# CE2004084EN.01072001.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/720 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/720

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(2004/C 84 E/0809)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1163/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject:   Use of funds from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund by the municipality of Terni

Subject:

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Terni, urgently need to use European funds for the processing and marketing of agricultural products and for rural development,

can the Commission state:

| 1. | whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects for the EAGGF? |
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1.

whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects for the EAGGF?

| 2. | whether the municipality of Terni has secured funding for these projects? |
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2.

whether the municipality of Terni has secured funding for these projects?

| 3. | whether this funding has been used? |
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3.

whether this funding has been used?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

(24 April 2003)

The Honourable Member's question concerns the use of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund by the municipality of Terni.

In Umbria, the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) provides part-financing for the Leader+ programme, which was covered in the reply to Written Question No 1046/03 asked by Ms Angelilli (1).

1

The Guarantee Section of the EAGGF provides part-financing for the Rural Development Plan for the region of Umbria for 2000/06, which the Commission approved by Decision C(2000) 2158 of 20 July 2000.

Here it should be noted that implementation of the aid part-financed at Community level under this programme is a matter for the Italian national and regional authorities. The Commission is responsible for monitoring and inspecting the programme, but it is not responsible for on-the-spot management of the various measures. In the context of this monitoring, the annual reports made under Regulations (EC) Nos 1257/1999 (2) and 445/2002 (3) do not show whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects under the EAGGF Guarantee Section.

2

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As a result, the Assessorato all'Agricoltura' of the Umbria region, which is the authority responsible for managing the programme, could provide specific details of the various beneficiaries and the deadlines for the calls issued by the region, including those specifically for the municipality of Terni.

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(1)  See page 719.

1

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations, OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

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(3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 of 26 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), OJ L 74, 15.3.2002.

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