WRITTEN QUESTION P-3255/96 by Antonio Tajani (UPE) to the Commission (18 November 1996)

Subject: Inclusion of the municipality of Rome among the recipients of funding under the Urban initiative

The Commission has decided to provide the municipality of Rome with funding under the Urban initiative for the renovation of the Tor Bella Monaca and Torre Angela districts. The project for the refurbishment of those districts involves funding of roughly Lire 41 billion, broken down as follows: EU - 13.750 billion, some already paid; Italian State - 17.750 billion; municipality of Rome - 7.588 billion; private sector: 2.728 billion. The municipality of Rome has chosen to spend, between October 1996 and December 1999, all the the funds as follows: (a) services for business- 3.7 billion;(b) training and promotion of local employment - 4 billion;(c) social services, health and safety - 10.6 billion;(d)infrastructure - 20 billion;(e) maintenance, cleaning and security of commercial premises - 600 million; (f) promotional activities and publicity - 2.8 billion.

Would the Commission state, therefore:

1. When is the last installment of Community funds due to be paid?

2. How and by what means does it intend to monitor the implementation of the project by the municipality of Rome?

3. What is its assessment of the actions already taken by the municipality of Rome to implement the Urban initiative?

4. Does it agree that the municipality of Rome's planned expenditure of Lire 2.8 billion on promoting and publicising the results of the project is excessive and that the measures in question do not meet the criteria for attracting Community funding?

5. When does it intend to inform the European Parliament of the measures taken in Rome to comply with the last chapter of the communication sent to the Member States on the implementation of the Urban programme?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (13 December 1996)

1. Urban Italy is a multiannual programme under which expenditure is eligible until the closure date of 31 December 2001. Payments by the Commission are made in instalments depending on the progress of the programme, the final payment being made upon receipt of a satisfactory closure report.

2. Throughout its lifetime the programme will be monitored by a committee set up for that purpose of which the Commission is a member. As with other structural fund programmes the Member State is responsible for certifying expenditure under the programme. The Commission may also carry out its own on-the-spot checks in accordance with the regulations.

3. Implementation of the programme is as yet at a very early stage. In Rome the main priority is to set up the special office which will follow up implementation of the measures there. The Commission expects more detailed information on the state of play for the next monitoring committee due early in 1997.

4. The sum to which the Honourable Member refers covers more than publicity and diffusion of information on results obtained. It also covers the cost of specific activities for the follow-up of the programme such as the setting up and operation of a financial and physical progress reporting system covering every project being assisted by the programme. Should the amount turn out to be more than is needed the monitoring committee has the power to shift resources from one measure to another.

5. The Commission will keep the Parliament regularly informed of progress on the implementation of Urban and the other Community initiatives.