Last but not least: Under Construction
Italy's poorest region, Calabria, has some rather peculiar ideas about how to use EU economic development funds. The EU Commission was so displeased with the region's latest investment that it is now threatening to make the region repay the money to Brussels.
In Calabria, on the shores of Scylla, where the almond and olive trees flourish, the strangest business practices are also known to flourish. The region has only recently made negative headlines again due to the resurgence of the Mafia 'Ndrangheta and the chronic failure of the justice system. Now it also has problems with the EU Commission. The Commission is pumping six billion euros in subsidies into Italy's poorest region until 2010 in order to boost trade and tourism. The Regione Calabria then knew no better than to spend 1.8 billion euros on the Italian national football team.
According to the EU Commission, the decision is now being closely scrutinized. The regions in the European Union have certain freedoms when it comes to the use of funding, said a spokesperson for the authority, but you can't just hand over a suitcase full of EU taxpayers' money and say: "Here, have fun with it!" Calabria's idea to spend half a million euros on advertising shots with the Calabrian football star Gennaro Gattuso is also unlikely to have contributed much to the amusement. However, Gattuso will not keep the money, according to Calabria, but will donate it to his foundation for needy children. One can only hope that this foundation is a little more developed than his Website.
According to the EU Commission, the decision is now being closely scrutinized. The regions in the European Union have certain freedoms when it comes to the use of funding, said a spokesperson for the authority, but you can't just hand over a suitcase full of EU taxpayers' money and say: "Here, have fun with it!" Calabria's idea to spend half a million euros on advertising shots with the Calabrian football star Gennaro Gattuso is also unlikely to have contributed much to the amusement. However, Gattuso will not keep the money, according to Calabria, but will donate it to his foundation for needy children. One can only hope that this foundation is a little more developed than his Website.
