Brussels, 28/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - MEPs appear to be shocked by the Court of Auditors' report criticising the funding of unnecessary airports financed out of European funds. They are preparing to adopt a report, with no holds barred, for the European Commission, demanding it to provide them with clarification.
On Tuesday 27 January, the budgetary control and transport committees at the European Parliament examined the European Court of Auditors' report, which revealed in the middle of December last, that half of the airports financed through the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 had been hardly used or not used at all (see EUROPE 11219). The audit carried out by the Court focused on projects in Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland and Italy. The chairperson of the transport committee, Michael Cramer (Greens/EFA, Germany), described the Court's observations as alarming and emphasised that, “In times of drastic budget cuts, the EU needs to get its priorities straight - in the interest of taxpayers, the transport sector and the climate”.
During a joint debate on Tuesday, members of these two committees took note of the report by Derek Vaughan (S&D, United Kingdom), calling for a Commission report on the subject in the course of this year. The rapporteur explained that he was aware that the Commission had already taken measures to rectify this matter. Nonetheless, he believes that the situation should be further monitored. He is hoping that the Commission will present a report over the next twelve months to the budgetary control committee at the European Parliament on the progress made, on the basis of the recommendations made by the European Court of auditors. His report will be put to a vote by MEPs on 23 March. (MD)