Brussels, 16/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 June at its plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted by 629 votes in favour, 60 against and 25 abstentions, the resolution on the transparency of regional policy and its funding. This resolution was drafted by Michail Tremopoulos (Greens/EFA, Greece).
Subsequently, the EP is demanding that: (1) regional development projects that benefit from EU financial support be presented in detail on the Commission's website, in an effort to facilitate the public's access to information; (2) the auditors divulge, in fraud cases, the identity of the culprits and impose sanctions, “particularly when this involves government representatives” and, “demonstrate greater firmness with regard to communication and information requirements”.
More specifically, the Parliament is requesting that the Commission: (1) provides more information when it publishes the lists of regional fund beneficiaries, namely, the parties involved in projects being funded, which should be indicated on the Commission website and provide the public with a detailed presentation of the projects, translated into French, English or German; (2) monitor the use of advance payments, the amounts of which have increased since greater flexibility in the rules for Structural Funds was introduced (amending Regulation 1083/2006). (G. B./transl.fl)