WRITTEN QUESTION E-1601/02

by Alexander Radwan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Funding for the University of Oradea in Romania

The University of Oradea in Romania, is involved in several EU programmes.

There are also institutes in the Member States which belong to the University of Oradea.

1. Does the University of Oradea receive payments directly from the European Union which it then forwards, or are the institutes funded directly?

2. Does the University of Oradea give exact details of which faculties and institutes receive money from the funds granted by the EU and of how much they receive?

3. How detailed must the accounts be?

4. To what extent is it ensured that the money is used only for public purposes?

5. What payments are received by the various institutes, and is it possible to inspect the accounts?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2002)

1. The University of Oradea has received Community funds in the framework of Socrates/Erasmus (Action 1 Institutional Contract) for the implementation of the European Credit Transfer System and for the Organisation of Mobility activities. In 2000/2001, the institution was a partner in a Curriculum Development project coordinated by a Greek university and received Erasmus funding for this activity. The funds for these activities were paid to the account notified by the University.

In the academic year 2001/2002, the University of Oradea also participated as a partner in two Intensive Programmes, one Curriculum Development programme and in a project on the Dissemination of a previous Curriculum Development activity. As a result of a change in the funding system this year, the funds for these activities are paid to the coordinating universities which are responsible for forwarding the respective shares of the financing to the partner universities.

Within the framework of the Leonardo programme, no centralised project coordinated by the University of Oradea was funded.

Together with the other public universities in Romania, the University of Oradea was also involved in the Higher Education Reform programme funded by PHARE in 1996. Like all public universities in the programme the University of Oradea did not receive direct grants but received equipment (software and hardware) and benefited from training activities and study visits and organised one seminar itself.

Within the fifth Community Framework Programme of Research and Technological Development (RTD), the sole contract with the University of Oradea is an Accompanying Measure that aims to support a High-Level Scientific Conferences (contract No HPCF-C2000-0039 European Summer School on geothermal energy applications).

Only the legal entity which participates in RTD projects within the Fifth Framework Programme and which has signed the contract with the Community may receive a Community financial contribution. Consequently, the financial contribution is directly paid to the contractor in accordance with the indications laid down in the contract signed with the Community.

2. According to the rules applied, the University is responsible for distribution of the Erasmus funds mentioned above to its faculties involved according to the project application. As the University is the contractor vis à vis the Commission, the University has to submit a Final Report on the funded activities. This report requests, among other things, justification of expenditure carried out by the University.

3. and 4. The Final Report requests justification of expenditure per Erasmus activity and per eligible cost item, according to the terms of the Financial Agreement. In addition, the beneficiary has to provide an activity report. The Final Report is assessed by the Commission supported by the Technical Assistance Office as well as by external experts. If the Final Report shows inconsistencies with regard to the application or other shortcomings, the Commission requests the beneficiary to provide further information and/or asks for reimbursement.

The Final Report on Erasmus activities implemented in 2000/2001 was submitted by 1 November 2001 and is undergoing the respective assessment procedure. The Final Report on Erasmus activities implemented in 2001/2002 has to be submitted by 1 November 2002.

Concerning the above-mentionned research contract, the legal entity had to specify the expenses related to:

- the participation of young researchers (travel, subsistence and participation fees);

- the participation of invited keynote speakers/lecturers and scientific organisers, including scientific conference committee of any nationality (travel and subsistence);

- the organisation of the project.

The Community contribution is based on a percentage of cost claims submitted, provided that the costs are necessary for the project, have actually been spent and have been recorded in the accounts or the tax documents of the participant who has made the expenditures.

The implementation of activities supported by Community programmes can also be subject to an audit carried out by the Commission and/or the European Court of Auditors.

5. See points 1 and 2 above.