EU claims funds spent for Elton John
The European Commission has claimed back from the Italian region of Campania the funds it spent for an Elton John's concert after ruling that the expense did not comply to EU regulations.
The concert, held in Naples as part of the Piedigrotta Festival in September 2009, was paid with 750,000 euros taken from a European fund devoted to the region's cultural heritage and development.
The Commission has ruled today that the concert was not eligible to be paid off with EU money, requiring Campania to give the money back.
“The amount will be deducted from the next donation of structural funds devoted to the region's development,” said Tom Van Lierop, spokesperson of the European regional policy commissioner.
He said that the expense was not considered eligible because “regional development funds can be used for cultural events only when they are both structural and long-term”.
“In this case,” he said, “it was just a one-spot event”.
The inquiry into the irregularity of the region's use of EU funds started after Italian MEP Mario Borghezio, from the party Lega Nord, reported the case to the Commission.
Speaking to The Fresh Outlook, he said he “greatly welcomed” the decision of the commission. He said: “As an Italian MP in Europe, I hope this [decision] will be a healthy slap on the face for some unscrupulous regional administrators, and push them to reconsider the aim of European funds.
“I also hope this would highlight the wrong use that certain regions do of the funds given by the EU.”
He said that funds are not given to organise “kermesses” nor for what he calls “pane et circenses” [bread and horse races], referring to the old practice the Romans had to entertain the population, stirring their attention from the poor living conditions and keeping it at bay.
Previously speaking to The Fresh Outlook, Mr Borghezio said that spending EU money in this way was “criminal and shameful”.
He added that he is currently researching into a similar event that took place in the Italian region of Puglia, involving an amount that he described as “ten times bigger than [the one for] the Elton John's concert”.
“In case there is the basis for an inquiry, I will ask for it to the Commission straight away,” he said.
(Read the full article on The Fresh Outlook)
03.11.2010
The concert, held in Naples as part of the Piedigrotta Festival in September 2009, was paid with 750,000 euros taken from a European fund devoted to the region's cultural heritage and development.
The Commission has ruled today that the concert was not eligible to be paid off with EU money, requiring Campania to give the money back.
“The amount will be deducted from the next donation of structural funds devoted to the region's development,” said Tom Van Lierop, spokesperson of the European regional policy commissioner.
He said that the expense was not considered eligible because “regional development funds can be used for cultural events only when they are both structural and long-term”.
“In this case,” he said, “it was just a one-spot event”.
The inquiry into the irregularity of the region's use of EU funds started after Italian MEP Mario Borghezio, from the party Lega Nord, reported the case to the Commission.
Speaking to The Fresh Outlook, he said he “greatly welcomed” the decision of the commission. He said: “As an Italian MP in Europe, I hope this [decision] will be a healthy slap on the face for some unscrupulous regional administrators, and push them to reconsider the aim of European funds.
“I also hope this would highlight the wrong use that certain regions do of the funds given by the EU.”
He said that funds are not given to organise “kermesses” nor for what he calls “pane et circenses” [bread and horse races], referring to the old practice the Romans had to entertain the population, stirring their attention from the poor living conditions and keeping it at bay.
Previously speaking to The Fresh Outlook, Mr Borghezio said that spending EU money in this way was “criminal and shameful”.
He added that he is currently researching into a similar event that took place in the Italian region of Puglia, involving an amount that he described as “ten times bigger than [the one for] the Elton John's concert”.
“In case there is the basis for an inquiry, I will ask for it to the Commission straight away,” he said.
(Read the full article on The Fresh Outlook)
03.11.2010