Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0202/03
by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission
(22 January 2003)

Subject: Investigation by OLAF and the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office into the use by the Puglia Regional Council of funds earmarked for professional training

The answer to QuestionP-0656/01(1) indicates, with regard to the use by the Puglia Regional Council of funds earmarked for professional training, that:

- OLAF opened an investigation on 28 July 2000;

- the Commission has given its authorisation for one of its officials, an expert in European Social Fund financial procedures, to be interviewed by the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office.

1. Has OLAF interviewed the lawyer Giuseppe Di Donna, former member of the Puglia Regional Executive with responsibility for professional training?

2. Has the OLAF investigation been completed? If so, what were its findings?

3. Has the judicial investigation by the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office been completed? If so, what were its findings?

(1) OJ C 235, 21.8.2001, p. 234.

E?0202/03EN
Answer given by Ms Schreyer
on behalf of the Commission
(17 March 2003)

In its reply to Question P?0656/01, the Commission indicated that the European Anti?Fraud Office (OLAF) launched an investigation on 28 July 2000 which is still under way. OLAF is continuing to provide assistance to the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office in this connection.
The Commission would draw attention to OLAF's statement that under Regulation (EC) No 1073/99 (1) it cannot pass on information relating to the investigation, including the names of the people who may have been or may be interviewed.
It suggests that the Honourable Member contact the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office about the judicial investigation which it is conducting.
However, it would point out to the Honourable Member that it has initiated a procedure to suspend the Community contribution to projects which have had assets seized by the Italian magistrature.
This procedure, which has already been completed, should result in a few days' time in the adoption of a decision to suspend the contribution from the European Social Fund (ESF) to the 1994?99 Puglia operational programme (OP), which totals €12 996 932, pending the outcome of the judicial investigation.

(1) Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (OJ L 136, 31.5.1999).