WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2059/96 by Markus FERBER , Detlev SAMLAND to the Commission. Payment of contracts concluded under the THERMIE programme
Date: 1996-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, FERBER, SAMLAND
Subjects: EU financing, contract, financial solvency, payment, small and medium-sized enterprises, thermal energy













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91996E2059

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2059/96 by Markus FERBER , Detlev SAMLAND to the Commission. Payment of contracts concluded under the THERMIE programme  


Official Journal C 385 , 19/12/1996 P. 0088 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2059/96 by Markus Ferber (PPE) and Detlev Samland (PSE) to the Commission (26 July 1996)Subject: Payment of contracts concluded under the THERMIE programmeSMEs tell us repeatedly that contracts concluded under the THERMIE programme are processed only very slowly. Evidently, contractually guaranteed payments are paid not within two months but often after three to six months - in other words, from 12 to 18 months after the work was carried out. This would indeed be an intolerable burden for SMEs which are as a rule financially weaker than big companies.Can the Commission provide information without delay on the following questions:1. What is the situation as regards the settlement of accounts relating to OPET contracts, which were funded under the THERMIE Regulation that expired on 31 December 1994 and on the basis of which the work on accompanying measures was carried out during the relevant period?2. What is the Commission's explanation for the delays in the payments it is due to make? Are those delays connected with the inappropriate settlement of accounts on a real-cost basis, criticized by the Court of Auditors in chapter 9, paragraph 9.8 of its draft report for 1995?3. What will the Commission do to put an end to this deplorable state of affairs?4. Does this Commission have any information about whether the delays in payment have adversely affected participating SMEs, even to the point of insolvency?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (16 September 1996)1. The expenditure on OPET (Organizations for the promotion of energy technology) contracts funded under the Thermie programme is the subject of an audit. The complex structure of the OPET network and the large variety of projects supported have made it necessary to carry out this audit, which is being conducted with the assistance of the financial controller of the Commission and an external consultant. To avoid penalizing companies, OPET contracts have been amended to allow the payment of up to 95% of the Commission's financial contribution to expenditure submitted. The results of the audit should be available soon.2. Contracts on a real-cost basis are used where large contributions are involved. This type of contract enables the Commission to properly check the accuracy of the expenditure submitted by the contractor. However, the option of contracts based on a negotiated, flat-rate amount can be considered in some cases for smaller amounts.3. Under the Joule-Thermie programme (1995-98), type B associated measures, which used to be the subject of OPET contracts, are now covered by contracts for a smaller amount and a shorter duration, thus allowing better control of the funds granted by the Commission.4. The Commission is not aware of any contractors having been adversely affected by participating in the Thermie programme.