WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2880/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Further complications with funding for training the unemployed and combating social exclusion under the second CSF
Date: 1996-10-31
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Community certification, Community support framework, EU control, EU financing, European Social Fund, Greece, credit, marginalisation, unemployed person, vocational training













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91996E2880

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2880/96 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Further complications with funding for training the unemployed and combating social exclusion under the second CSF  


Official Journal C 105 , 03/04/1997 P. 0033 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2880/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 October 1996)Subject: Further complications with funding for training the unemployed and combating social exclusion under the second CSFIn a recent statement, Commission representatives noted that: 'the vocational training centres did not comply with the procedure for assessing the programmes in accordance with Ministerial Decision No 108009 of 17 April 1995' and voiced serious reservations about funding those programmes from the second CSF.In his most recent statements, the Greek Minister for Employment gave assurances that the above reservations would be allayed and that there would be a steady flow of funds for training programmes for the unemployed. However, the appropriations have been frozen again owing to 'problems' in the certification procedure.1. What are the new problems which have led to the freezing of the appropriations and the certification procedure?2. What does the Commission propose to secure the release of the appropriations?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (24 January 1997)Immediately after the first checks had been carried out in 1995, upon discovery of the irregularities, the Commission questioned the certification work and asked the Member State's authorities to make good the shortcomings of the national certification centre. It advised the Greek authorities that the certification procedure had to be seen to be transparent and efficient before the 1996 programmes were started.Despite the assurances given by the Greek authorities, the checks carried out in July 1996 by the Commission confirmed its fears. No action had been taken against those responsible for the irregularities and the work of the centre was characterised by the same lack of transparency, with further serious irregularities being discovered.In view of the gravity of the situation and so as not to jeopardise the implementation of the new programmes, the Commission was forced to call for an immediate halt to the work of the centre in the hope of finding a solution to the problem in cooperation with the Member State. To this end, a working party set about drawing up proposals for establishing a new certification system.With regard to the resumption of payments, the Commission, after examining the documents forwarded by the Member State, paid the final balance in respect of activities carried out in 1995, once the necessary adjustments had been made in the light of the checks carried out. The Commission asked the competent Greek authorities to provide it with an action plan for restructuring the services involved in administering the ESF programmes, and to give thought to policy priorities. On the basis of the foregoing, it suggested to the Ministry of Labour that, pending the introduction of the new certification system, a rudimentary programme be drawn up for implementing vocational training activities by means of reliable structures such as those under Regulation 815/84.