Establishment of an oncological centre of excellence at Papardo Hospital in Messina

6.4.2016

Question for written answer P-002754-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Michela Giuffrida (S&D)

On 23 December 2003, the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Ministry of Economic and Financial Affairs and the Region of Sicily signed a framework agreement which provided for the establishment of an oncological centre of excellence at Papardo Hospital in Messina. The list of beneficiaries under OP ERDF 2007/2013 includes a reference to sum of EUR 27 941 371.72 in EU funding (out of a total cost of EUR 37 255 162.22) for that centre of excellence.

In 2010, the proposed Messina centre disappeared from the Regional Health Plan and to this day it is not clear how the sum of roughly EUR 37 million (including almost EUR 28 million in EU funding) set aside for the centre of excellence was actually spent.

Can the Commission say how the money in question has been used?