91999E0858

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0858/99

by Pieter Dankert (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Subject: ESF - The Netherlands

Dijkhuis Advies, which is a beneficiary of ESF Objective 3 training projects, reports that neither the final account for 1997 nor the second advance for 1998 have been paid and that the ESF coordinator has not given any reasons for these delays. Dijkhuis Advies also notes a recent tax measure known as the Supplementary Training Allowance from which projects co-financed by the ESF may not benefit, and which may even put them at a disadvantage owing to the differing ways in which the measure defines costs giving rise to an entitlement to subsidy, and to the fact that ESF funds are regarded as the firm's own income.

Are there any problems with the payment of the balance of the annual tranche for 1997 and the second advance for 1998, and if so, what?

Is the Commission aware of this Supplementary Training Allowance? What is its view of this measure which leads to discriminatory treatment between ESF and non-ESF projects?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 1999)

The request for final payment for 1997 of the Objective 3 programme could not be dealt with by the Commission in its initial version. The final version, on which the Commission and the Ministry for "Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid" (SZW) have reached agreement, was sent to the Commission on 30 March 1999. However, the advances already paid exceeded the balance requested. Consequently, the 1997 payments for the Objective 3 programme may be considered as terminated. Payments to the sponsors are governed by the "Arbeidsvoorziening".

The second advance for 1998, submitted in early October 1998, was paid in two tranches because the Commission did not have the necessary funds. A first tranche of 38 million euros was paid towards mid-November 1998. The remaining sum of 26 million euros was paid by the Commission on 15 March 1999.

The Honourable Member does not provide enough information for us to answer the part of the question concerning the tax measure known as the Supplementary Training Allowance ("extra scholingsaftrek"). After examination by the "Arbeidsvoorziening", responsible for the day-to-day management of Objective 3, it seems that additional information would be needed to identify the project and the measures concerned. Naturally the Commission will be happy to provide more ample information to the Honourable Member if these particulars are communicated.