Funding of a hotel complex in Rostock Hohe Düne by the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania Land Government

26.10.2015

Question for written answer E-014129-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE)

In 2003, approval was given to the funding of a hotel complex in Rostock Hohe Düne by the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania Land Government. The funding was awarded to two different firms for the construction of two different hotels. According to a statement from the Land Government, the Commission has not yet determined whether the money the former spent the project, which came to some EUR 31.8 million, can be reimbursed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). According to media reports, the Commission and the Land Government disagree on the issue of whether dividing the funding between two projects was permissible. The Commission takes the view that the Hohe Düne complex is one project, not two, costing more than EUR 50 million. The Commission should have been notified accordingly, but was not.

1. Why has the Land Government not yet been reimbursed?

2. What view does the Commission take of the funding arrangements for the Hohe Düne hotel complex and the division into two separate projects?

3. Is partial reimbursement from the ERDF possible, and, if so, subject to what conditions?