Termini Imerese logistics centre

15.12.2014

Question for written answer E-010720-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ignazio Corrao (EFDD)

Resolution No 41 of the Italian Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning of 26 June 2009 approved the preliminary proposal for building a logistics centre in Termini Imerese. The proposed logistics centre is included in the following Community programming documents:

• — White Paper on Transport, produced by the European Commission;
• — Framework Policy of the 2nd Framework Planning Agreement for Freight Transportation and Logistics, and Major Projects of the ERDF Operational Programme 2007-2013.

The contracting authority of the logistics centre in question is Società degli Interporti Siciliani S.p.A., a special-purpose entity that is entirely owned by the public.

A total of EUR 92.2 million has been invested in the project, of which the European Commission allocated EUR 47.9 million in June 2013, which it took from ERDF Community funds as part of the overall ‘Cohesion of the Sicilian Region’ objective.

In July 2014, the Sicilian Regional Assembly voted against recapitalising logistics centre companies, thereby blocking construction of the facility.

1. Can the Commission indicate whether the funds allocated by the EU are tied to the fates of the contracting companies?

2. If not, can these sums be passed on to other entities and used for the same objective?