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New website details EU funding beneficiaries
2 October 2008.
The European Commission launched a website giving details of the beneficiaries of EU funding publicly available for the first time.
The 'Financial Transparency System' search engine is part of the wider transparency initiative launched by Administration and Anti-Fraud Commissioner Siim Kallas in 2005 - gives "free access to details of who receives EU funds managed directly by the Commission" and the executive agencies it sets up to manage EU programmes.
http://ec.europa.eu/grants/search/index_en.htm
The website provides access to financial records on grants, contracts and other forms of EU support.
The Commission and its executive agencies give around €10 billion of financial support to EU-funded programmes every year. Beginning with the 2007 financial year, the new website details some 28,000 beneficiaries of EU research, education and culture, energy and transport programmes, among others. It will list this year's beneficiaries in 2009.
Last July, a report from the EU executive revealed that the financial impact of irregularities and suspected fraud in the use of EU funds by member states continued to grow in 2007, despite a decreasing number of cases documented (EurActiv 23/07/08).
The website will be enhanced to give details of the Commission's procurement contracts for day-to-day administrative issues in 2010.
Meanwhile, a separate portal went online on 30 September, giving details of payments to member states from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Governments must make details of all other agricultural payments available by 30 April 2009.
For further information
Rural development funding beneficiaries
Who gets EU cash? New website gives details of beneficiaries