PAN MEP questions Commission on EU financing of dolphinaria

Lisbon, 28 May 2020 - MEP Francisco Guerreiro (PAN) questioned the European Commission about the distribution of community funds, namely the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for the maintenance, extension or construction of dolphinaria in the European Union (EU).

Several requests of this kind reach the Commission, lacking clear indications on the intended use, due to the possible lack of transparency in the whole process and very weak monitoring. 

In recent years, two EU Member States have used money from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the establishment of dolphinaria.  

In Constanta, Romania, the ERDF has supported the extension of a dolphinarium with a total of 872,800 Euros. In Klaipeda, Lithuania, several million Euros from this fund were used to support the extension of a dolphinarium and an adjacent museum.

Thus, the PAN MEP asked the Commission to explain whether and how to monitor the distribution of funds and the purposes for which they are used and, in case there is no such record, how can the Commission work towards a better monitoring.

See the full question below: 

The use of ERDF money for dolphinaria 

In the past years, two EU Member States have used money from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the establishment of dolphinaria. 

In Constanta, Romania, the ERDF has supported the extension of a dolphinarium with a total of 872.800 Euros. In Klaipeda, Lithuania, several million Euros from this fund were used to support the extension of a dolphinarium and an adjacent museum.

Since there are several requests of this kind, without clear indications on the intended use, they seem to get approved without sufficient controls. The applicants used money from the ERDF primarily to request support for museums but also to renovate dolphinaria.

The Festa Dolphinarium in Varna, Bulgaria, is apparently also trying to expand and renovate its premises with ERDF money.  

Does the Commission know whether the dolphinarium in Varna has already applied for support from the European Regional Development Fund?

Can the Commission explain whether and how future support to such institutions can be better monitored also regarding their intended use?

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