WRITTEN QUESTION E-3162/03 by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission. Fraud involving the resources of the European Social Fund.
Date: 2003-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, European Social Fund, financial management, fraud against the EU, job access, migrant worker, use of aid, vocational training

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/227

As regards the time limits within which Member States decide upon applications for recognition for the
regulated professions, the directives in force already contain precise rules on this matter. Depending on the
directive which applies, this time limit is three or four months. In its above-mentioned proposal for a
directive, the Commission proposed a single three-month deadline. Lengthy delays in reaching a decision
on the recognition of qualifications can be justified when a migrant needs to complete his/her application.
The proposal for a directive introduces a one-month deadline within which the competent authority must
acknowledge receipt of the application and, if necessary, inform the migrant of any missing documents, as
well as an obligation for the competent authorities to cooperate closely in order to expedite the
recognition procedure.

(1) COM(2002) 119 final.

(2004/C 70 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3162/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(24 October 2003)

Subject: Fraud involving the resources of the European Social Fund

The European Social Fund, which comes under the direct responsibility of the Commission, allocates
DKK 500 million each year in Denmark. The purpose of these appropriations is to help guarantee high
employment, the integration of refugees and immigrants, equality between men and women, sustainable
development in all regions of Denmark and economic and social cohesion.

In Denmark a body known as ‘Paraplyorganisationen for de Etniske Mindretal’ (umbrella organisation for
ethnic minorities (cid:1) POEM) was allocated DKR 2 million from the Social Fund. The money was
administered by the Danish Integration Ministry and the City of Copenhagen. With this money, POEM
hired a private firm (Inplacement) which offered courses intended to help unemployed immigrants find
work. In an article of 15 October 2003 the Danish daily Ekstra Bladet showed that all participants on the
course fail, and that the course does not qualify its participants for jobs. It also appears that POEM has
legal competence to deal with the firm of Inplacement, since it turns out that the deputy
doubtful
chairman of POEM is the sister of the director of Inplacement. That being so, the Integration Ministry
suspended payments to POEM.

In order to obtain economic support both from the EU and from Denmark, POEM supplied fraudulent
information concerning the number of its members listing member organisations which had never existed.
It provided money for bogus courses which did not qualify their participants for jobs, but instead
channelled EU monies to private firms having family connections with leading members of its own
organisation. This immigrants’ organisation did not live up to the objectives of the Social Fund regarding
the integration of immigrants, and should never have received a penny from the Social Fund.

What measures does the Commission propose to take to ensure that appropriations from the Social Fund
can no longer be paid to organisations which commit fraud with the Fund’s money and in any case do not
comply with the objectives of the Fund, and how will the Commission recover the money which it has
paid out under false pretences?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2003)

the Structural Funds (1), Article 38,

In accordance with Commission Regulation (CE) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general
the main
provisions of
responsibility for carrying out audit and control for the European Social Fund in Denmark in order to
ensure the correct use of funds. The Commission’s responsibility in the first instance is to assess whether
each Member State has a system of audit and control which gives sufficient assurance of proper

the Danish Managing Authority has

C 70 E/228

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

management of the Structural Funds. In July 2003 such a system test was carried out in Denmark by the
audit and control services of the Commission. The Commission concluded at that time that the Danish
system did indeed provide sufficient assurance.

The Danish Managing Authority is aware of the allegations levelled at POEM and has initiated the carrying
out of further controls of the project to ascertain the validity of the allegations in order to determine
appropriate action. The Commission is closely monitoring the Danish Managing Authority’s control of the
project concerned and any actions to be taken. If ESF funds have been wrongly paid out, they will be
recovered by the Danish Managing Authority.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 70 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3164/03

by Säid El Khadraoui (PSE) to the Commission

(24 October 2003)

Subject: Warning labels on alcohol

In the United Kingdom there have been calls for some time for alcohol products to carry warning labels in
is not waiting for legislation but has
the same way as tobacco products. Cains Brewery in Liverpool
introduced a label on its ‘2008 Celebration Ale’ advising against alcohol abuse. The label carries the
following message:
‘Alcohol advice: Robert Cain supports responsible drinking. Excessive drinking can
cause harm. Observe the daily guidelines for sensible drinking. Do not drink and drive.’

Alcohol abuse causes a great use of suffering in society. In the Commission’s view, what responsibility do
alcohol producers bear for this situation?

What is the Commission’s opinion of warning labels on alcohol?

Will the Commission take steps to make warning labels on alcohol products compulsory? If so, what
measures will
take and when? What message and/or illustrations does the Commission consider
appropriate?

it

If not, what is the Commission doing to draw the attention of alcohol producers to their responsibility for
warning their customers against excessive consumption of alcohol?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 2003)

The Commission fully shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the problems related to the
abuse of alcohol. In the Commission’s view industry plays an important role given their responsibility for
the products development, marketing and selling of their products. This concerns especially industry
activities towards children and young people. In this respect, the Commission should also like to draw the
attention of the Honourable Member to the Council Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on the drinking of
alcohol by young people (1), in particular children and adolescents.

Warning labels on alcohol could be an effective means to convey important health messages about alcohol
to the public. As far as the Commission is aware, this is not yet the practice in any Member State whereas
in the United States these warning labels have been compulsory for a long time.