WRITTEN QUESTION E-0533/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Subject: Falcone programme (1997-2001)

Could the Commission list the regional and/or national administrative authorities and public or private bodies to which sums or contributions have been allocated, stating the amount involved and whether or not payments have already been made, for each of the various actions included in the Falcone programme (1997-2001) (which has a budget of ECU 10 million, or approximately ITL 19 billion) in Italy and in the other Member States?

Has any action been taken to check that the funds were used for their intended purpose and the projects successfully implemented?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2000)

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the general background against which the implementation of the Falcone programme, like all other Justice and home affairs programmes, is evaluated. Projects are selected in two stages, first by professionals and then by representatives of the Member States meeting within the Falcone committee. The aim is to encourage cooperation between professionals from a large number of Member States (and non-member countries) on a multidisciplinary basis. Emphasis is put on training measures, joint projects and studies on themes linked to combating and preventing organised crime. The approach taken is not to consider the beneficiary and his national origin but to support projects which create synergy between Member States. The selection criteria and priority themes are described in detail in the annual Falcone programme published in the Official Journal(1).

The Commission publishes a report each year giving the breakdown of projects by type of beneficiary and type of measure. In addition to the priorities by type of project set out in the annual programme, the Commission endeavours to encourage cooperation between both national authorities and regional authorities or non-state organisations (universities, associations). The breakdown for 1998 was: 51,3 % for national authorities, 11,3 % for regional authorities and 37,4 % for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and a number of research institutes. The corresponding figures for 1999 are 59,7 %, 18,3 % and 22 %.

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The Commission has drawn up a list of projects cofinanced in 1998 and 1999, broken down by the three types of beneficiary, which will be sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. The Commission would recall that a report on the implementation of all the programmes in 1998 has been sent to Parliament(2).

With regard to the monitoring of the implementation and financing of projects, the fact that payments are made in instalments enables the Commission to ensure that the various stages of the projects are carried out properly. The last instalment is conditional on the beneficiary producing a report on implementation.

The Commission participates as far as possible in the projects, which enables it to make sure on the spot that implementation of the projects matches the award criteria and decisions. The Commission found that the beneficiaries were highly motivated, with the result that targets were met and cooperation often went far beyond the projects financed. Moreover, independent experts are currently evaluating all programmes, and this will make it possible to assess the results of the projects already completed under the Falcone programme since it came into operation at the end of 1998.

(1) OJ C 355, 8.12.1999.

(2) SEC(1999) 1955.