News
- 10.05.12 Civil society voices reached the EU Council of Culture Ministers Read more...
- 30.04.12 'we are more' campaign newsletter #8 Read more...
- 11.04.12 Banlieues d'Europe organizes a debate on the we are more campaign Read more...
- 03.04.12 Conference on the role of culture in the inclusion of Roma minorities Read more...
- 22.03.12 Sign petition to save the only public institution for contemporary dance in Slovenia! Read more...
- 01.03.12 Warm welcome to our new Secretary General Luca Bergamo! Read more...
- 22.02.12 'we are more' newsletter #7 Read more...
- 19.12.11 'we are more' newsletter #6 Read more...
- 03.10.11 'we are more' newsletter #5 Read more...
- 16.08.11 Job position at EBLIDA Read more...
- 07.07.11 'we are more' campagin newsletter #4 2011 special edition on budget is now online Read more...
- 14.06.11 Artists and social inclusion: A Greens/EFA conference Read more...
- 26.05.11 'we are more' newsletter #3 Read more...
- 31.03.11 Summary of the position paper on the Culture Programme Read more...
- 22.03.11 Remix the docks! Read more...
- 10.02.11 'we are more' newsletter #2 Read more...
- 16.12.10 Call for organisations to participate in Cultural Cooperation with Moldova and Ukraine Read more...
- 09.12.10 'we are more' campaign: demands on the Culture Programme Read more...
- 09.12.10 'we are more' newsletter #1 Read more...
- 18.10.10 Culture's contribution to social inclusion Read more...
- 12.10.10 'we are more' campaign launched! Read more...
- 22.09.10 Culture Action Europe Newsletter #4 2010 Read more...
- 22.09.10 Reflections on the challenges facing society today and how culture may offer answers to them Read more...
- 06.09.10 LabforCulture reports live from the 'Culture and Policies of Change' conference in Brussels Read more...
- 04.08.10 Members General Assembly and Culture Action Europe Conference 7-9 October 2010 in Brussels Read more...
- 14.07.10 OMC working group reports have been published Read more...
- 17.06.10 Culture Action Europe Newsletter #3 2010 Read more...
- 06.05.10 The Platform for Intercultural Europe is recruting Read more...
- 14.04.10 Culture Action Europe Newsletter #2 2010 Read more...
- 12.04.10 The EU 2020 strategy: analysis and perspectives Read more...
- 31.03.10 Culture Action Europe is looking for a translation intern Read more...
- 29.03.10 Members’ meetings and policy consultation Read more...
- 17.03.10 Already 6 new members in 2010! Read more...
- 10.02.10 Culture Action Europe Newsletter #1 2010 Read more...
- 10.02.10 Renewed EU commitmment to combating poverty and social exclusion – what perspectives for the Year? Read more...
- 08.02.10 EP Hearing – Androulla Vassiliou Commisioner-Desginate for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Read more...
- 14.01.10 Our contribution to the EC consultation on the future EU 2020 strategy Read more...
- 11.01.10 Our contribution to the EC consultation on financial regulation Read more...
- 07.12.09 Culture Action Europe Newsletter #8 Read more...
- 18.08.09 Post elections analysis – to know more about the composition of the new European Parliament and of the new Culture Committee Read more...
| IG Kultur Österreich - Claiming the right for good governance within the EU administration! |
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IG Kultur Österreich, the umbrella organization for independent and autonomous cultural work in Austria is currently supporting one of its members in a court case against the European Commission. The reason for the court case is the costs that have arisen due to the delayed payment of previously approved subsidies. In 2000, the association received a subsidy from the EU Culture Programme. The contracted project was completed in the same year, and all the costs eligible for their subsidy were cleared with the Commission in September 2000. In 2002, the same member organization completed a second Culture programme project. However, the EU Commission held part of the subsidy from their 2002 project back and even opened up the case of the approved financial completion, counting it against the still uncompleted settlement of the first project. This situation has led to an enormous struggle for existence of the association, because the member had counted on receiving the entire subsidy and, on top of the resources the Commission is holding back, the association was asked to return a major part of the subsidy. Because of the prolonged period before receiving the final approval of the finances and final settlement (the Commission took two years to set an audit date and another year to come to its final settlement for the first project), our member association faced the costs of the interest fees that accumulated from the loans necessary to bridge the costs over these years. These bridging loans and the associated costs are not recognized expenses. According to EU policy, interest fees are not accountable. This means that loans for bridging the time between the end of a project and the final settlement by the EU Commission have to be paid out of other budgets. The problem is that there are no deadlines for the EU Commission to finalize the accounting. There is, however, the right for every citizen of the Union to good governance. Interestingly enough the EU Commission states that the case cannot be taken to court because the relation between subsiding organization and the recipient of the subsidy does not correspond with civil law, as it is an act of sovereignty- despite the wording in all relevant documents includes "contract" or "agreement". IG Kultur Österreich therefore demands standardized proceedings to be developed by the EU Commission for the acceptance of interest fees as accountable expenses. |