WRITTEN QUESTION E-0820/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Possible fraud in the use of ESF monies intended for training workshops run by the Confederation of Galician Businessmen.
Date: 2001-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Social Fund, Galicia, employers' confederation, fraud against the EU, political morality, sanction (EU)

C 340 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

and local level), in order to ensure that Romania(cid:146)s overall social protection policies are effective in
providing support to families with children at risk, and preventing abandonment and institutional-
isation of children.

(cid:129) A national public awareness campaign aimed at preventing abandonment of children and their re-

integration into (natural or foster) families.

As for alleged trafficking in children from Romania, the Commission is aware of allegations that have
appeared in the press but has no evidence as to the existence of networks carrying out such trafficking.

As far as adoptions are concerned, the 2000 Regular Report on Romania(cid:146)s Progress Towards Accession (1)
notes that current legislation related to inter-country adoption means that considerations, other than the
best interest of the child, may prevail. It also notes that Romania should align its legislation with the The
Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-country Adoption and
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(1) COM(2000) 710 final.

(2001/C 340 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0820/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Possible fraud in the use of ESF monies intended for training workshops run by the Confederation

of Galician Businessmen

Serious irregularities in the management of Galician Confederation Businessmen, by its former President,
Ant(cid:243)nio Ramilo,
led to an as yet unexplained debt of ESP 1 000 million (€ 6 010 121). Against this
background, it has been ascertained that possibly fraudulent use was made of Community funds managed
by the Confederation as subsidies from the Galician Government, intended to pay for training courses.
These funds were used to pay the Confederation(cid:146)s own running costs. Between 1996 and 2000, the
Confederation received ESP 3 569 million (€ 21 450 122) from the Galician Government, largely compris-
ing Community monies. What steps is the Commission taking vis-(cid:224)-vis the Galician Government, which
was responsible for managing the Community funding, to investigate the possibility that the former
Confederation President(cid:146)s mismanagement may also have affected the ESF funded training courses?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the written reply it gave to his Oral Question H-
0258/01 during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s April 2001 part-session (1).

On 4 April 2001 the Commission received information from Spain concerning funds which the Galician
confederation of businessmen (Confedera(cid:231)ªo de EmprØsarios de Galiza (cid:129) CEG) received from the Xunta de
Galicia (Galician Government), and on checks carried out. However, Spain has yet to complete its report in
order to allow any irregularities to be identified. Spain should shortly be able to forward to the
Commission the conclusions of checks currently being carried out, which will allow it to take the
appropriate measures.

No notification of irregularities relating to this case has as yet been received from Spain. However, the
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has indicated that on 29 March 2001 it opened an investigation to
assist the Spanish authorities (Fiscalia especial para la represi(cid:243)n de los delitos econ(cid:243)micos relacionados con
la corrupci(cid:243)n).

(1) Written reply, 3.4.2001.