EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 65/55

(2004/C 65 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1190/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the FIFG by the municipality of Pesaro

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 Pesaro, urgently need to use European funds to support structural measures in the sector of fisheries, acquaculture and the processing and marketing of the relevant products,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Pesaro has submitted projects for the FIFG?

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

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0888/03, E-1186/03,

E-1187/03, E-1188/03, E-1189/03 and E-1190/03

given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The municipalities of Fiumicino, Livorno, Massa, Carrara, Ancona and Pesaro may present projects for funding from the financial instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG) under the fisheries single programming document (SPD), which covers all areas in Italy outside Objective 1 for the period 2000-2006.

Initiatives eligible for part-financing under the programme concern not only assistance for the fishing fleet, but also projects relating inter alia to installing artificial reefs to protect aquatic resources, constructing or converting aquaculture installations, equipping fishing ports, constructing and converting installations for processing and marketing fishery products, improving fishing in inshore waters and small-scale coastal fishing, as well as socio-economic measures.

Responsibility for managing the SPD rests with the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Policy which, in turn, has delegated management of measures not concerning the fishing fleet to the fishery departments of the various regional authorities. As the SPD managing authority, the Ministry sends the Commission an annual progress report by 30 April each year in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 366/2001 (1).

According to the information obtained via the Ministry and the regions concerned, at 31 December 2002 none of the above municipalities had presented projects as final beneficiaries but, in each of those same municipalities, projects had been presented by other beneficiaries (fishermen, fishing cooperatives and businesses).

Further information can be obtained from the following authorities:

— Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali Direzione genrale Pesca e Acquacoltura Viale dell'Arte, 16 00144 — Roma Tel. +39 06 59084203 Fax +3906 59084818 e-mail: pesca-dr@politicheagricole.it Contatto: Giovanni Granato

— Regione Lazio Direzione generale Sviluppo Agricolo e Mondo Rurale — Area Pesca Via Rosa Raimondi Garibaldi, 7 00147 — Roma Tel +39 06 51684286 Fax +39 06 51683872 e-mail: abrunori@regione.lazio.it Contatto: A. Brunori

— Regione Marche Servizio Attività Ittiche, Commercio, Caccia e Pesca soprtiva Via Tiziano, 44 60125 — Ancona Tel +39 071 8063730 Fax +39 071 8063055 e-mail: uriano.meconi@regione.marche.it Contatto: Oriano Meconi

— Regione Toscana Servizio Sviluppo Agricolo e Rurale, Caccia e Pesca Via di Novoli, 26 50127 — Firenze Tel +39 055 4383712 Fax +39 055 4385090 e-mail: g.guarneri@mail.regione.toscana.it Contatto: Giovanni Guarneri

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 366/2001 of 22 February 2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999, OJ L 55, 24.2.2001.