WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1220/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. Alleged irregularities in the management of cooperation funds by CESTAS
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament
Subjects: Angola, EU aid, Italy, emergency aid, financial aid, financial control, health aid, non-governmental organisation













EUR-Lex - 91998E1220 - EN






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91998E1220

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1220/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. Alleged irregularities in the management of cooperation funds by CESTAS  


Official Journal C 050 , 22/02/1999 P. 0018 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1220/98by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission(29 April 1998)Subject: Alleged irregularities in the management of cooperation funds by CESTASIn 1993, DG VIII of the European Commission awarded the management of a cooperation project for urgent assistance in the health sector in Angola to CESTAS, an Italian NGO in Bologna. The total value of the project originally came to approximately Lire 6 billion. After establishing that the NGO in question was having difficulties implementing the project owing to the unstable situation in Angola, the Commission asked it to reschedule it and extended the time scale of the action.Will the Commission therefore:1. Evaluate the emergency heading under which the funds were granted?2. Specify the level of contributions already granted to the NGO for this emergency medical assistance?3. Indicate to whom the Commission request to reschedule the project was directed?4. Verify the explanations given by CESTAS for its continued failure to begin operations in Angola and for the extremely costly and numerous planning missions undertaken by its members?5. Indicate the steps it intends to take should any irregularities be proven?Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission(25 June 1998)Rehabilitation projects in Angola are financed by the Commission in accordance with the essential requirements it has identified and the priorities it has chosen. In 1995, the Commission (DG VIII and ECHO) drew up a cooperation strategy aimed at rehabilitating health services, in collaboration with the Health Ministry and other donors.The Cestas project, like all other ongoing NGO (non-governmental organisation) projects, was reviewed in the light of changing circumstances in the country, the Commission's priorities and the need to coordinate the various operations in each province.Since 1992 the Commission has granted the NGO Cestas a total of ECU 1 441 000 for health sector rehabilitation initiatives in Angola. The outstanding payment of ECU 123 743 will be made after the activities related to the project have been completed and approved by the Commission.The decision to revise the project was taken after consultations between the Commission, the NGO officials and the provincial health authorities.While the project was being actively executed, the NGO was present in and was represented in Angola. Missions were provided for in the contract, notably for the purpose of holding meetings and seminars with the local bodies involved in the project.The NGO in question is subject to the usual monitoring and inspection procedures applied to other partners in cooperation projects. Payment in instalments is subject to the approval of activity reports and financial reports. When in doubt, the Commission conducts more in-depth financial checks.