Regional policy
More transparency for regional policy funding
The Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament voted today on the report "Transparency in regional policy and its funding".of Green MEP Michail Tremopoulos (Greece).
Commenting on the result of the vote, MEP Michail Tremopoulos said:
"I drafted this report in order to propose to the European Commission all the necessary tools and suggestions to improve the transparency of EU funding.. I had broad support for the proposals included in this report which would ensure transparency, correct transactions, and sound financial management of tax-payers' money.
The adopted report proposes that transparency should be introduced as a guiding cross-sectoral principle in the cohesion programming process.
Furthermore, in the next regulation on structural funds (after 2013) there should more appropriate rules on transparency, better guidance, a warning mechanism and sanctions in cases of non-compliance as a last resort.
One of the other main elements of the report is that additional essential information should be provided when publishing the lists of beneficiaries and the lists of stakeholders.
The European Parliament also wants the European Commission to improve the transparency of its decisions with respect to EU funding of major projects."
Notes to editors
The Committee on Regional Development adopted the Tremopoulos report with 34 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions.
The vote in plenary is foreseen for the June session.
