WRITTEN QUESTION E-3838/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(9 January 2003)

Subject: OLAF inquiry into training courses in the Spanish state

Can the Commission provide information on the external inquiry opened on 22 October 2002 by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) against the Spanish state, following complaints made in Spain concerning training courses funded from the Community budget (ESF)?

Can the Commission provide information on the detailed projects allocated to Galicia under the ESF? In the light of the requests made in earlier questions for an inquiry into fraudulent utilisation by the Galician regional government of the ESF's programming and partnership facilities, can the Commission state whether it has opened an inquiry or sent a request to the Galician regional government in relation to this subject?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2003)

With regard to irregularities which might have occurred in Spain in connection with training courses funded from the Community budget (Structural Funds), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) opened an external investigation on 22 October 2002. This is an operational assistance case, given that the matter had already been referred to the Spanish authorities. However, information obtained in the course of an external investigation coming under the jurisdiction of the national judicial authorities is subject to confidentiality clauses.

As far as approved projects in the autnomous community of Galicia are concerned, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that, in the context of the Structural Funds for the period 2000-2006, a decentralised administrative system has been set up involving a significant transfer of responsibilities for management, evaluation and control to the Member States in line with the principle of subsidiarity, whereby the Commission remains responsible for implementing the budget.

The Commission does not fund European Social Fund (ESF) projects directly. It is up to the Member States to establish their priorities with a view to the funding and selection of projects while taking account of a set of objective criteria for the granting of funds laid down by the Commission and the Member States with the aim of putting the European Employment Strategy's priorities into practice.

The measures for Galicia were established within this framework, and the Spanish authorities ensure that these are implemented and followed up. The Commission has stressed the need to ensure a follow-up, as regards the priorities and measures, using the mechanisms provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1), in partrnership with the authorities concerned.

In this connection, a mid-term assessment is in the process of being carried out. This assessment focuses on the initial results of the measures, their relevance and how far objectives have been achieved. It also looks at the use of appropriations, as well as the follow-up and implementation. The results, which are expected by the end of 2003, will have to be taken into consideration in the discussions on the future of the Structural Funds after 2006.

With regard to the autonomous community of Galicia, the OLAF opened an external investigation (coordination case) on 29 March 2001 into the Confederación de Empresarios de Galicia (CEG).

This investigation is being conducted in close collaboration with the Spanish judicial authorities.

No further details can be provided at present since the information obtained during the OLAF's investigations is subject to provisions of Community and national law.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.