veneto, Lazio and Puglia regions, producing and selling ‘dehydrated medicinal herbs’, thanks to substantial Community aid; |
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the three individuals concerned had, according to the information gathered by the Guardia di Finanza police, set up and managed many organisations and companies in the Veneto, Lazio and Puglia regions, producing and selling ‘dehydrated medicinal herbs’, thanks to substantial Community aid;

| — | the organisations were used to invoice or take delivery of consignments of medicinal herbs, through which the three individuals illegally obtained in 2002 alone funds from the AGEA (Agenzia per le erogazioni in agricoltura) amounting to EUR 500 000; |
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the organisations were used to invoice or take delivery of consignments of medicinal herbs, through which the three individuals illegally obtained in 2002 alone funds from the AGEA (Agenzia per le erogazioni in agricoltura) amounting to EUR 500 000;

| — | the sums to be refunded, added to the administrative penalties and sums owed by the companies for failing to monitor the activities of their own administrators, as well as ordinary and revaluation interest, amount to a minimum of EUR 1 300 000 and a maximum of EUR 1 900 000. |
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the sums to be refunded, added to the administrative penalties and sums owed by the companies for failing to monitor the activities of their own administrators, as well as ordinary and revaluation interest, amount to a minimum of EUR 1 300 000 and a maximum of EUR 1 900 000.

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 a company for alleged aggravated and repeated fraud to obtain national and Community grants and aggravated and repeated falsification.

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

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