WRITTEN QUESTION E-2740/03 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. Recovery of small amounts under EU aid programmes.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European Commission, financial regulation, management accounting, operation of the Institutions

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/135

The Commission is working in close co-operation with competent authorities from Member States on the
choice of systems. The Honourable Member will understand that, for security reasons, the Commission is
unable to communicate any further details in the context of a Parliamentary question. However, the
Commission offers to inform the Honourable Member more comprehensively if he wishes to make direct
contact with the relevant Service.

(2004/C 70 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2740/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Recovery of small amounts under EU aid programmes

There have been many complaints recently that under EU aid programmes the calculations are so exact
that, in some cases, even tiny amounts such as a few cents have to be recovered.

Quite apart from the huge amount of work it creates, this results in excessively high costs. In the case of
comparable aid programmes at regional level, however, there is usually a certain discretionary margin,
meaning that small amounts do not have to be recovered.

Is the Commission aware of this problem?

Is the Commission considering organising aid programmes so that in future a certain discretionary margin
is allowed with regard to settling small amounts?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Under the system of direct management, the Commission applies the rules laid down in the Financial
Regulation (1) and the implementing rules (2) in matters relating to the recovery of its entitlements.

Article 79 of the implementing rules states that ‘to establish an amount receivable the authorising officer
responsible shall ensure that (…) g) the principle of sound financial management is complied with’. This
means specifically that the authorising officer will consider the foreseeable cost of recovery in relation to
the amount to be recovered and assess the impact a waiver might have on the Community’s image
(Article 87(1)(a) of the implementing rules).

This provision answers the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member, and the Commission’s
accounting officer regularly brings it to the attention of the authorising officers responsible for establishing
entitlements in the sectors assigned to them.

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the

implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 70 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/03

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 September 2003)

Subject: The possibility for Commission translators to work in their home countries

It has been put to me that Commission translators could be given more flexible opportunities than at
present to work from their home countries. Given modern technology, this would be perfectly possible.
Some Commission translators (cid:1) both officials and those on contract (cid:1) feel that ‘compulsory’ posting to
Brussels detracts from their quality of life.