WRITTEN QUESTION P-1836/00 by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Dionysos project put forward by the Innova association for inclusion in the Euromed Heritage programme.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Mediterranean region (EU), Mediterranean third countries, cultural heritage, non-profit organisation

C 53 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

(2001/C 53 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1836/00

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Dionysos project put forward by the Innova association for inclusion in the Euromed Heritage

programme

The Commission recently informed the Innova non-profit-making association that it was terminating the
contract it had concluded with the association, covering the implementation of the Dionysos project under
the Euromed Heritage programme. Not content with simply terminating the contract for what was
acknowledged to be one of the most interesting projects put forward for inclusion in the Euromed
Heritage programme, the Commission also asked the association to return all of the Commission funds it
had already received.

This extremely heavy penalty places a question mark over Innova(cid:146)s future viability. As a non-profit-making
association, Innova has very little in the way of own resources. Therefore, were the Commission to put its
decision into effect, Innova(cid:146)s directors might well be forced to put up their own money in order to be able
to reimburse the Commission, since under Italian law the directors of non-profit-making associations have
joint and unlimited liability for any debts incurred by their associations.

Can this approach be the right one? How can one expect the general public in Europe to view the
Commission(cid:146)s activities in a positive light if that body takes unilateral decisions that place Community
citizens in an extremely difficult financial position, without allowing those concerned to put their own
case? Would the Commission not agree that the action taken by its staff is, to say the least, dispropor-
tionate?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

The Dionysos Project was selected under the Euromed Heritage Programme and was to be implemented
and managed by the Innova Association.

The Commission had noted on numerous occasions that Innova was failing to meet its contractual
obligations and had warned the association to this effect. Despite this no measure was taken to comply
with these obligations.

An audit undertaken at the Commission(cid:146)s request confirmed that a large amount of expenditure under-
taken was not eligible and that the contract had not been respected (keeping of separate accounts, reports,
interests, etc.).

The Commission terminated the contract and explained the reasons for its decision in a letter of 23 March
2000. The Commission has issued a recovery order for all the sum paid to the Innova Association in order
to safeguard the Community(cid:146)s financial interests.

(2001/C 53 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1838/00

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Attendance by representatives of Central and Eastern European countries at meetings of scientific

and management committees on veterinary and plant health questions

In the forthcoming accession negotiations with Central and Eastern European countries, the question as to
whether, and how, those countries can meet present European legislation will be one of the problem
issues.

Does the Commission therefore not think it desirable for those countries to be able to attend meetings of
the relevant committees as permanent observers? Is the Commission prepared to act accordingly?