WRITTEN QUESTION P-2749/00 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Precautionary action in response to ESF irregularities in Catalonia (Spain).
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, European Social Fund, fraud against the EU

C 103 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The Commission confirms that the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the
Communities and their Member States on the one part, and Israel on the other part applies to the territory
of the Member States and (cid:145)to the territory of the State of Israel(cid:146).

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that on the occasion of the first Association Council on
13 June 2000, both the Union Presidency and the Commission, expressed the Union(cid:146)s attachment to the
respect of the territorial coverage of the Association Agreement with Israel.

(2001/C 103 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2749/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Precautionary action in response to ESF irregularities in Catalonia (Spain)

In its replies to previous questions the Commission has acknowledged the existence of significant
irregularities in the management of the European Social Fund by the Catalonia Autonomous Community(cid:146)s
executive body (cid:129) irregularities which have given rise to a number of cases which are currently being dealt
with by the Catalan courts, and also to involvement on the part of OLAF.

In view of the scale of such irregularities and the fact that they constantly recur, what action has the
Commission taken or is it intending to take? Is it true that the Commission has suspended or postponed
ESF payments to Catalonia and, in particular, payments relating to vocational training? Has the Com-
mission taken any other precautionary action?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

Further to the Commission(cid:146)s answers to written questions P-1071/00 and P-2009/00 (1)
from the
Honourable Member, the Commission is now in a position to inform the Honourable Member that it has
received an initial communication from the Spanish authorities concerning irregularities involving the
European Social Fund in Catalonia on the basis of Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1681/94 of
19 July 1994 (2).

During the consultations between the Spanish authorities and the Autonomous Community of Catalonia,
the latter undertook to provide answers to the Commission(cid:146)s questions. Among other things, it provided
assurances that the selection criteria for the new programming period would be changed in order to
ensure that implementation was more effective and transparent.

As regards the cases that are the subject of a judicial investigation, the authorities of the Autonomous
Community of Catalonia have informed the Commission that the training centres concerned have been
removed from the list approved by the Member State. However, the results of the internal
inquiries
conducted by the regional authorities and the information concerning the system of implementation and
monitoring applied in the past and planned for the future have not yet been supplied to the Commission.

As soon as the Commission found out about possible irregularities and fraud, it initiated proceedings
under Article 24 of Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88, as modified by Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 (3), and, as
a precautionary measure in order to safeguard its financial interests, suspended the payments provided for
in Article 21 of this Regulation for the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, pp. 151 and 171.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1681/94 of 11 July 1994 concerning irregularities and the recovery of sums
wrongly paid in connection with the financing of the structural policies and the organisation of an information
system in this field (OJ L 178, 12.7.1994).

(3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different
Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other
existing financial instruments (OJ L 193, 31.7.1993).