Publicity measures under the 3rd CSF for Greece
2.4.2009
WRITTEN QUESTION E-2732/09
by Stavros Arnaoutakis (PSE)
to the Commission
The Greek Government is using Community funding from the 3rd CSF (2000‑06) to publicise co‑financed programmes in a manner which is not consistent with the rules on the eligibility of expenditure.
For example, the publicity measures of various ministries and regions deliberately make no reference to the period before 2004 and concentrate exclusively on the post-2004 period, identifying the results with their period in office.
According to Article 18, paragraph 3(d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999[1] of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, expenditure is eligible for measures intended to publicise the operational programme in accordance with Article 46, the managing authority shall be responsible for ensuring that publicity is given to the package and particularly for informing:
- —potential final beneficiaries about the opportunities afforded by the assistance, and
- —the general public about the role played by the Community in the assistance concerned and its results.
Moreover, according to Article 46, paragraph 3, the Member States shall consult the Commission and inform it each year of the initiatives taken to publicise measures.
Will the Commission say:
- 1.whether the publicity campaigns (full-page advertisements in the press) have complied with the provisions of Article 46, paragraph 3, and
- 2.whether it considers that focusing publicity measures exclusively on the period after March 2004 constitutes a breach of the eligibility rules laid down by the relevant Community regulations and, if so, what measures it will take to normalise the situation?
- [1] OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.
OJ C 189, 13/07/2010