WRITTEN QUESTION E-2452/01 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Negotiations concerning incorrect use, and a claim for repayment, of Dutch ESF funds.
Date: 2001-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Social Fund, Netherlands, exchange of information, financial control, fraud, management, use of aid

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/89

(2002/C 115 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2452/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Negotiations concerning incorrect use, and a claim for repayment, of Dutch ESF funds

1.
In accordance with the information given in the Dutch television programme Netwerk on Thursday,
16 August 2001 concerning the report commissioned in the Netherlands by ‘Arbeidsvoorziening’ . an
organisation which promotes employment . and submitted to the Minister of Social Affairs and
Employment by Raymond Potsdammer on 7 June 2001, can the Commission confirm that in 1999 it held
discussions with the Dutch ministry concerned about an ‘adjustment’ for the errors which had been made,
with Commission officials informally proposing that the amount of the ‘adjustment’ should be NLG 92,7
million (nearly € 42 million)?

2.
Can the Commission also confirm that the Netherlands rejected the offer referred to in question 3,
both on account of the expectation that, in the light of further inquiries, the ultimate repayment obligation
could not exceed NLG 58 million (a little over € 26 million) and because there was a reluctance to accept
responsibility for inadequate reporting?

3. Will the amount of NLG 70 million (nearly € 32 million) quoted in the Koning report, which was
promised to the Netherlands Parliament and published on 27 August, be taken into account in the
Commission’s eventual assessment if the Minister of Social Affairs incorporates this interpretation in his
response to the Commission’s previous statement of its position, which he is to give by 24 September?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

In 1999, after the discovery of the irregularities for Gelderland/Rijnmond and after the large scale Dutch
investigation for 1997, the Commission decided to put an amount of € 42 million in reserve for possible
irregularities during the years 1994-1996. This decision, which was probably referred to in the television
programme, was officially communicated to the Dutch authorities by means of a letter.

The decision to put money in reserve was taken unilaterally in order to safeguard the financial interests of
the Commission. It was never presented as an offer to financially close the years 1994-1996.

The Commission has asked the Dutch government according to Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No
4253/88 (1) to present new information and arguments that can reduce the claim. If the Dutch government
decides to use information and arguments from the Koning report, the Commission will certainly consider
them.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988, 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 374,
31.12.1988.

(2002/C 115 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2453/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Assessment of Dutch ESF expenditure without correct accounts

1.
Can the Commission confirm that the claim for repayment of NLG 447 million (more than € 200
million) in subsidies paid in the Netherlands from the European Social Fund in 1994-1996 is based on
data supplied by the audit department of the Netherlands Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment