92001E1444

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1444/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Management of the European Social Fund in the Canary Islands

The answer of 13 October 2000(1) to Written Question E-2331/00 on the same subject sparked off a lively political debate widely reported across the regional press in the Canary Islands.

The debate prompted Mr José Carlos Mauricio, spokesman for the CC (Canary Islands Coalition) grouping in the Spanish parliament, to reveal that last week (sic) he had had a discussion with Commissioner Diamantopoulou, in the course of which she had informed him, unofficially, of the existence of a Commission report on the management of Community employment funds (as they are referred to in the text), clearing the Canary Islands government of any wrongdoing and revealing that the only irregularities discovered by Brussels were administrative errors, which were very common in those Member States with high levels of unemployment (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece). According to Mr Mauricio, Commissioner Diamantopoulou told him that the irregularities concerned were administrative errors resulting from precipitate use of the funds.

Will Commissioner Diamantopoulou, on the Commission's behalf, give details of or confirm the existence of any recent report, study or document drawn up by the Commission in connection with the management of programmes and/or projects financed by the European Social Fund in the Canary Islands?

Is it the case, as reported in the press, that Commissioner Diamantopoulou expressed the view that in countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece errors of an administrative or other nature are commonplace in the management of resources from the European Social Fund?

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001, p. 120.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that no report or study has recently been carried out on the management of programmes and/or projects funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) in the Canary Islands.

In addition, the Commission can confirm that the Member of the Commission responsible for Employment and Social Affairs has made no statements concerning the Canary Islands. She has, however, on several occasions referred to the existence of irregularities or presumed irregularities in the various Member States.