Press Release: Commission agrees to settle grant dispute with an association based in France

The European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, welcomed the decision by the European Commission to settle a dispute over a grant given to the European Social Action Network, an association based in France, 28 July 2005. Following the Ombudsman's intervention, the Commission agreed to reduce by almost €8 000 its request for repayment from the organisation. The complainant's association had received financial support from the European Commission totalling €46 950 to organise a social forum entitled 'Europe is what we make it: together for better governance'. Following an audit of the project, the Commission requested repayment of €14 025, which corresponded to ineligible expenditure.