In 2000, the EU Commission had approved the Operational Program for the Region of Sicily (Por Sicilia), which is integrated into the community support framework for community structural interventions in the regions affected by objective no. 1 in Italy. A contribution from the structural funds of 1,209 billion 846,5 million was envisaged. Since 2005, the Commission has carried out various audits of the management and control systems set up by the responsible authorities of the Por Sicilia, finding serious deficiencies in the management and controls of the financial intervention and various irregularities in various operations (some ascertained by the anti-fraud body of the EU, Olaf)
The EU Court has rejected Italy's appeal to avoid the reduction of European funds for Sicily because there are 'too many flaws in management and controls'. This is the decision announced today. Funds had been reduced by €379,7 million.
In particular, reports radiocor, irregularities have been ascertained such as transactions relating to projects presented after the deadline for submitting applications to participate; personnel expenses unrelated to actual time spent on projects; external consultants without the required qualifications; insufficient expense receipts; expenses not related to the projects; execution of the activities not compliant with the description of the projects; violation of procurement and selection procedures for teachers, experts and suppliers. As a result funds had been reduced by 379,730 million euros. In December 2015, the Commission considered that, due to the individual and systemic irregularities found, the financial contribution to the intervention in question had to be reduced by a total amount equal, in fact, to 379 million, of which 730 million of the European Social Fund)
Hence the appeal of the Italian State to the EU Court with the request for annulment for substantial reasons (such as the misrepresentation of the facts and an alleged violation of the principle of proportionality) and in part for formal reasons (lack of motivation).
