WRITTEN QUESTION E-2309/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (3 July 1997)

Subject: ESF funding for the 'European Academy of Special Effects'

On 15 October 1996 the regional authorities of Umbria, by Decision 7339 of the regional executive, approved funding for a training project, called 'European Academy of Special Effects (First year)', for 30 trainees as part of the 1994-96 regional SPD for Objective 2 (Axis 2, Sub-Axis 2.7 'Advanced Training'). The project, which is intended to enable the trainees to qualify as 'special effects supervisors', was proposed by the Società Consortile Parco Scientifico-Teconologico di Terni a.r.l. with a total cost of LIT 1 243 million, broken down as follows:

- LIT 740 million to be paid for out of the regional budget (of which LIT 333 million would be funded by the ESF);

- LIT 240 million to be paid for by the trainees;

- LIT 263 million in sponsorship.

The project appears vague in terms of both its actual objectives and its possible employment spin-off. Moreover, the criteria on which the regional executive of Umbria based its decision to approve the planned expenditure on the activities of some of the teaching staff appear to be incomprehensible.

In the light of these considerations, and in view of the substantial proportion of ESF co-financing for the project in question and the fact that each trainee on the course will be required to pay LIT 8 million:

1. Does the Commission not believe that it should check the criteria on which the decision to approve the financing in question was based and the appropriateness of the various expenditure items?

2. Does the Commission consider that these criteria are compatible with the more general criteria governing the activities of the European Social Fund?

3. Does the Commission believe that the financing of a course which requires trainees to come up with LIT 8 million is compatible with the activities of the ESF?

4. Can the Commission give its general views on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1997)

1. and 2. The administration of the European Social Fund (ESF) is based on the general programming documents (Community support frameworks, Community programmes), which are negotiated and decided upon in partnership between the Member States and the Commission. The Commission participates in the monitoring committees for the individual vocational training/development of human resources programmes, establishing the general criteria to be followed by the national authorities in selecting and implementing specific projects, for which the said national authorities have sole competence.

The list of regional and central services responsible for administering the European Social Fund in Italy has been sent to the Honourable Member as well as to the European Parliament Secretariat.

3. and 4. The Commission sought information from the Member State in question concerning the case described by the Honourable Member. The contribution payable by each student participating in the course served to cover costs and expenditure not admissible under the Social Fund regulations: the training of experts in special effects necessitated the use of advanced technologies, highly qualified teaching staff and complex management arrangements, having regard to the specific needs in this field.