91997E3111

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3111/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Structural Funds in Italy

In 1995 the Italian government, faced with the disastrous situation in Italy with regard to the utilization of Structural Funds aid, made definite commitments to the Community institutions concerning the new programming phases.

That being so, could the Commission:

1. publish the state of commitments and payments made by Italy for the 1989-1993 programming period?

2. publish the state of commitments and payments made by Italy for the 1994-1999 programming period?

3. state its views on the current situation?

4. state whether there is still a possibility that some funds will be diverted to other countries whose utilization procedures have proved to be more efficient?

5. state whether, and if so how, the delays on the part of Italy can affect the forthcoming review of the activities of the Funds after 1999?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1997)

On the basis of the latest information from the Italian authorities, the implementation situation for approved structural fund programmes in Italy is summarized in the table below. The figures refer to the percentage of the total expenditure programmed for the period committed or spent on the ground by implementing agencies on 30 June 1997.

Structural fund programmes in Italy commitments and expenditure by implementing agencies

>TABLE>

The Commission draws the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that the same considerations apply to these data as applied to those given in Reply to the Honourable Member's written question 1074/97 ((OJ C 21, 22.1.1998. )).

The figures in the table confirm that, with the extensions granted, the losses for the 1989-1993 period will remain relatively limited. In so far as 1994-1999 is concerned there are signs of a slow recovery resulting from the action taken by the Commission and the Italian authorities under the July 1995 agreement on the improved management of structural fund programmes in Italy. The Commission will continue every effort with the Italian authorities to sustain this recovery in order to ensure the full and correct use of all the available structural fund resources within the current programming period. It is hoped thus to avoid any question of transfers to other Member States.

The Commission reserves the right to take account of poor use of structural funds in any Member State in considering allocations for the post-1999 period. Therefore it is particularly important that improvements in structural fund management in Italy be continued and consolidated.