The European Commission has blocked 1,122 million euros in European subsidies to Spain, for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), after detecting “serious deficiencies and irregularities” in the control and management by the agencies administering such financial aid, reports El Pais.
After the evaluation by a delegation of auditors from the European Commission sent to Spain in June 2015, problems were detected in 22 of 23 operational programs, in particular irregularities in public procurement issues and justification of expenses. Despite the insistence of Brussels to solve the management problems of the bodies responsible for ERDF grants, suspensions and began in 2013 and continued in 2014.
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the European Commission considers that it has not been exercised adequate control by the agencies affected by the suspension of grants, which include the ministries of Economy, Industry and Agriculture, as well as public enterprises and regional governments, such as Madrid, Melilla and Castilla y Leon. This makes Spain the country with more interruptions and suspensions of payments of the European Union, highlighted in its activity report of the Urban and Regional Policy (REGIO) 2015.
Meanwhile, the Ministry Treasury of Spain claims that these irregularities are “normal” in the country, since it is the most funds received and projects funded, with the largest number of entities responsible for their management. It also insists that no illegality or fraud in the administration of the ERDF, only deficiencies in technical issues of justification of expenditure.
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