WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/04 by Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) to the Commission. Use of European Social Fund resources in connection with the Edunet project.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, European Social Fund, Italy, fraud against the EU, judicial inquiry

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/657

In selecting works whose translations are to be awarded funding, the fundamental criterion is the quality of
the original work and of the translations, as well as the quality and reliability of the publishing house, with
due respect for the principle of freedom of expression.

The arrangements for the selection of works are set out clearly in the annual calls for proposals published
in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Commission provided funding under the Culture 2000 programme for the translation from French to
Greek of the historical work ‘Kemal Atatürk: les chemins de l’occident’ by the author Alexandre Jevakhoff.

The Commission has not been informed of any other public financing being awarded for translation of this
work into other languages in Europe.

A detailed list of all books for which funding for translation has been provided under the Culture 2000
programme
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/
index_en.html).

available on the

since 2000 is

Internet

at:

The procedure followed for awarding translation funding under the Culture 2000 programme is provided
for in the Decision which established the programme (1). It is applied strictly.

The publishing house which received funding for translation of the work ‘Kemal Atatürk: les chemins de
l’occident’ is Travlos éditions.

(1) Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000 establishing the

Culture 2000 programme, OJ L 63, 10.3.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0741)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/04

by Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Use of European Social Fund resources in connection with the Edunet project

In two earlier questions (E-0103/01 (1) of 29 January 2001 and E-2345/02 (2) of 29 July 2002) the author
of this question referred to the Commission for its consideration the case of the ‘Edunet Project’, which
was being promoted by the CST srl company and financed by means of the EU’s European Social Fund
(Adapt programme) and in connection with which EU funding seemed to be being used for a purpose
totally different from its intended one.

In her reply of 8 March 2001 Mrs Anna Diamantopoulou (Commissioner) said that in response to the
above questions the Commission had asked the Italian Ministry of Labour to check the expenditure made
in connection with the Edunet project and not to pay any advances.

In her second reply (of 16 September 2002) Mrs Diamantopoulou announced (a) that she had received a
report from the Ministry of Labour, according to which there appeared to be ‘a confusion of project-
related activities and activities outside the scope of the project, i.e. trade union activities’, (b) that the
Ministry of Labour had suspended all further payments, (c) that the case had been forwarded to the
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and (d) that the Commission was awaiting the financial certification of
the closure of the Community initiatives (Adapt/Employment) and had reserved the right to evaluate the
eligibility of the submitted expenditure.

In the light of the facts set out above the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rome opened a judicial inquiry, the
preliminary stage of which has now, apparently, been concluded.

Would the Commission answer the following questions:

(cid:1) Has it received (from the Italian Government, amongst other sources) any further clarification

concerning the Edunet Project?

(cid:1) Is it now able to evaluate the eligibility of the expenditure made in connection with the Edunet

Project?

C 84 E/658

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Furthermore, given that the organisation involved in the above case (the Fisacat-CISL company) is now
involved in other initiatives financed by means of the European Social Fund (such as the Flexible Training
System project), does the Commission consider this to be compatible with the purposes and the objectives
which that Fund is intended to serve?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 11.
(2) OJ C 309 E, 12.12.2002, p. 225.

Answer given by Mr Dimas on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

As indicated in its reply to Written Question E-2345/02 by the Honourable Member, the Italian Ministry
of Labour has suspended the payment
for the Edunet project as there are ongoing investigations
concerning this element of the programme.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has opened a co-ordination case on the basis of Article 1 (2) of
Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 (1).

This investigation, in which OLAF provided assistance and technical support, was carried out by the Italian
authority (Guardia di Finanza).

The above-mentioned action indicated irregularities to the detriment of
the European Social Fund.
Subsequently, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office opened criminal proceedings involving ten persons.
A final decision by the Italian Court in this matter has not yet been notified to the Commission.

OLAF is currently engaged in the financial and judicial follow-up in this matter.

The Commission is now evaluating the possibility to close the ADAPT programme with the exception of
the Edunet project subject
in accordance with Article 52 §5 of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999 (2).

to legal proceedings,

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations

conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 84 E/0742)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0702/04

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 March 2004)

Subject: Greenland halibut recovery: extraordinary measures to be adopted by the Commission

In its reply of 27 November to my question P-3264/03 (1), the Commission said that a working party was
being set up within the Directorate-General on Fisheries to study all the implications of the decisions
adopted at the annual NAFO meeting in 2003 for the Community fleet.

On 19 January, the Director-General answered my question in the Fisheries Commission concerning
Mr McGuire’s new scientific reports (cid:1) which contradicted previous NAFO reports (cid:1) by saying that the
Commission would study them. Fresh meetings with the scientists have recently been held in Madrid.

What is the current state of affairs with regard to this issue?