EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/607

(2004/C 88 E/0627)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0990/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(27 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Culture 2000 programme by the municipality of Terni

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 to enhance the common cultural area in all its diversity and respecting all its traditions, nurturing creativity and professional mobility, and promoting access to and dissemination of art and culture,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects for the Culture 2000 programme?

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

3. whether this funding has been used?

Supplementary joint answer

to Written Questions E-0830/03, E-0892/03, E-0978/03, E-0979/03, E-0980/03, E-0981/03, E-0982/03, E-0983/03, E-0984/03, E-0985/03, E-0986/03, E-0987/03, E-0988/03, E-0989/03 and E-0990/03 given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2003)

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the Culture 2000 programme is a Community programme based on a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council and implemented directly by the Commission. It is not a financing instrument under the Structural Funds. It is therefore important to remember that the funds provided under the Culture 2000 programme are not managed by local or regional authorities but are granted directly by the Commission in accordance with the rules and criteria set out in the Decision establishing the programme.

The Culture 2000 programme is designed to support projects which are jointly run and financed by at least three operators from at least three countries taking part in the programme. The conditions and criteria governing participation in the Culture 2000 programme are set out in the calls for proposals which are published each year and to which the operators respond by submitting projects directly to the Commission.

In this context, the awarding of grants is directly and strictly linked to the smooth running of the projects (by the cultural operators responsible for the projects selected) which are monitored by the operational unit in charge of the Culture 2000 project

The Commission would also draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that all the information relating to the projects which receive funding under the Culture 2000 project is available to the public on the following website: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/c2000).

Finally, of the municipalities mentioned by the Honourable Member in her question, the only one which submitted a project in 2002 as project leader under the Culture 2000 programme was the municipality of Pesaro. This project was selected and received a grant of EUR 82 987.

The Honourable Member could also contact the local authorities for further information.