WRITTEN QUESTION E-2345/02 by Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) to the Commission. Use of European Social Fund resources for the Edunet project.
Date: 2002-07-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Social Fund, Italy, financial control, fraud against the EU, management audit, project evaluation, vocational training

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/225

Answer given by M. Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Protocol on the protection and the welfare of animals annexed to the EC Treaty by the Treaty of
Amsterdam states that the Community shall pay full regard to the welfare of animals in formulating
Community policies on agriculture,
It also stresses that
religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage of Member States shall be respected.

transport, the internal market and research.

Circuses would certainly be regarded as belonging to a long cultural tradition in some, if not the majority
of Member States and the use of animals in these performances could be seen as part of this tradition.

The Commission is, moreover, of the opinion that there is currently no legal basis in Community law that
would permit the introduction at Community level of a ban on all performing animals at circuses on
animal welfare grounds.

Furthermore, in the absence of evidence that divergent national approaches were hindering the functioning
the
the internal market or other relevant Community objectives laid down in the EC Treaty,
of
Community’s power to act on circuses is very limited. Therefore, the decision whether to ban animal
performances at such events or to define under which welfare conditions they should be accepted remains
a matter under the sole responsibility of the Member States.

(2002/C 309 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2345/02

by Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) to the Commission

(29 July 2002)

Subject: Use of European Social Fund resources for the Edunet project

With reference to my Written Question E-0103/01 of 29 January 2001 concerning the use of European
(Centro Servizi Terziario, via
Social Fund resources for the Edunet project promoted by CST srl
in which the
Tagliamento 45,
Commission stated that action would be taken vis-à-vis Italy’s Ministry of Employment with a view to
the project and the amount of money spent on it, would the
shedding light on the progress of
Commission say what the outcome of that action was and what further information it obtained from the
Ministry of Employment?

I-00198 Roma) and to the Commission’s reply of 8 March 2001 (1)

Is the Edunet project now complete? If so, has a final audit been carried out of the expenditure made in
connection with it?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 11.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2002)

In 2001, the Commission asked the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy simultaneously to:

(cid:1) carry out all necessary checks, and

(cid:1) suspend all advance payments to the Edunet project.

In addition, the Commission has forwarded the case to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

C 309 E/226

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Following the Commission’s request, the Ministry of Labour suspended payments and, on 10 December
2001, submitted its inspection report on this project.

The covering letter to the report, signed by the Deputy Director, Mr D. Carnevale, sums up the Ministry’s
position as follows:

Following examination of the report and annexes, there appears to be a confusion of project-related
activities and activities outside the scope of the project, i.e. trade union activities.

The Provincial Labour Directorate in Rome nevertheless reserves the right
to submit definitive
information once it has completed its inspections by checking the certified expenditure charged to the
project.

In the meantime, pending new information, the Managing Authority will maintain the suspension of
payments to CST.

The Commission is therefore awaiting the financial certification of the closure of the Community initiatives
(Adapt/Employment) and reserves the right, then, to evaluate the eligibility of the submitted expenditure.

(2002/C 309 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2346/02

by Renato Brunetta (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 July 2002)

Subject: Galileo Project

There seems to be some delay in the launch of Galileo (the European satellite-navigation system), despite
mediation efforts by the Commission and the ESA.

The European industry must complete in-orbit validation of the satellite clocks by 2005, so as not to
jeopardise the assignment of the frequencies which have already been allocated internationally to the
European navigation system.

On 23 May 2002 the European Council gave the green light to the drawing up of a framework agreement
designed to facilitate joint projects between the European Union and the ESA.

In view of the above facts, does the Commission not consider that structures which will enable the project
to be properly run on a joint basis should be put in place as soon as possible?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

It is difficulties encountered in the European Space Agency (ESA) in finalising the programme statement on
Galileo which have prevented the establishment of the joint undertaking.

As these difficulties are persisting, the Commission has proposed to the ESA executive that it obtain its
Member States’ authorisation to set up the joint undertaking with the Community, represented by the
Commission, without having to wait for an arrangement to be reached on the level of their contributions.

This would enable the joint undertaking to start operating with funding from the Community budget paid
to it by the Commission.