WRITTEN QUESTION E-3388/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 November 2002)

Subject: Use of Community funds by Citizens' Assistance Centres and local and regional government enterprises

On 15 October 2002, Commissioner Michaele Schreyer kindly forwarded a written answer to Question No E-2321/02(1) referring to the failure of the Greek authorities to publish the Council of Europe report drawn up by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which makes some highly unfavourable disclosures concerning corruption in Greek public administration and local government bodies.

Is the Commission aware of the methods used to recruit staff for the Citizens' Assistance Centres in the Greek regions and of how the Community funds provided to set up those Centres are being used? Is there compliance with the fundamental principle of transparency and the proper use of Community appropriations? Is the Commission aware of complaints concerning post-dated contracts of civil servants at Citizens' Assistance Centres, and in which local government areas? Is there any information available concerning the use of Community funds in local government enterprises (e.g. data processing enterprises etc) run by Greek local government bodies? In which local and regional enterprises and companies (please state names) have problems been identified with the use of funds and non-transparent procedures? When exactly does the Commission intend to carry out further checks and in which municipalities, prefectures and regions in Greece (please state names again)?

(1) OJ C 155 E, 3.7.2003, p. 12.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2003)

The evaluation report on Greece established by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) was adopted in May 2002 and, further to approval of the Greek authorities, published in October 2002 (i.e. after the Commission's reply to Written Question E-2321/02). It is true that the report contains a very general remark indicating that most of the (reported) corruption cases concern cases of bribery of Greek officials with a view to obtaining subsidies from Community funds. However, this is not further specified in the report, which mainly assesses the situation of anti-corruption strategies and bodies.

The project Ariadne: System of provision of services and administrative information to the citizens, or Citizens' Assistance Centres, with a total budget of EUR 57,1 million, has been cofinanced by the Operational Programme Information Society within the Community Support Framework 2000-2006 for Greece since 2002.

According to information received by the Managing Authority of the programme, the implementing bodies(1) are:

1. the Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and De-centralisation, concerning the Centres in (about 700) small municipalities below 10 000 inhabitants;

2. the big municipalities themselves (about 135), i.e. those with a population above 10 000 inhabitants Operations in the small municipalities are supported by a sub-project with a budget of EUR 39,2 million, which consists of hiring temporary, specialised, university educated information technology (IT) staff to serve the Centres during the pilot operation until 2003. EETAA, the Greek Union of Local Administration, runs the sub-project on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and according to circulars issued by this ministry, establishes the staff qualifications and the model contracts.

The Commission has not been aware of any complaints, irregularities or other problems concerning the implementation of the project Ariadne to date. If, following ad hoc checks as a result of a complaint, or the regular checks foreseen by the structural fund Regulations, it appears that such irregularities, or other problems have occurred, the Commission will take all the necessary measures as provided in those Regulations. It will decide which checks to undertake, and where, once it has obtained the Member State's comments on the matter.

(1) Final beneficiaries.