Possible irregularities in use of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in Emilia-Romagna
28.1.2020
Question for written answer E-000493/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marco Zanni (ID), Alessandra Basso (ID)
According to the latest figures in November 2019, Emilia-Romagna currently houses 9 532 migrants in total, 7 322 of them in local reception centres and 2 210 under SIPROIMI, Italy’s protection system for beneficiaries of international protection and for unaccompanied foreign minors.
The Emilia-Romagna regional executive has, since 2014, published a number of calls for tender on the basis of EU funding through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
To be specific, Emilia-Romagna was allocated EUR 12.5 million for the period 2016 to 2021 and these funds since been allotted to cooperatives, associations and municipalities for reception services through said calls for tenders. One of the beneficiaries is the consortium Arcolaio, which was responsible for running the Mattei di Bologna ‘CAS’ emergency reception centre. This centre was closed in June 2019 on account of its poor hygiene conditions, structural problems and incongruity between the public funds received and the services guaranteed but was reopened again in November 2019.
In view of the fact that EU funding from the AMIF is involved here, can the Commission say:
- 1.Is the Commission aware of the specific case in question and what conditions are really like at reception centres in Emilia-Romagna?
- 2.What checks has it carried out to attest that the aforesaid EU funds have not been used for fraudulent purposes and / or exploitation of migrants?