WRITTEN QUESTION P-0058/04 by Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Funding by the Italian State and the Region of Campania for the programme contract submitted by Agrifuturo S.c.a.r.l..
Date: 2004-01-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Campania, State aid, agri-foodstuffs, control of State aid, investment project

C 78 E/922

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission prefers to encourage Member States to become increasingly engaged in the modern-
isation of social protection systems through the application of the open method of coordination which is
based on common objectives, monitoring of performances through common indicators and the exchange
of experiences.

Moreover, differences in social protection expenditure per inhabitant are not only determined by policy,
as they also reflect different levels of economic performance, age structures and the strength of informal
solidarity networks as those based on the family.

It should also be noted that the evolution over time of social protection expenditure as a share of gross
domestic product (GDP) is generally countercyclical. The share rises as growth slows down and falls during
an economic upswing.

(2004/C 78 E/0975)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0058/04

by Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: Funding by the Italian State and the Region of Campania for the programme contract submitted

by Agrifuturo S.c.a.r.l.

With reference to the questioner’s numerous previous questions on the subject, none of which has received
a proper answer, the Commission has now had more than a year to examine the documents concerning
the programme agreement with Agrifuturo. It is hard to believe that it has been impossible to decipher
these documents after such a long time and, on the basis of this examination, to take some decision which
could be communicated to the questioner before the end of the parliamentary term. Can the Commission
please give a swift and comprehensive answer regarding the compatibility of the programme with point 4.9
of the 2000-2006 regional operational programme for Campania?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

We have not had the documents on financing of the programme contract with Agrofuturo S.c.a.r.l. for
more than a year. The Italian authorities sent them to us through the Permanent Representation under
cover of a letter dated 15 May 2003.

On the basis of the information transmitted the Agrofuturo dossier has been transferred to the register of
unnotified (illegal) aids.

A new request for information is at present in preparation.

We can assure the Honourable Member that a decision, whatever it turns out to be, will be adopted as
soon as possible after the Italian authorities’ reply is received.

It should be remembered that under Article 13(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March
1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 (now Article 88) of the EC Treaty (1) in
cases of possible unlawful State aid the Commission is not bound by the normal two month time limit for
examination of the case.

(1) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.