WRITTEN QUESTION E-1590/99 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Disappearance of money ( 40 million) from the ECIP programme of aid to businesses in developing countries (European Community Investment Partners programme).
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid programme, developing countries, financial instrument, fraud, liability, management, redemption

C 170 E/42

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

(2000/C 170 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1589/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Aid to the families of victims of the bomb attack on the Yugoslav television headquarters

The Commission has decided to earmark € 700 000 for assistance in repairing damage to the mass media
caused by the war in Yugoslavia. During the bombing of Belgrade on 23 April 1999, the television
headquarters was hit with the result that dozens of employees were either killed or injured.

Does the Commission intend to earmark some of the above funds to assist families of the victims of the
bomb attack on the television headquarters?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1999)

No. Moreover, funds from the relevant budget line could not be used for the purposes suggested by the
Honourable Member. The € 700 000 in additional assistance for the independent media in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), announced by the Commission on 25 June 1999, is designed to support
displaced journalists, the establishment of independent media, and to ensure the provision of accurate
information into the FRY, where the press have been subject to severe repression.

Two web-sites are being supported, to enable journalists to produce independent information, and for the
citizens of the FRY to receive it. Digital satellite equipment is in the process of being granted to television
stations across the whole region, to make possible the reception of daily European programmes. Assistance
is being given to journalists from Kosovo, to help them resume their work. A daily information service for
returned refugees, in cooperation with humanitarian agencies, is also being supported.

The Commission has so far contributed € 56,1 million in humanitarian assistance to Serbia during 1999,
most of which is for basic food and hygiene aid, as well as shelter for refugees and those displaced within
the country. Recipients of assistance are determined by humanitarian criteria, following a careful assess-
ment of needs.

(2000/C 170 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1590/99

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Disappearance of money (€ 40 million)

from the ECIP programme of aid to businesses in

developing countries (European Community Investment Partners programme)

Can the Commission confirm that some € 40 million has disappeared from the ECIP aid programme?

When did this money disappear, and when did the Commission become aware of this problem?

Which Commissioners and Commission departments are primarily responsible for ECIP and for financial
audits thereof?

What measures has the Commission taken to trace the money, what results have they had, and what has
the Commission done to prevent such problems in future?