EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/369

(2004/C 84 E/0427)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0349/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Serious irregularities involving the EU as regards the establishment of the private University of Formello (Rome)

The ‘Free University of Formello’ was set up in 2003. It is a private institution and started teaching students on 11 November 2003. On that date the municipality of Formello decided to become a shareholder in the university but, because of some dubious statements contained in the document submitted at the Council meeting to justify this decision, a number of councillors carried out detailed checks. The document in question supposedly dealt with a request for recognition of the university, sent to the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, by the European Commission. It said that funding had been granted for the project by the DG for Education and Culture under the Leonardo programme and bore the signature of the chairman of the National Committee for the assessment of the university system (a body belonging to the Ministry of Education) and a file number — DOC 27/2003. When the councillors checked with the chairman, they concluded that the document was false, for the following reasons: the chairman said that the Committee had never written the document, the chairman's signature had been forged and the Committee had not met on the dates mentioned in the document.

The councillors have already taken steps to launch all the penal and administrative procedures required to throw light on the subject. The Ministry of Education has lodged a complaint with the misleading advertising watchdog regarding the use of the name ‘Free university’, which is not allowed under current legislation because it is not authorised by the Ministry.

In view of all this, can the Commission say:

1. whether it is already aware of the facts outlined above, the creation of the university and the statements regarding the involvement of the DG for Education and Culture;

2. whether it is true that funding was provided under the Leonardo Programme — and if so how much — for establishing the ‘free University of Formello’;

3. whether it is true that the Commission requested recognition of the university from the Italian Ministry of Education;

4. whether, if all this is untrue, the Commission has the power and the intention to intervene directly;

5. whether it may also do so with regard to the infringement of European legislation on misleading advertising?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

In response to the Honourable Member's questions, and to address irregularities in the creation of the private University of Formello, the Commission would like to point out that:

1. The Commission recently received summary information according to which the ‘Libera Universita di Formello’ claims to have been involved in a project financed by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

2. No subsidy had been granted to the ‘Libera Universita di Formello’ under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

3. No request for ‘recognition’ of the ‘Libera Universita di Formello’ was sent to the Italian Ministry of Education by the Commission. Moreover, the Commission is not empowered to make such a request.

4. The Commission is currently cooperating with the Italian authorities in order to establish the facts.