92002E2858

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2858/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(10 October 2002)

Subject: Use by the municipality of Rome of funding under Life III, the Fifth Action Programme for the environment and sustainable development, and educational and awareness-raising measures as regards environmental problems

In September 2002 the supervisory committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs presented a report on how EU funding has been spent.

The inquiry revealed the worrying slowness and inefficiency in the award of contracts by local authorities: commitments for 2000 accounted for only 2 % of the whole CSF.

Alarm at the inadequate use of European funding by local authorities has also been expressed by the Commission on various occasions.

A number of local authorities, such as the municipality of Rome, very much need to use European funding to protect and safeguard the environment.

In view of all this, can the Commission say:

1. whether the municipality of Rome has submitted projects under the programmes Life III, the Fifth Action Programme for the environment and sustainable development, and educational and awareness-raising measures as regards environmental problems;

2. whether the municipality of Rome has obtained funding for such projects;

3. whether the funding has been used?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

The Municipality of Rome did not submit any application under the LIFE III programme, nor did it submit any proposal in the framework of the general calls for proposals 2001 and 2002 of the Directorate General for Environment, under the theme environmental awareness-raising.

In the past, following a call for proposals(1) on environmental awareness raising projects, the municipality of Rome has been granted a subvention to co-finance the Mediterranean Local Agenda 21 conference, which took place in Rome 22-24 November 1995. The total amount paid by the Commission amounts to EUR 45 216, which covers part of the costs for the organisation of the conference.

(1) OJ C 71, 23.3.1995.