WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1374/96 by James PROVAN to the Commission. Delays to payments from the European Social Fund
Date: 1996-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, PROVAN
Subjects: EU financial instrument, European Social Fund, administrative cooperation, aid system, balance of payments assistance, coordination of aid, government, interest, local government













EUR-Lex - 91996E1374 - EN






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91996E1374

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1374/96 by James PROVAN to the Commission. Delays to payments from the European Social Fund  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0089 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1374/96 by James Provan (PPE) to the Commission (6 June 1996)Subject: Delays to payments from the European Social FundWhat is the Commission doing to eliminate the lengthy delays to payments from the European Social Fund to the authorities in the Member States, delays caused by administrative procedures in Brussels, and causing great hardships to recipients, who often incur interest charges while awaiting payments from Brussels? What compensation is available from charities, voluntary groups and local authorities which incur interest charges due to these delays?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1996)As outlined in the joint reply the Commission gave to Oral Questions H-566/95, H-584/95, H-605/95, H-634/95, H-635/95, H-636/95, H-637/95 by Mrs Pollack and others during question time at Parliament's September 1995 part-session ((Debates of Parliament n° 4-467 (September 1995). )) and in the reply it gave to Oral Question H-231/96 by Mr McMahon during question time at Parliament's April 1996 part-session ((Debates of Parliament (April 1996). )), the system for the European social fund payments is governed by the provisions of Article 21 of the structural funds coordination Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993. )). As was explained in the replies, the Commission can not release European social fund (ESF) funding until the Member States have introduced a demand for payment which is based on accurate, auditable data in relation to actual expenditure already incurred by beneficiaries in accordance with the priorities for the measures and the financial plan of the programmes. Once the conditions are fulfilled and a request is received from the Member State, the payments by the Commission are effected as soon as possible and as a general rule within 60 days.The Commission is working closely with all the national authorities to identify areas for improvements in the claiming systems within Member States. It is, however, primarily the responsibility of the Member States to take the necessary steps in order to improve their capacity in triggering the release of the ESF funds.The ESF provides support by co-financing the eligible costs of the actions agreed under each operational programme or single programming document.While the Commission recognises the particular operational difficulties encountered by certain organisations (in particular non-governmental organisations), the position on interest charges incurred as a result of delays in payments is that these are not regarded as eligible expenditure. The ESF committee set up under Article 124 of the EC Treaty and operating under the provisions of Article 28 of the coordination Regulation has continuously upheld the position that such interest charges cannot be deemed an eligible cost.