WRITTEN QUESTION E-1769/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Controversial use of Konver subsidies by the Dutch municipality of Den Helder and the channelling away of funds

1. Since 1997 the media in and around the municipality of Den Helder, located in the region Kop van Noord-Holland in the north west of the Netherlands, have reported time and again on the political furore over the spending of subsidies, inter alia on the construction by the municipality of Den Helder of a footbridge and landing stage in the inner harbour of Koopvaarder. On 9 May 2000 a fresh bout of controversy erupted. This was triggered by an investigation by the Central Criminal Intelligence Agency into municipal town planning and administration fraud. Is the Commission aware of these reports?

2. Can the Commission confirm that works in the municipality of Den Helder, such as the construction of the footbridge and landing stage in the inner harbour of Koopvaarder, commonly known as Eurosteiger, were brought into being with the help of European subsidies under the Konver programme? If so, what subsidies were granted under the Konver programme to Den Helder and under what conditions?

3. The political furore prompted the municipal council to commission an inquiry by the KPMG bureau. In its report reference was made to irregularities in the use of subsidy payments: deferment of subsidies to a subsequent stage without approval; failure to report related co-financing; failure to implement parts of the proposed project. Furthermore, there are reports in the media of the inflation of the project's costs and the channelling away of money flows. Is the Commission aware of the KPMG inquiry and its conclusions? Does it agree with those conclusions?

4. Public opinion has strongly criticised the project because of its implications for quality of life and safety (up to 2015 no solution to the sharp increase in car traffic through residential districts, unwanted tree felling, lack of evacuation options in the event of harbour disasters). Does the Commission agree that in a people's Europe such concerns as quality of life and environmental conditions should have a place and that till now insufficient account has been taken thereof in Den Helder?

5. What possibilities does the Commission see, through appropriate planning changes, for meeting the citizens' grievances?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1769/00 and E-1770/00 given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2000)

The Commission participates as an observer in the monitoring committees of the structural fund programmes. Those committees discuss programme strategy, as well as organisational and procedural matters. In accordance with the subsidiarity principle, the selection and approval of projects is performed by a steering committee, which is constituted by regional partners and co-financing partners other than the Community.

The Commission has not been informed about the police investigation or the KPMG inquiry mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission can however confirm that the Community initiative Konver for the period 1994-1999 has financed the project Koopvaarderbinnenhaven. The Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs issued on 14 July 1997 the relevant commitment letter which corresponds to an amount of HFL 4,45 million ( 2,02 million). The Community contribution corresponds to 50 % of this sum. In December the project was closed down. The actual project expenditure remained below budgeted costs (HFL 3,78 million or 1,72 million).

In view of the question raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission has launched an inquiry with the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and drawn the attention of the audit service of the Directorate general concerned to this particular case. In addition, the European Anti-Fraud Office has indicated that it is in contact with the Dutch investigation service mentioned by the Honourable Member.

As far as the programming period 2000-2006 is concerned, the municipality of Den Helder does not qualify for any particular structural fund programme. The Konver Community initiative was not continued and the region of Noord-Holland is not eligible under either objective 1 or objective 2.