WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3554/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI The 'complex-systems thermodynamics' project under the third framework programme in the fields of research, human capital and mobility
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/55 The Decision does not specify any cut-off date, and the network has not been linked to a specific budget at Community level. Operating costs at Member State level must be borne by national budgets, although development costs, the long-tem viability of the network and epidemiological analyses at Community level will depend on annual budgets granted to these activities by the Council and Parliament. EPIET, like all other existing or future projects in the field of the network and of communicable diseases, is therefore subject to the same constraints, and it is not currently possible to give any guarantee of long-term funding. (1999/C 320/073) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3554/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (1 December 1998) Subject: The ‘complex-systems thermodynamics’ project under the third framework programme in the fields of research, human capital and mobility With reference to contract No ERBCHRX-CT92-0007 between ENEA [national committee for research and development in nuclear energy and alternative energy] and DG XII of the European Commission, dealing with the administrative management of the Community funds allocated to the complex-systems thermodynamics project under the third framework programme, which is designed to facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge through a network of 16 European partners: 1. 2. 3. can the Commission confirm that the funding of ECU 600 000 for the first two-year period (1 June 1993 to 31 May 1995) was used to further the above project’s aims? If so, was the funding renewed for the second two-year period; if not, what were the funds used for; if the funds were not used to further the project’s aims, were the accounts in order and was the management of the project transparent; 4. has the Court of Auditors ascertained that this expenditure was justified with regard to the objectives to which the funds were allocated; 5. does the Commission not consider that if funds have been used improperly a thorough investigation should be carried out in order to ensure that the success of the project that was initially approved is not undermined and to safeguard the credibility of the Community’s research and technology framework programmes? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (26 January 1999) The Commission concluded its Human capital and mobility (HCM) network contract, No ERBCHRX-CT-92- 0007, with eight contractors, including Ente per le Nuove technologie, l’Energia e l’Ambiente (ENEA) acting as co-ordinating institution in 1993 for an initial period of two years. ENEA decided to withdraw from the network in 1995. The Technical University of Berlin, one of the other original contractors, eventually took over the role as the co-ordinating institution in 1997. As a consequence, the contract was extended until the end of 1998. The Commission’s financial contribution for the network as a whole is fixed in the contract at a ceiling of 600 000 euro. An initial advance payment was made in 1993. The Commission has subsequently reimbursed costs incurred during the first year of the contract. The cost statements of all network partners were checked and only costs which were eligible in accordance with the terms of the contract were reimbursed. Due to the restructuring of the network, no further cost statements have been processed. The Commission conducts sample audits of network contracts on a regular basis and each contract can be audited until two years after the end of the contract. The Court of auditors also has the right to audit such contracts, though no audit has been made concerning this specific contract. Whenever it is found that the Commission’s contribution is used outside the terms of a contract all necessary measures (including legal action) are taken to recover funds