WRITTEN QUESTION E-1770/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Investigation to combat the possible fraudulent misuse of Konver subsidies by the Dutch municipality of Den Helder

1. With the passage of time and the political stir over the spending of subsidy payments on, inter alia, the construction of a footbridge and landing stage in the inner harbour of Koopvaarder by the municipality of Den Helder in the Dutch province of North Holland, a picture has emerged of fraud and deception in the matter of European subsidies. Does the Commission agree that this should be dealt with by removing the causes for the underlying suppositions?

2. Does the Commission also agree that the information we now have concerning the use of subsidies by the municipality of Den Helder should prompt a thorough further investigation, so that due light may finally be shed on the course of events up to this moment? Is the Commission ready for such an investigation?

3. Are there at present any requests by the municipality of Den Helder for other European subsidies that have not yet been processed? If so, what are they?

4. Does the situation with regard to Konver subsidies as indicated in the above questions and in my questions on their disputed use and the channelling away of funds prompt the Commission to reconsider its position vis-à-vis the municipality of Den Helder as regards the granting or the supervision and monitoring of any new European subsidies to that town?

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.