[Press release] Public control of EU funds under threat from the Council

Local citizens protesting against the EU funded Bulgarian hazardous waste centre during the public hearings organised in Stara Zagora earlier this year.

Brussels, Belgium --The European Union's multi-billion euro structural and cohesion funds programme could lose a vital safeguard if some member states get their way. A broad alliance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today warned that any weakening of the partnership principle, which allows for public involvement in the implementation and monitoring of the funds, would seriously compromise public scrutiny over how the funds are spent.

Several EU member states are attempting to limit Article 10 on partnership in the general regulation for the cohesion policy for the period 2007-2013. The article requires the inclusion of regional authorities, social and economic partners, together with civil society organisations in the planning, implementation and monitoring of EU funded programmes in each member state.

The European Parliament voted in July to oppose any weakening of the partnership article, a position that is shared by the European Commission as well as some member states. However, the current draft compromise between member states proposes that the inclusion of civil society partners will largely be left up to the respective authorities in each country [1].

The NGOs sent today a statement urging member states to respect the Parliament's vote.

Martin Konecny, from CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe, said: "It is widely acknowledged that partnership leads to a more effective use of the EU’s billions with higher quality projects selected as a result. The inclusion of independent civil society groups in the control of the funds also improves transparency and prevents misuse and corruption. At a time when the EU’s legitimacy and the efficiency of its expenditure are seriously questioned, why on earth weaken public control over its funds?"

Rachel Lee, from BirdLife International, said: "With enlargement and calls for the simplification in the way the funds are governed, from 2007 most of the responsibility for the management of the EU funds will be taken away from the European Commission and handed over to the member states. The Commission’s loss of oversight has to be counter-balanced by increased public scrutiny."

Anne-Sophie Parent, President of the Social Platform, concluded: “It is surprising to us that in the current environment of citizens’ growing distrust towards the European Union certain countries want to push away civil society representatives and let decisions be taken behind closed doors.”

The NGO statement can be downloaded from the Bankwatch website.

Contacts:
Martin Konecny
CEE Bankwatch Network / Friends of the Earth Europe
Tel: +32 2 542 01 85
Martin.Konecny at foeeurope.org

Rachel Lee
BirdLife International
Tel: +44 1767 680551
Rachel.Lee at rspb.org.uk

Daniela Vincenti Mitchener
Social Platform
Tel: +32 2 511 3714
daniela.mitchener at socialplatform.org

Pieter de Pous
European Environmental Bureau
Tel: +32 2 289 1306
Pieter.depous at eeb.org

Notes for editors:
1. According to draft compromise texts from the European Council's Structural Actions Working Party, a body where member states' representatives have been discussing the new regulations over the past 12 months.

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[Press release] Public control of EU funds under threat from the Council

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