ERDF funding for the demolition of listed buildings in Riesa-Gröba

2.4.2009

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2734/09
by Gisela Kallenbach (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission

On 12 November 2008 the town council of Riesa (Saxony) adopted an integrated development project for the suburb of Gröba entitled ‘Riesa: the Gröba workshop’. As part of this project, the town council proposes to undertake the separation of residential and industrial sites in the Paul-Greifzu-Strasse between Uttmannsstrasse and Haldenstrasse. The residential housing area in the Paul-Greifzu-Strasse has grown up over time, with houses dating from 1905‑12. The aim is clearly to expropriate the owners of these houses and demolish the buildings, some of which are on a heritage protection list. The town council’s decision on a contract between the council and the Elbe Stahlwerke Feralpi GmbH steelworks raises the suspicion that the site will then be made available to the steelworks to build a logistics centre. At a public meeting on 13 March 2009, the mayor announced that ERDF funding had been accorded for this project.

1. Can the Commission confirm that an application for aid has been made in the context of the operational programme for Regional Competitiveness and Employment (Saxony 2007‑13) for co-financing in connection with the abovementioned project?

2. If so, what stage has the approval procedure reached, and what is the object of the aid named on the application?

3. If so, what is the Commission’s view of the intention to use ERDF funding for the abovementioned project? Is such aid compatible with the principles of the Structural Fund Regulation?

4. Under what circumstances is it possible to use EU funds in the interest of a business enterprise to expropriate the owners of buildings placed on a heritage protection list?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010